diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/tagging/TaggingServiceImpl.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/tagging/TaggingServiceImpl.java
index 886962f2c2..ccb404cd9c 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/tagging/TaggingServiceImpl.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/tagging/TaggingServiceImpl.java
@@ -415,8 +415,12 @@ public class TaggingServiceImpl implements TaggingService,
             // Queue all the before's for removal to the tag scope
             for (NodeRef beforeNodeRef : beforeNodeRefs)
             {
-                String tagName = getTagName(beforeNodeRef);
-                queueTagUpdate(nodeRef, tagName, false);
+                // Protect against InvalidNodeRefException(MNT-14453)
+                if (this.nodeService.exists(beforeNodeRef))
+                {
+                    String tagName = getTagName(beforeNodeRef);
+                    queueTagUpdate(nodeRef, tagName, false);
+                }
             }
         }
         else if (afterNodeRefs != null && beforeNodeRefs != null)
@@ -430,7 +434,8 @@ public class TaggingServiceImpl implements TaggingService,
                     // remove the node ref from the after list
                     afterNodeRefs.remove(beforeNodeRef);
                 }
-                else
+                // Protect against InvalidNodeRefException(MNT-14453)
+                else if (this.nodeService.exists(beforeNodeRef))
                 {
                     String tagName = getTagName(beforeNodeRef);
                     queueTagUpdate(nodeRef, tagName, false);
@@ -477,6 +482,15 @@ public class TaggingServiceImpl implements TaggingService,
         // Lower the case of the tag
         tag = tag.toLowerCase();
         
+        // Find nodes which are tagged with the 'soon to be deleted' tag.
+        List<NodeRef> taggedNodes = this.findTaggedNodes(storeRef, tag);
+        
+        // Clear the tag from the found nodes
+        for (NodeRef taggedNode : taggedNodes)
+        {
+            this.removeTag(taggedNode, tag);
+        }
+        
         NodeRef tagNodeRef = getTagNodeRef(storeRef, tag);
         if (tagNodeRef != null)
         {
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/service/cmr/tagging/TaggingService.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/service/cmr/tagging/TaggingService.java
index 614172831a..45d6026327 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/service/cmr/tagging/TaggingService.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/service/cmr/tagging/TaggingService.java
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ public interface TaggingService
     NodeRef createTag(StoreRef storeRef, String tag);
     
     /**
-     * Delete an existing tag
+     * Delete an existing tag and any references to it(cascade delete).
      * 
      * @param storeRef  store reference
      * @param tag       tag name
diff --git a/source/test-java/org/alfresco/repo/tagging/TaggingServiceImplTest.java b/source/test-java/org/alfresco/repo/tagging/TaggingServiceImplTest.java
index 42d167e716..dce52178e9 100644
--- a/source/test-java/org/alfresco/repo/tagging/TaggingServiceImplTest.java
+++ b/source/test-java/org/alfresco/repo/tagging/TaggingServiceImplTest.java
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ import org.alfresco.repo.audit.AuditComponent;
 import org.alfresco.repo.audit.AuditServiceImpl;
 import org.alfresco.repo.audit.UserAuditFilter;
 import org.alfresco.repo.jscript.ClasspathScriptLocation;
+import org.alfresco.repo.node.NodeRefPropertyMethodInterceptor;
 import org.alfresco.repo.policy.Behaviour.NotificationFrequency;
 import org.alfresco.repo.policy.JavaBehaviour;
 import org.alfresco.repo.policy.PolicyComponent;
@@ -122,6 +123,8 @@ public class TaggingServiceImplTest extends TestCase
     private MutableAuthenticationService authenticationService;
     private AsyncOccurs asyncOccurs;
     
+    private NodeRefPropertyMethodInterceptor nodeRefPropInterceptor;
+    
     private static StoreRef storeRef;
     private static NodeRef rootNode;
     private NodeRef folder;
@@ -181,6 +184,7 @@ public class TaggingServiceImplTest extends TestCase
         this.personService = (PersonService)ctx.getBean("PersonService");
         this.permissionService = (PermissionService)ctx.getBean("PermissionService");
         this.authenticationService = (MutableAuthenticationService)ctx.getBean("authenticationService");
+        this.nodeRefPropInterceptor = (NodeRefPropertyMethodInterceptor)ctx.getBean("nodeRefPropertyInterceptor");
 
         if (init == false)
         {
@@ -2347,4 +2351,43 @@ public class TaggingServiceImplTest extends TestCase
             }
         });    	
     }
+    
+    /**
+     * Tests that when the deleteTag() method runs, it will remove invalid references to the deleted tag. 
+     */
+    public void testDeleteTag() throws Exception{
+        
+        try{
+            // We instruct the 'nodeRefPropInterceptor' to skip processing on the 'get' methods.
+            // This is needed because this interceptor removes any properties which are invalid. e.g. have been deleted.
+            // We need to make sure that the 'taggable' property stays put. 
+            nodeRefPropInterceptor.setFilterOnGet(false);
+            
+            this.transactionService.getRetryingTransactionHelper().doInTransaction(new RetryingTransactionCallback<Void>(){
+
+                @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                @Override
+                public Void execute() throws Throwable
+                {
+                    taggingService.clearTags(folder);
+                    taggingService.addTag(folder, TAG_1);
+                    
+                    // The deleteTag() should remove any reference to the deleted tag
+                    List<NodeRef> taggableProperty = (List<NodeRef>) nodeService.getProperty(folder, ContentModel.PROP_TAGS);
+                    assertTrue("Our folder should have a reference on one tag.", taggableProperty.size() == 1);
+                    
+                    taggingService.deleteTag(TaggingServiceImplTest.storeRef, TAG_1);
+                    
+                    // The deleteTag() should remove any reference to the deleted tag
+                    taggableProperty = (List<NodeRef>) nodeService.getProperty(folder, ContentModel.PROP_TAGS);
+                    assertTrue("Our folder shouldn't have any references left to deleted tags.", taggableProperty.size() == 0);
+                    
+                    return null;
+                }
+            });
+        } finally{
+            nodeRefPropInterceptor.setFilterOnGet(true);
+        }
+    }
+
 }