THE Orange Order has again been urged to explain why other organisations have applied for grant aid to upgrade some of its halls.
The call came after one of the order’s most senior figures criticised scrutiny by The Irish News of a controversial ‘community halls’ grant scheme.
The paper reported yesterday how five ‘cultural societies’ have been awarded more than £100,000 in total from the Department for Communities fund.
The SDLP's John Dallat, a former vice-chair of Stormont's Public Accounts Committee, said the Orange Order should explain why other organisations have been applying for cash that will be spent on its halls.
The Community Halls Pilot Programme was launched by DUP communities minister Paul Givan and former first minister Arlene Foster at an Orange hall last year.
It was criticised by nationalists after it emerged that dozens of loyal order and band halls were on the list of 90 groups offered grants of up to £25,000.
Just two GAA clubs were recipients of the scheme, whose original budget of £500,000 quadrupled to £1.9m.
It has emerged that five Orange halls across the north have also benefited after applications were made by groups describing themselves as Ulster Scots, cultural, educational and historical.
These include a £25,000 award to Randalstown Ulster Scots Cultural Society.
The Irish News revealed last week that an address given for the group, later said to be that of Randalstown Orange Hall, is not listed on Royal Mail’s ‘postal address file’.
In an open letter published in The Irish News today, the Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Edward Stevenson, said Orange halls that received funding “clearly met the requirements of this scheme".
“Many others were unsuccessful and only a small proportion of our total hall network will benefit from this initiative."
Mr Stevenson said the "subleasing of premises to active community groups is not unusual and in many cases helps ensure the premises are better utilised and maintained than if it were solely for the use of an Orange lodge".
He also said he would speak to police about the "potential of an increased level of attacks on our halls" due to stories published by the Irish News.
The UUP's Danny Kennedy, who is an Orangeman, also expressed concern over the publication of photographs of Orange halls that have received money, given the number of attacks on the order's properties in recent years.
However, Mr Dallat said the order needs to explain "why they are using surrogates to draw down government money".
“They might better spending their time explaining what’s going on rather than attacking the media,” he said.
