A Sinn Féin councillor in Cork city has expressed his disgust at the "desecration" of graves and monuments of republican leaders in the city.

Graffiti including swastikas was etched on a plot at St Finbarr's Cemetery in Glasheen Road in which former Lord Mayor of Cork Tomás Mac Curtain is buried. The graffiti included the words “F*** the IRA” and “IRA scumbags”. Gardaí in Cork are investigating the vandalism, which is understood to have taken place on Thursday evening.

Sinn Féin councillor Chris O’Leary said vandalism carried out on War of Independence IRA commander Tom Barry’s headstone, located elsewhere in the graveyard, indicated the graffiti was deliberately daubed ahead of the Easter Rising commemorations

'Mindless, disgusting act'
"We have spent all day cleaning them ahead of the commemorations. It is sad to see the desecration of the republican plot. It is such a mindless, disgusting act. Well done to those in the Phoenix Historical Society and Sinn Féin members for cleaning up the plot."

Cork city councillor Ted Tynan, of the Workers' Party, said the timing of the vandalism was "sickening" given its proximity to the commemorations.

'Deliberately targeted'
"To think that the men and women who sacrificed their lives for this country could be treated with such utter contempt is disgusting. The fact that only the graves in the republican plot and of prominent republicans buried nearby have been covered with graffiti suggests that they were deliberately targeted," Mr Tynan said.

The Easter Sunday commemorations at the cemetery took place yesterday afternoon in inclement conditions. Participants assembled at the National Monument on Grand Parade in Cork for the parade to St Finbarr's. Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh delivered the oration at the cemetery.

Cllr O’Leary addressed the Easter Rising commemoration ceremony in Astna Square in Clonakilty, Co Cork, at lunchtime yesterday. Rising commemorations have been held in the town since 1981.