The Mayor of Waterford City has dubbed the burning of the city's Pride Flags a "truly despicable act"
Gardaí in Waterford City say they're investigating after the Pride flags were taken down and set alight overnight.
Officers say they were alerted to the incident at The Mall after 8 this morning.
The flags were raised in the area on Wednesday, replacing Pride flags that had been destroyed last weekend.
A man in his 40's has been charged in connection with that incident.
The Mayor of Waterford, Damien Geoghegan, says it's very worrying that it's happened again.
“The reality is that the people carrying out this acts are not representing anybody,” he said. “The vast, vast majority of people in Waterford are happy to see those flags flying, there’s great support here in Waterford for the LGBT community, any decent minded person is absolutely appalled by what’s happened.”
Cllr. Geoghegan went on to says the people of the city would not be discouraged by the destruction of Pride Flags, and called for locals to unite against these heinous actions.
"I would ask businesses and individuals to get out your Pride Flags and put them up, and show that we certainly won't be cowed into submission."
Mayor Geoghegan has said new flags will be raised on Monday morning.
Gardaí in Waterford say investigations are ongoing.
Once again it’s my sad duty to report that the Pride Flags were cut down overnight and removed from the flagpoles on The Mall. A truly despicable act. — Damien Geoghegan (@damiengeoghegan) June 12, 2021
It’s now once again in the hands of the Gardai. pic.twitter.com/cJgTrWqyOv
