Community centre attacked and sprayed with graffiti
Police are investigating a report of criminal damage after the windows of a community centre in Broughshane, County Antrim, were smashed and anti-Sinn Féin graffiti sprayed on the walls.
The building on Main Street houses Broughshane and District Community Association.
Bréanainn Lyness, the Sinn Féin deputy mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, said he understood the attack to be a result of the community association inviting him to switch on the town's Christmas lights.
Police said they received a report of the incident at about 07:15 GMT on Wednesday.
Speaking to BBC News NI, Lyness described the smashed windows and graffiti as a "disgrace".
He said that he had attended the switching on of the Christmas lights in Broughshane as deputy mayor, "not as a Sinn Féin rep", and was there to "represent everybody".
He said that the event was "apolitical".
Lyness said the people who had carried out the attack "don't represent the people of Broughshane", whom he said had been "overwhelmingly welcoming" when he had visited the village.
"I'm from Ballymena and Broughshane is only five minutes down the road so I would be in Broughshane regularly anyway," he added.
Lyness said he planned to visit the community association on Wednesday to offer them his support.
Orange Order objections
Ahead of the Christmas tree lighting, an Orange Order lodge objected to Lyness' attendance.
In a post on social media, Broughshane LOL 503 said: "The lodge wishes to express our deep disappointment and regret at the decision by the Broughshane and District Community Association to invite a Sinn Féin councillor to turn on the Christmas lights in Broughshane."
"Christmas is a time for unity, togetherness, and goodwill to all, and we believe that such an important community event should reflect those values," the post continued.
"The presence of a Sinn Féin representative, regardless of their position in the council, given the party’s historical associations and stance, namely their totally unrepentant position on the terrorism they waged in this country for 30 years is deeply divisive and inconsiderate to many in our community."
In a statement, Broughshane LOL 503 said its members "utterly condemn the recent attack on the premises of the local Community Association".
"This type of action has no place in our village or indeed, wider society," a lodge spokesperson told BBC News NI.
As stated in our comments yesterday, we are committed to fostering a spirit of harmony and respect within Broughshane and will continue to work towards the strengthening of our community.
Police have said their enquiries are ongoing and have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.
