Friday 30 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 14117Dangerous driving (driving through a crowd, creating substantial risk of death or serious harm) · Co. Dublin

Man sentenced to 16 months for driving car into East Wall immigration protest

On 15 February 2023, Stephen Bedford, 38, drove a vehicle through a crowd at an anti-immigration protest, colliding with one man, the injured party, at the Five Lamps junction in Dublin. Bedford pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to driving through a crowd and creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to others. On 27 March 2025, Judge Martin Nolan jailed him for 16 months.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced27 Mar
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Stephen Bedford, 38, drove a vehicle through a crowd at an anti-immigration protest and collided with one man, the injured party.
Where
The offence took place at the Five Lamps junction; one source places the protest in Dublin's North Strand, and another describes it as the East Wall protest.
When
The offence took place on 15 February 2023.
Investigation
Garda Eoin Cannon testified that he saw Bedford at an anti-immigration protest in the Amiens Street area that evening, and that Bedford was carrying a backpack, speaker and microphone.
Charges
Bedford pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle through a crowd of people, creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to others.
In court
  • Bedford was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the judge said the speed was not great but that Bedford could have caused injury.
  • Gardaí told the court that Bedford could have used several other routes to leave the area.
Sentence
Judge Martin Nolan jailed Bedford for 16 months on 27 March 2025.
Other details
  • Bedford was streaming the events live to Facebook.
  • The injured party said he had to attend hospital for medical treatment, and a doctor noted no visible bruising to his foot, toe or leg.
  • The judge said he could not be certain Bedford would not reoffend.
  • The court heard that Bedford has previous convictions relating to various protests and was sent to prison in 2015 in connection with a squat at Grangegorman.
23 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatStephen Bedford was sentenced to 16 months in prison. (rte.ie)
  • whatBedford's vehicle collided with one person, the injured party. (rte.ie)
  • whatA left-wing activist live-streamed himself driving his jeep into an anti-immigration protest. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe offence took place at the Five Lamps junction. (rte.ie)
  • whereGardaí saw Bedford at an anti-immigration protest in the Amiens Street area that evening. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe protest took place in Dublin's North Strand. (gript.ie)
  • whenThe offence took place on 15 February 2023. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place in February 2023. (gript.ie)
  • investigationGarda Eoin Cannon testified that he saw Bedford at the protest. (rte.ie)
  • chargeBedford pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle through a crowd of people, creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to others. (rte.ie, gript.ie)
  • courtBedford was before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtJudge Martin Nolan noted that the speed was not great but said Bedford could have caused injury. (rte.ie)
  • courtHe was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (gript.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the speed was not great but that Bedford could have caused injury. (gript.ie)
  • courtGardaí told the court Bedford could have used several other routes to leave the area. (gript.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Martin Nolan jailed Bedford for 16 months. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to 16 months in prison. (gript.ie)
  • otherBedford was streaming the events to Facebook. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe injured party said he had to attend hospital for medical treatment. (rte.ie)
  • otherA doctor noted no visible bruising to the injured party's foot, toe or leg. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe judge said he could not be certain Bedford would not reoffend. (gript.ie)
  • otherThe court heard Bedford has previous convictions relating to various protests. (gript.ie)
  • otherBedford was previously sent to prison in 2015 in connection with a squat at Grangegorman. (gript.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Mar2025
    Sentencedgript.ie, first report
    Man who drove car into East Wall immigration protest is jailed - Gript

    Sentencing report: 16 months in prison for driving into the East Wall Says No protest in February 2023. This is a different incident from existing case 7345 (Pimlico Tavern squat, October 2023), despite the same name.

    convicted, Stephen Bedford, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Bedford
  2. 27 Mar2025
    Sentencedrte.ie, follow-up
    Man who drove into anti-immigration protester jailed

    Adds the sentencing details: 16-month prison term, the Five Lamps junction location, the Amiens Street area protest, the injured party's hospital attendance, and the judge's remarks. Gives 15 February 2023 as the incident date.

    convicted, Stephen Bedford, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Bedfordvictim, male