The message was urging people to buy homes in the area to “support and strengthen our Protestant community for the future.”
Orange Order stock image
An Orange Lodge has said messages claiming it would help people with mortgage costs to “support and strengthen our Protestant community for the future are “fake”.
A message has been widely circulated on WhatsApp saying that “friends, families, and anyone with a connection to the Castlecaulfield area in Co Tyrone should be encouraged to buy a home locally in order to “support and strengthen our Protestant community for the future.”
It also claimed, following conversations with financial advisors, the local Orange Lodge may be able to help people with mortgage costs to live in the area.
Belfast Live asked the Castlecaulfield Orange Lodge about the message on social media with a spokesperson saying “the message is fake”.
Local DUP councillor Mark Robinson said that the message resembled a similar one that had been shared in the area in the past and believed they were designed to heighten local tensions ahead of the parade season. He also said that Orange Order membership would skyrocket if it were to start helping people with their mortgages.
After seeing the message he said: “Just checked my calendar there, thought maybe it was April Fool’s Day!
“This looks like a very similar message that done the rounds before. I suspect it’s the same culprits trying to raise tensions in the area prior to local parades. Sad that some people have nothing better to do with their time.”
The fake message read: “Following on from our brief meeting, we’re asking all Castlecaulfield friends, families, and anyone with a connection to the area to consider the opportunity of purchasing a home locally.
“With numbers at the primary school currently lower than we’d like, it’s important we come together to support and strengthen our Protestant community for the future. Encouraging more local families to live in the area can make a real difference.
“[Name removed] has been in touch with a number of financial advisors, and there may be support available to help with mortgage costs from the Orange Lodge. If this is something you’d be interested in, please get in touch with [Name removed], [Name removed], or [Name removed] for more information.
“We’d encourage anyone considering a move to act sooner rather than later, ahead of the upcoming developments being released. God save the king.”
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