Trump's Irish golf course damaged by protestors

Irish police are investigating after damage was caused to the course in Doonbeg, County Clare

A golf course owned by US President Donald Trump in the Republic of Ireland has been damaged by vandals.

Gardaí (Irish police) are investigating after what is described as "criminal damage" was caused to the Trump International Golf Links Ireland in Doonbeg, County Clare.

BBC News NI understands that the damage was confined to the course, and it included graffiti linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict in the Middle East.

The graffiti is believed to have been in support of Palestine and critical of the US president.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses, and in particular those who were in the area from around teatime on Wednesday until midnight.

The US president and members of the Trump family have previously visited the course

President Trump has visited the course previously and some members of his family are regular visitors to the resort.

The vandalism came just hours after Trump hosted Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin at the White House during annual St Patrick's Day celebrations.

During their meeting in the Oval Office, the president told the taoiseach that he hopes to visit Doonbeg again in the near future.

He said he would like to meet Martin at the resort.

The Doonbeg course was bought by The Trump Organisation in 2014.

Paint was daubed on one of the Turnberry resort's buildings

Last weekend, a pro-Palestinian group vandalised parts of Donald Trump's Turnberry golf resort in Scotland.

Palestine Action posted photographs on social media showing red paint daubed across one of the buildings at the Ayrshire course.

The words "Gaza is not for sale" was sprayed across one green and another green appeared to have been dug up.