Vandalism at Ballysaggartmore Towers near Lismore has been described as disgraceful.
It's understood to have happened in the last couple of days when someone graffitied 'Vaccine Genocide' in red paint on the side of one of the historic structures.
Councillor John Pratt says it's a blight on a beautiful area:
"Look, the locals are absolutely disgusted at this appalling behaviour. And it's a very, very well known walk and a very well-used walking area between Ballyduff and Lismore.
"I suppose it was done at a time over Christmas, knowing that getting it removed was going to be a little bit more difficult than normal."
Given the popularity of the area, and how far in off the road it is, Councillor Pratt believes it has to have been a pre-meditated incident:
"A lot of people would be using the area so they knew it would be causing distress and issues for people.
"Unfortunately, these people are out there and it shouldn't be happening, but it would be great to think that they could be caught. The probability of that is probably slim but hopefully over time they will actually be found out.
"... It's in red writing and it's 'Vaccine Genocide' that's been written on the building. I'm hoping that sooner rather than later, the council will get out there to remove this.
"It's disgraceful. Hopefully anyone who knows who did it will come forward. It would be great if they could be brought to justice."
In a statement to WLR, a spokesperson for Waterford City and County Council says, "Waterford City and County Council is aware of the graffiti and while the Towers are privately owned but leased by the Council, the Council’s Outdoor Crew will be removing the graffiti at Ballysaggartmore Towers today/tomorrow."
