"Weaponization of the Tricolor" as symbol of anti-immigrant hate to be examined by council

The move follows a similar campaign in England, in which English flags have been hoisted to mark territory and as an anti-immigrant statement.

Darragh Moriarty, Labor councilor for Dublin South Central, submitted a written question to the council’s chief executive, enquiring as to how it would "tackle the weaponization of the Tricolor by far-right and malicious agitators".

He claimed there was "hateful and harmful intent behind the erection of these Tricolors".

People Before Profit councilor Conor Reddy also claimed flags had been erected by "people who are involved in anti-immigration movements" in his area of Ballymun-Finglas.

In a response to Cllr Moriarty’s question, Dublin City Council said it was "aware of the concerns".

It stressed that the issue was "sensitive" and "should be informed by a comprehensive risk assessment of the situation".

 Cllr Moriarty said the flags were "a trap", claiming far-right activists actually wanted the council to take them down so they could then put them back up as a statement.

But Independent councilor Malachy Steenson rejected the idea that the flags were intended to intimidate, saying: "If someone is offended by my country’s flag, then they’re maybe in the wrong country."

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.