The president of an Irish-American lobby group has said if Donald Trump wins another four year term as US president, America "may not recover for another 100 years".
Father Sean McManus is head of the Irish National Caucus in Washington.
He was speaking as the counting of votes continues in the US presidential election.
He told Newstalk Breakfast: "If Trump wins another four years, America is in profoundly serious trouble and may not recover for another 100 years.
"And I don't know if people at home in Ireland, and Dublin, realise the seriousness of it.
"I came to this country in 1972 - and I was aware of course of the problems America had.
"But it never even occurred to me to be troubled about the future of America.
"I always hoped that things would improve in the civil rights movement and all of that.
"But now since Trump has taken over him, I have seen how quickly a great democracy can be imploded from inside by the President of the United States.
"He has done ferocious damage to America, he has taken down and assaulted every one of the main institutions in America.
"It's quite extraordinary and it's quite frightening."
"Now he's talking about the Democrats stealing the election - they're not trying to do that.
"But he has made every effort to do that.
"He is an appalling figure in American history: he has embarrassed America before the world, he has humiliated America before the world, he has made America the laughingstock of the world.
"This is something I never dreamed I would be saying".
But Mr Trump has already claimed victory and alleged fraud.
In an address to the nation from the White House, he vowed to take his fight to the Supreme Court because he wants "the law to be used in a proper manner".
"We will win this and as far as I'm concerned we already have won it," Mr Trump added - though 10 states are yet to declare and result remains on a knife-edge.
Earlier, his Democratic challenger Joe Biden said people should "keep the faith".
Addressing Americans at a drive-in rally he likely hoped would have been the site of a victory speech in Delaware, Mr Biden said people should "keep the faith" while vote counting continues.
"It may take a little longer," he warned.
