In the first incident, a Tricolour was discovered at a Protestant church in Kilrea on Easter Sunday.

The following day, a Union Flag was erected over a Catholic church hall in the town.

UUP councillor Olive Church, who is a member of the Church of Ireland, said she deplored both incidents.

She said: “These are just stupid acts from an element we have that just wants to cause problems. It’s really stupid, these people are idiots. I don’t think there is a word to describe them.

“They have nothing better to do than create ill-feeling and resentment and they are not doing anybody any good.”

SDLP MLA John Dallat said the raising of the Republic’s flag over St Patrick’s Church of Ireland was a “silly stunt”.

He condemned those responsible for both incidents, and said while they were mischievous actions, they were also potentially dangerous.

Mr Dallat said: “Given that our political stability is still somewhat volatile, actions like these are very unwelcome.”

He said relations in Kilrea were generally very good: “Neither the Catholic or Protestant community are going to respond to these silly stunts which do nothing for community relations other than remind us that we must be ready at all times to resist being goaded into any kind of support for those who are doing these things.

“The congregation of the Church of Ireland have my deepest regret that their church was used to fly a Tricolour on Easter Sunday.

“Likewise, as a member of the Catholic community, I deeply regret that the Marian Hall, built in honour of Our Lady, was also desecrated by the sectarian flying of the Union Flag.

“My only satisfaction is that those involved in both incidents do not represent anyone other than their own perverse notions of nationhood and clearly don’t know or have forgotten that too many people have lost their lives over flags, not just here but all over the world.

“John Hume’s statement, ‘You cannot eat a flag’, is as true today as it was 40 years ago when he first made it.”