A Garda investigation has begun into the destruction of 26 gravestones in Dundalk town cemetery.
The vandalism was condemned by local people and has led to a call for the local authority to pay for insurance so the cost of replacing the expensive gravestones and surrounds will not have to be met by relatives of the deceased.
"Some people used their life savings or took out loans for the grave of a loved one and they have been desecrated," said Mr Séamus Keelan, chairman of the burial board in Dundalk.
Six gravestones and surrounds were completely destroyed and left as rubble, while 22 others suffered damage.
On one grave the imprint of a boot can be seen and gardaí took fingerprints from some graves.
"The graves seem to have been targeted randomly. The people who work here maintaining the cemetery are simply disgusted by this. We know that a lot of people are simply not in a position to replace the headstone and I feel sorry for them," the caretaker said yesterday.
Mr Keelan said if the culprits were found, their parents should be forced to pay for the damage.
"Giving their children community service won't do, they should have to pay for what they did; as someone said this is the lowest of the low."
He also called for Louth county manager, Ms Martina Maloney, to pay for insuring the graveyard in case it should happen again.
"I would ask anyone who knows who was involved with this or has information on it to come forward."