It is “utterly unacceptable” and “highly regrettable” that a Pride disco for young people had to be cancelled following threats of protest, Taoiseach Simon Harris has said.

A “Rainbow Disco” for teenagers that was planned to take place in Newtownmountkennedy, in the Taoiseach’s Wicklow constituency, was cancelled following “threats”.

The Wicklow Pride group stated that there had been “threats of protests from some residents of Newtownmountkennedy.

READ MORE: 'I'm staying in my home' - Taoiseach Simon Harris responds to bomb threat on family home

They also said the group had been accused of being “paedophiles” and “groomers”.

“One of our committee members experienced a horrifying invasion of privacy when someone placed a vile note through their letterbox branding them with that same disgusting accusation,” the statement said.

Asked about the cancellation of the event by the Irish Mirror at the European Council meeting in Brussels, the Taoiseach said he was “concerned” by the situation.

“I think it's utterly unacceptable that that's happened. It's not on,” he said.

“I'm really saddened that it happened, quite frankly.

“It is not the Wicklow or the community that I know and I've lived in all my life.

“I think pride has been such a great moment of both celebration of inclusion and diversity in Ireland, but also a moment of protests and challenge that we must do more, we must do better and that our journey isn't finished.

“I find it highly regrettable that that has happened in relation to that and particularly some of what I read in relation to how individual organisers were perhaps intimidated or targeted in some way.”

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