KowalskiL An attack on a nationalist hall outside Rasharkin was �carried out by republicans to up the ante� in the build-up to tonights controversial loyalist band parade, a DUP MLA claimed.
Police are appealing for information after graffiti was written on the walls of Rosnashane Ancient Order of Hibernians hall earlier this week, which Sinn Fein blamed on loyalists ratcheting up tensions.
The incident was reported to police on Wednesday morning.
Last night DUP MLA Mervyn Storey, who condemned the attack �outrightly and without equivocation� and an attack on GAA premises days before, said he �believed the attack was perpetrated by republicans to heighten tensions�.
He said: �It is strange that every time we come round to this time of the year with the parade in Rasharkin these things happen to heighten tension.
�It serves no purpose for loyalists to do this.�
Earlier this week the Parades Commission accepted a revised application from the Ballymacon-nelly Sons of Conquerors Flute Band for its parade through Rasharkin tonight.
The band will only parade through the village once but is permitted to return by another route.
The decision was been welcomed by the DUP but rejected by Sinn Fein who subsequently called for a review of the decision. Yesterday the Parades Commission rejected their call for a review.
The new route for the parade is down Main Street in the village before returning by Moneyleck Road, Bann Road and Glebe Road to its original assembly point at the turnpike.
There was minor trouble at the parade last year when some golf balls were thrown at the marchers. Residents also blew whistles and horns.
The band has appealed to troublemakers to stay away from the parade.
A leading loyalist in Rasharkin last night also told the News Letter that �the attacks on the GAA premises and on Rosnashane AOH hall under no circumstances had anything to do with any loyalist organisation�.
�What benefit would carrying out these attacks have to the loyalist community? The only people who would benefit are republicans.
�There is no justification only their hatred of anything to do with our culture,� he added.
The north Antrim loyalist said he and others were �doing everything in our power to make sure the parade goes off without any trouble from our side�.
He further appealed for �calm and fair play� during the parade.
�I would ask everyone on our side to behave themselves in a dignified manner. Lets not show ourselves up, lets expose them for the bigots they really are,� he said.
Mr Storey added that he believes republicans in Rasharkin are �not about accommodation, but about segregation�.
He said: �They are not about dialogue, they are about division.
There is no point in talking to me about a shared future if we only have a shared future on paper and we dont have it in practice.
�There are an element of republicans in the village who will stop at no lengths to having their way in relation to this particular parade.�
North Antrim Sinn Fein MLA Daithi McKay condemned the �sectarian attack� on Rosnashane AOH hall as �pathetic and another indication that loyalists are trying to ratchet up tensions in this area ahead of the Ballymaconnolly parade�.
In response to Mr Storeys claims, he said: �This goes to show that the DUP are actually defending not only the loyalist paramilitaries whose flags are flying in this parade but also the same loyalist paramilitaries who are carrying out attacks on Catholic churches, GAA clubs and AOH halls in Rasharkin.�
He added: �I have spoken to the police and they are not ruling out a connection between this attack and the one on the GAA club earlier in the week.�
A PSNI spokesman said: �Police are continuing their investigations into the damage caused. If anyone has information about who is responsible then they should contact police directly so that further inquiries can be made.�
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