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[Kilsally]

Facebook closes down Orange Order site
http://www.impartial...nge-order-site/
Rodney Edwards • Published 29 Sep 2011 13:00 0 Comments

A Facebook page used by members of the Orange Order in Fermanagh has been shut down three times for 'breaking' the website's terms and conditions.

It's understood the Fermanagh Orangeism account was closed by Facebook for "preaching religious hatred" - something the Orange Order refutes.

They say the social networking website not only deleted their accounts for this reason but also "failed" to recognise them as a genuine organisation.A spokesperson for the Orange Order in Fermanagh, said: "Our account has now been shut down three times. It's very sad, because we have not been preaching religious hatred and we are not a cult - we are a real organisation, but they don't seem to see that.

"We use Facebook to discuss church parades, suggest new merchandise for the lodge and post bible scriptures every day. Our page was not offensive in any way and it never caused anyone any harm. It's just the fact it belonged to the Orange Order," he said.

Ulster Unionist Party leader Tom Elliott says members have been left confused by the website's actions."I do recognise that Facebook has to monitor their website. I don't follow the Fermanagh Orangeism Facebook but from what I can gather there is a bewilderment as to why they keep shutting it down because there is nothing out of the ordinary or unusual on it. It's just a discussion group and I think Facebook need to explain why they keep doing this.

"A cult is part of a culture and if that's what Orangeism is then so be it. There are loads of other organisations that you could call a cult, like your local Mothers Union or Women's Institute, just the same as the GAA would be or any other organisation," he said.

As well as discussing internal Orange matters on the social networking site members also used the now defunct pages as a platform to discuss any issues they had with the Orange Order in Fermanagh. Some past users of the site have explained how the conversations occasionally got heated between members, particularly as some users used bogus accounts to take part in the chats. And while some members talked about their particular issue with the Orange Order in the county, others used it to criticise the Order and individual members. Mr. Elliott says he doesn't mind people having disputes, debates and discussions "providing they are kept within reason".

"These social networking sites are an opportunity to put your views forward but I don't always think it's the best way, honestly. I would prefer to have an in depth discussion face-to-face about the issues," he said.

The Order in Fermanagh have recently set up a new Facebook account and as recently as last week the debate on there turned to the row over Tom Elliott's attendance at Ronan Kerr's funeral and the subsequent media coverage. One commentator in particular questioned why Mr. Elliott chose to speak out to the media, including this newspaper, last week. He accused the politician of "milking it".

"The Press came to me for a comment. I actually refused first of all but it got so much publicity that I felt there was a requirement to speak. But what I have continually refused to do is talk about the internal mechanisms of Orangeism. I have set out the broad parameters about me going to the funeral and the allegations around that, but I have refused to get into the internal workings," he said.

The Impartial Reporter contacted Facebook in relation to the closure of the Fermanagh Orangeism pages. A spokesperson said: "While we can't comment on the specific details of individual cases, content or profiles can be removed from Facebook for a variety of reasons - for example, if the page is created by someone using a fake identity, an admin makes no attempt to keep a page free from spam or offensive material, or if the purpose of the page breaches our Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, the terms that govern content and behaviour on Facebook. Facebook is highly self-regulating, and we encourage people to report content that they find offensive or questionable."