Two Dubliners visiting East Tennessee have been accused of stealing an American flag. 

NBC’s WBIR reports that at 3am on Wednesday 18th January, a cab driver saw John Kerrigan (33) and James Mulroy (28) cut down the flag from the front of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) building in downtown Knoxville. 

According to reports on VolunteerTV.com, the pair jumped out of a taxi and cut the rope holding the flag.

The TVA and the Knoxville police tracked the men down at the Crowne Plaza hotel and found them asleep with the American flag on the floor between their beds. 

They are charged with theft ($500 or less) and vandalism ($500 of less).

Agency spokeswoman Barbara Martocci said the utility doesn't plan to fly it again.

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