A number of graves in a cemetery in Lucan, Co Dublin, were damaged at the weekend in what gardaí described as an act of "pure vandalism". There was also damage caused at a cemetery in Arklow, Co Wicklow.
Between 10 and 15 graves were desecrated at Esker Cemetery, which is the biggest in Lucan.
Gravestones were damaged, headstones knocked over, statues, ornaments and memorabilia smashed, and flowers uprooted.
The incident happened between 9 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. yesterday.
The damage was discovered by a cemetery maintenance man.
A garda spokesman last night said that there did not seem to be any set pattern to the damage. The incident was an act of pure vandalism. Gardaí from Lucan investigated the scene yesterday.
In Arklow, kerb stones around 10 graves in the town's cemetery were smashed when at least one vehicle drove over them during Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Tracks of one vehicle, possibly a four wheel drive, were visible after it was driven across a line of graves in the older section of St Gabriel's Cemetery.
One grave collapsed completely from the impact of one, or possibly two vehicles driving across it, and the kerb stones on several other graves were broken.
Councillor Pat Fitzgerald of Arklow Town Council said: "We have reached a new low in our town and this incomprehensible vandalism has shocked our people."