Wreaths were taken from the memorial and vandalised at some time on Saturday evening after which a young man was arrested.

UUP Cllr Trevor Wilson has strongly condemned those behind the attacks.

"It's a gross insult to those people, from all sections of communities, who died in the great wars," he said. "I would like to appeal for an end to this type of behaviour and would hope that it isn't repeated."

The Chairman of Cookstown District Council, Tony Quinn, echoed those sentiments and said the act was something carried out by mindless thugs.

"The guys that would do this are mindless thugs and the people that do this kind of thing are to be utterly condemned," he said.

"The mind actually boggles why people would want to do this when the cenotaph is there as something to commemorate the war dead from both sides of the community and all sections of life.

"I hope that this is an isolated incident and is something that doesn't come to light again."

A 19 year old male arrested on suspicion of causing damage to the war memorial wreaths has since been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Meanwhile, police have asked anyone who may have noticed anything suspicious in the area on Saturday night to contact them immediately.