The Mayor of Waterford has been left furious after a "disgusting" act which saw a number of Pride flags burned outside the council office in the city.
The flags had been raised over the weekend as part of the 'Pride of the Deise' project, which celebrates the LGBTQ community in the area.
However, the flags which were erected outside the council offices were set alight overnight.
The council was alerted by security from a nearby building.
Mayor of Waterford Cllr Damien Geoghegan, who had originally proposed flying the flags, said it was a "disgusting" act.
"People often ask “Why does Pride take place?” Here’s why— Someone lowered the Pride Flags overnight & burned them," he said.
"The majority of Waterford people will be disgusted by this act."
Cllr Geoghegan added that the flags would return, telling WLRFM: “Gardaí in Waterford are investigating it right now I believe they have CCTV images of it.
“Members of the Gardaí were actually present for the flags being flown last Friday and have lent their full support to the initiative of the Pride flag.
“I won’t be deterred as Mayor and it is certainly my intention those flags and to ensure that those flags will fly on The Mall in Waterford for the month of June,
“I’m so disappointed that someone went out of their way to destroy them in such a public fashion,” Cllr Geoghegan concluded.
