Thursday 29 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. 2338Failing to comply with a garda direction (Public Order Act) · Co. Dublin · 15 Jul 2024

Philip Dwyer convicted of failing to obey garda direction during Coolock riots

On 15 July 2024 at Malahide Road in Coolock, Dublin, unrest broke out after the Government announced plans to use the disused Crown Paints factory to accommodate international protection applicants. Philip Dwyer, a 56-year-old man from Tallaght, was charged under the Public Order Act with failing to comply with a garda direction and refusing to give his name and address, and he denied both. On 13 February 2025 at Dublin District Court, Judge John Hughes cleared him of refusing to give his name but found him guilty of failing to leave the area as directed. He was given a two-month suspended sentence, a €500 fine, and ordered to report to the Probation Service every three months for two years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced13 Feb
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Philip Dwyer is a 56-year-old man and father-of-three from Tallaght Cross West, Tallaght, Dublin 24.
Where
The incident took place at Malahide Road in Coolock, Dublin, near the disused Crown Paints factory.
When
The incident occurred on 15 July 2024.
Cause
Unrest followed the Government's announcement that it would use the disused Crown Paints factory to accommodate hundreds of international protection applicants.
Other details
  • About 200 people were at Malahide Road, and two Garda car windows were damaged and another vehicle was set on fire.
  • A piece of masonry was thrown and struck Detective Inspector Alan McDevitt's head, and McDevitt had given the direction to leave the area.
  • Dwyer was live-streaming to 13,000 followers at the time, and he claimed he had told youths throwing stones to stop and had complied with gardaí within seconds.
Charges
Dwyer was charged under the Public Order Act with failing to comply with a garda direction and refusing to give his name and address, and he denied both.
Investigation
Garda body-cam footage was used in a court case for the first time to secure a conviction, and Dwyer could be heard on it accusing Gardaí of being unable to control unvetted people coming in.
In court
  • Dwyer was cleared of refusing to give Gardaí his name and address.
  • On 13 February 2025, Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court found Dwyer guilty of failing to comply with a direction to leave the area.
  • Judge Hughes held that Dwyer was not protected by his claim to be a journalist or citizen journalist under Section 8 of the Public Order Act.
Sentence
Dwyer received a two-month suspended sentence and a €500 fine, and must report to the Probation Service every three months for two years.
36 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatPhilip Dwyer is 56, a father-of-three from Tallaght Cross West, Tallaght, Dublin 24. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 15 July at Malahide Road (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeUnrest in the area followed the Government's announcement to use the disused Crown Paints factory to accommodate hundreds of international protection applicants. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeUnrest followed the Government's announcement to use the disused Crown Paints factory for international protection applicants (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with failing to comply with a garda direction and refusing to give his name and address under the Public Order Act on 15 July at Malahide Road. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeDwyer was found guilty of failing to comply with a direction to leave the area (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHe was cleared of refusing to tell gardaí his name. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe was found guilty of failing to comply with a direction to leave the area. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Hughes held that Dwyer had not obeyed and did not leave immediately as required under the law. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge stated Dwyer was not protected by the claim of being a journalist or citizen journalist under section 8 of the Public Order Act. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtPhilip Dwyer was convicted and sentenced at Dublin District Court by Judge John Hughes (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Hughes held Dwyer was not protected by the claim of being a journalist under Section 8 of the Public Order Act (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceHe was handed a two-month suspended sentence by Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceHe was fined €500. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceHe was ordered to report to the Probation Service every three months for the next two years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceHe received a two-month suspended sentence (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceHe was ordered to report to the Probation Service every three months for two years (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGarda body-cam footage was used for the first time in a court case to secure a conviction. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe could have faced six months in jail. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe was live-streaming to 13,000 followers at the time of the incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe was a self-described citizen journalist, a trainee journalist on a course, did freelance work with sporadic income totalling about €500 a year, and relied on social welfare. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe was a former property manager and window repairman who also depended on donations for equipment. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused claimed he had told youths throwing stones to stop and that he complied with the garda within seconds. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe had minor road traffic convictions dating back to 2014. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherIt was the first case to use Garda body-cam footage for a prosecution (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherDwyer was cleared of refusing to tell Gardaí his name (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherDwyer was live-streaming to 13,000 followers at the time of the incident (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherDwyer was a trainee journalist on a course with freelance income of about €500 a year and relied on social welfare (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherDwyer unsuccessfully ran in the previous year's European, general and local elections (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherDetective Inspector Alan McDevitt gave the direction to leave the area (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAbout 200 people were at Malahide Road near the factory (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherTwo Garda car windows were damaged and another vehicle was set on fire (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA piece of masonry was thrown and struck Detective Inspector McDevitt's head (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherDwyer accused Gardaí of being unable to control unvetted people coming in (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherDwyer had minor road traffic convictions dating back to 2014 (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe judge described the situation as riotous conditions (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Feb2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Citizen journalist convicted in first case using body-cam evidence makes history

    First court case in Ireland to use Garda body-cam footage to secure a conviction. Dwyer was cleared of refusing to give his name but convicted of failing to comply with a direction to leave. The judge held he was not protected by his claim of being a journalist under Section 8 of the Public Order Act.

    convicted, Philip Dwyer, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Philip Dwyer
  2. 13 Feb2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Garda body-cam footage used in prosecution of anti-immigration activist arrested during Coolock riots

    Reports the conviction and sentencing of Philip Dwyer, noting the first-ever use of Garda body-cam footage in court to secure a conviction. He was cleared of refusing to give his name but found guilty of failing to leave the area as directed.

    convicted, Philip Dwyer, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Philip Dwyer