The good ones always emigrate.

From Knoxnews.com in Tennessee:

These Irishmen were so enamored with the U.S., they stole an American flag from the TVA building in downtown Knoxville in January and draped themselves in it, according to their attorney. And at least one of them has a picture to prove it.

John Patrick Kerrigan, 33, (top) and James Mulroy, 28, (above) both of Dublin, had been charged with vandalism and misdemeanor theft after they jumped Jan. 18 from a taxi, cut the flagpole rope at the TVA building off Summit Hill Drive to bring the flag down and then darted off with it into the Crowne Plaza hotel where they were staying.

Their excuse?

…their attorney, Tommy Hindman, insisted it was an act of American patriotism – albeit a drunken one.

And later

Because fellow Irishman and well-known actor Colin Farrell was in town around the time of the the pair’s shenanigans, rumors abounded the duo stole the flag at Farrell’s behest. Not so, says Hindman.

“I asked them if they knew Colin Farrell,” he said. “They said, ‘Who?'”

Lawyer: Visiting Irishmen Who Stole Old Glory ‘Loved America’ (Knoxnews.com)