SDLP Newry and Armagh elected reps have condemned an attack on an Orange Hall in Keady.

Pro-IRA graffiti was dubbed on the Orange Hall on the Crosskeys Road.

Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty said:

“This is a disgraceful attack on a local Orange Hall and the SDLP condemns it wholeheartedly. Given the nature of the graffiti it is clear that this was an attack on the people who use this hall and there is no support for it within this community, nor is there any place for it within our society.

“Everyone must have the right to celebrate their culture and traditions in peace without having to worry about incidents like this. People in this community want to live alongside one another in a spirit of peace and friendship and incidents like this only serve to upset people and achieve nothing.

“Nobody wants to see incidents like this happening in the North and I would urge political leaders to be mindful of the impact that their words can have when referring to our troubled past. Sectarianism is a blight on our society and we all have a responsibility to call it out and stamp it out so we don’t see attacks like this happening in this day and age.”

Keady SDLP councillor Thomas O’Hanlon also condemned those responsible.

Councillor O’Hanlon said:

"Those responsible for this graffiti do not speak for and have no support in this community. I and many like me in this community condemn this incident and call it for what it is, an act of sectarian intolerance and it must be condemned outright.

“The people in this community live alongside one another in a spirit of mutual respect, friendship, and tolerance. I don’t know what warped motivation is behind this or what those responsible think it will achieve. Incidents like this only seek to cause division. They will not succeed, and their actions will achieve nothing only wholesale condemnation.”