Same but Different?

Have seen this high-lighted elsewhere, but very similar stories seem to be reported in very different manners, what is immediately called a  “Hate Crime”  when it concerns a RC Church, is merely “investigating motives” when it comes to attacks on Rasharkin Orange Hall,  and the contrast between the reporting of the two incidents below is quite stark from the headline down.

Maybe it is the usual “whataboutery” and normally I take these things with a pinch of salt, but it is a widespread opinion of the Unionist community that attacks on their community and culture are downplayed, and these two articles seem to bear it out.

BBC News Website – 26 July 2010 Last updated at 17:18

Paint bombs thrown at Orange hall

An Orange hall in Belfast has been paint bombed overnight. Damage was caused to the front of the building on Clifton Street.

Senior Belfast Orangeman and Deputy Lord Mayor, William Humphrey, condemned the attack.

“This is clearly an attempt to escalate tension in Belfast and is an attack on the Orange culture,” he said.

“The people who are behind this sort of attack have nothing to offer this community, except division.

“People of different cultures should be able to enjoy their traditions without being subjected to any form of attack,” Mr Humphrey added.

“This is one of the city’s historic landmark buildings but has been targetted once again by people who do not seem to care about anyone’s history.”

BB C News Website – 1 August 2010 Last updated at 17:26

Paint Thrown at Our Ladys Church in Harryville

Paint was thrown over the steps and front door of Our Lady’s in Harryville on Saturday night. Police have said it is being treated as a hate crime.

The church has been the targets of vandals over many years. For a period in the 1990s, loyalists held weekly protests while Mass was being held.

Father Patrick Delargy said it was becoming a daily event for something to be thrown at the church.

“It’s as much an irritation as much as anything else because it’s one in a series of disturbances here round the church which have begun just before the twelfth of July.

“Almost every day there has been something thrown at the church or at the house.

“But this is the first time we’ve actually had anything straight on the church as far as the paint is concerned.”

SDLP North Antrim MLA Declan O’Loan said: “Thankfully, it was not a serious incident but it was an unfortunate incident and one that is disappointing considering Ballymena has had a quiet summer when compared with other places.”

Sinn Fein’s Daithí McKay added: “Attacks on churches of all types are mindless and abhorrent and it is very sad that in this day and age Catholic churches in the Ballymena area are still being singled out as targets.”

Note- the Harryville report also include a video piece, whereas I havn’t found one of Clifton Street Orange Hall, also “daily attacks” became “almost every day” within a paragraph, which is it? finally if these  “attacks” did not actually start on the 12th of July itself, why mention that date other than to link it to Orange celebrations?