Order hosts day of remembrance for murdered members

Members of the Orange Institution murdered during the Troubles were remembered at a series of commemorative events at the weekend.

The second annual Orange Victims Day, held on Sunday, paid tribute to the 338 Orangemen and one Orangewoman murdered by terrorists.

Grand Master Edward Stevenson pictured at the Memorial Window in Schomberg House

Grand Master Edward Stevenson laid a wreath and paid his respects at the Institution’s memorial window at Schomberg House in Belfast during a short religious service earlier in the week.

A display of 339 crosses, one for each individual victim, was also laid at the memorial garden at Orange headquarters.

Elsewhere, other activities took place in every county in Northern Ireland, with many Orange halls displaying flags at half-mast as a mark of respect.

Mr Stevenson confirmed the day of remembrance, which is now an annual event in the Orange calendar, would continue to highlight the ongoing plight of the injured and bereaved.

He said: “It is a stark and harrowing statistic that almost 10 per cent of all those killed throughout the four decades of the Troubles were members of the Orange Institution. In addition to those murdered, many hundreds of Orange members, and their relatives, were left with life-changing physical, mental and emotional injuries because of the terrorist campaign.

“It is therefore with great sadness and pride; the Institution rightly remembers our members who lost their lives at various memorial events across Northern Ireland.”

Mr Stevenson continued: “The majority of those served with the security forces and paid the ultimate price with their life, as they sought to protect the wider community from the monstrous actions and activities of terrorists. Many others were targeted and murdered, simply because they were Protestant and Orangemen.

“We will never forget their sacrifice.”