Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe charged with harassing garda over 10 months
Derek Blighe, 45, of Curraghavoe, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, an anti-immigration activist and former leader of the Ireland First party, was charged with a single count of harassing a male garda between 22 February and 4 December 2023. The alleged harassment involved filming an incident on Anglesea Street, Cork, in which another man accosted the officer, following the garda for several hundred metres to Parnell Place, livestreaming on Facebook, and posting messages on social media over the following months. Blighe was arrested early on 23 September 2025 and appeared before Cork District Court, where Judge Mary Dorgan accepted jurisdiction and the DPP directed summary disposal only in the event of a guilty plea. He was remanded on his own bond of €500 with conditions including weekly sign-on at Fermoy Garda station and no social media commentary about the case. He is due to appear again at Cork District Court on 18 November 2025.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged23 Sep
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Derek Blighe was charged with a single count of harassment of a garda between 22 February and 4 December 2023.
- The alleged harassment involved filming an incident where another man accosted the garda, following the officer for several hundred metres, livestreaming on Facebook, and posting messages on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube in April, August, October and December 2023.
- The other man who accosted the garda is also due to be charged with harassment of the officer.
- Where
- The incident took place on Anglesea Street, Cork, and the garda was followed to the Bus Éireann terminal in Parnell Place.
- When
- The accosting of the garda by the other man is dated as October 2022 in one account and 22 February 2023 in another.
- Blighe was arrested early on 23 September 2025.
- In court
- Blighe appeared before Cork District Court where Judge Mary Dorgan accepted jurisdiction, noting the case was at the upper limit of her jurisdiction.
- The DPP directed summary disposal at District Court level only in the event of a guilty plea.
- Blighe was to appear again at Cork District Court on 18 November 2025.
- Sentence
- Blighe was remanded on his own bond of €500 with conditions including residing at his home address, signing on Monday and Friday at Fermoy Garda station, no contact with the complainant, no social media commentary about the case, and being contactable round the clock.
- Other details
- Blighe, 45, of Curraghavoe, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, is an anti-immigration activist and former leader of the Ireland First political party.
- The complainant said the filming and social media activity caused the garda and his family considerable distress.
18 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDerek Blighe was charged with a single count of harassment between February 22 and December 4, 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe charge arose from an incident at a public event in October 2022 where the garda was accosted by another man. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe other man is also due to be charged with harassment of the officer. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBlighe filmed the incident and followed the garda for several hundred metres from Anglesea Street to Parnell Place. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBlighe livestreamed the incident on his Facebook page. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe garda was afraid to board a bus home at the Bus Éireann terminal in Parnell Place. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBlighe posted messages in April, August, October and December 2023 on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube making comments about the garda. (irishtimes.com)
- whatIn a December 4, 2023 post, Blighe said the officer was terrified and afraid to leave his home. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe complainant said the filming and social activity caused the garda and his family considerable distress. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe other man accosted the officer on Anglesea Street, Cork, on 22 February 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenBlighe was arrested early on Tuesday, 23 September 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBlighe appeared before Cork District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe DPP directed summary disposal at District Court level only in the event of a guilty plea. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Mary Dorgan accepted jurisdiction, noting the case was at the upper limit of her jurisdiction. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBlighe was to appear again at Cork District Court on 18 November 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBlighe was remanded on his own bond of €500 with conditions including residing at his home address and signing on Monday and Friday at Fermoy Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBlighe was required to have no contact with the complainant, not post commentary about the case on social media, and be contactable round the clock. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBlighe was formerly the leader of the Ireland First political party. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 23 Sep2025Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe accused of harassing garda over 10 months
Details of the harassment campaign including filming, livestreaming on Facebook, and social media posts from February to December 2023; bail conditions including €500 bond, weekly sign-on at Fermoy Garda station, and no social media contact with the complainant; Blighe's background as former Ireland First leader who polled over 25,000 first preference votes in the European elections.
suspect, Derek Blighe, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Blighevictim, male