Ireland Named in reporting
Derek Blighe
Born 1980, from the ages reported. 11 reports across 3 cases, 15 Nov 2024 to 9 Feb 2026
Key facts
from every report naming them- Named as
- Convicted, accused, suspect
- Born
- 1980, from the ages reported
- Nationality
- Irish, as stated in a report
- Offences
- Harassment of a garda, Public order (threatening and abusive behaviour), Harassment of a garda (Section 10, Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act)
- Where
- Co. Cork
- Reporting
- 11 reports, 15 Nov 2024 to 9 Feb 2026
- Outlets
- irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie, rte.ie, irishmirror.ie
Photographs
as published, with the outlet's credit
Images are shown from the outlet that published them and link back to the article. Copyright stays with the credited photographer or agency.
Cases
latest first- Man sent forward for trial on garda harassment charge in Cork Harassment of a garda (Section 10 · Co. Cork
In February 2023, a garda walking outside Cork District Court in a civilian jacket was allegedly recorded, live-streamed and verbally abused by anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe and two others on Anglesea Street, Cork, and a video of the incident was posted on social media with derogatory comments and viewed several thousand times. Blighe, of Mitchelstown, Co Cork, was charged with harassing a garda under Section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act on dates between 22 February 2023 and 4 December 2023. Co-accused Ross Lahive, 46, a former European election candidate for the People Party, is charged with harassing a garda on dates between 9 October 2022 and 6 February 2025. Both men were sent forward to Cork Circuit Criminal Court for trial, remanded on bail, and Blighe pleaded not guilty while Lahive is contesting the case.
In court, 1 Feb 2026Accused · 2 reports - Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe charged with harassing garda over 10 months Harassment of a garda · Co. Cork
Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe, a 45-year-old man and former leader of the Ireland First party, was charged with harassing a male garda over a ten-month period in Cork. The alleged harassment began on 22 February 2023 when Blighe filmed and live-streamed the officer on Anglesea Street, followed him to Parnell Place, and verbally abused him, and continued through social media posts in April, August, October and December 2023. Blighe was arrested on 23 September 2025 and charged with a single count of harassment under Section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. He appeared at Cork District Court, where the DPP directed that the case be dealt with at district court level only in the event of a guilty plea. In November 2025 Blighe pleaded not guilty and was remanded on bail to stand trial at Cork Circuit Court in January 2026.
In court, 23 Sep 2025Accused, suspect · 3 reports - Blighe given Probation Act in Cork public order case Public order (threatening and abusive behaviour) · Co. Cork
Derek Blighe, 44, an Irish man and president of the right-wing Ireland First party, was alleged to have engaged in threatening and abusive behaviour towards Christopher Gomez, an Irish man and duty manager at Abbeyville House, during a protest outside the building in Fermoy, Co. Cork, on 22 December 2023. Blighe recorded Gomez on his mobile phone, told him to go back where he came from, and live-streamed the incident, which Gomez said traumatised him. Blighe was found guilty at Fermoy District Court in November 2024 and ordered to donate €350 to the Irish Refugee Council to avoid a conviction, but he refused and was convicted and fined €400 in December 2024. At Cork Circuit Appeals Court in March 2025, Judge Helen Boyle directed that €500 be paid to the Irish Red Cross instead, and Blighe was given the benefit of the Probation of the Offenders Act in July 2025.
Sentenced, 14 Dec 2024Convicted, suspect · 6 reports
Timeline
every report naming Derek Blighe, newest firstEach entry shows how that report described them.
- 9 Feb2026Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe sent forward for trial on garda harassment chargeaccused, Derek Blighe, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Blighe
- 1 Feb2026Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe to go on trial on charge of harassing gardaaccused, Derek Blighe, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Blighe
- 19 Nov2025Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe to stand trial in January on charge of harrassing gardaaccused, Derek Blighe, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Blighe
- 23 Sep2025Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe appears in court charged with harassing gardasuspect, Derek Blighe, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Blighe
- 23 Sep2025Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe accused of harassing garda over 10 monthssuspect, Derek Blighe, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Blighe
- 15 Jul2025Blighe given Probation Act after €500 payment to charityconvicted, Derek Blighe, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Blighe
- 14 Dec2024Anti-immigration activist fined over abusive behaviourconvicted, Derek Blighe, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Blighe
- 13 Dec2024Derek Blighe convicted and fined after refusing to make donation to Irish Refugee Councilsuspect, Derek Blighe, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Blighe
- 15 Nov2024General election candidate found guilty of threatening and abusive behaviourconvicted, Derek Blighe, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Blighe
- 15 Nov2024Ireland First election candidate Derek Blighe found guilty of threatening behaviourconvicted, Derek Blighe, 44, male, Irish, named, irishDerek Blighe
- 15 Nov2024Far-right activist Derek Blighe told to make donation to refugee charity at Fermoy court hearingconvicted, Derek Blighe, 44, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Blighe
Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.