Anti-immigrant campaigner Derek Blighe charged with harassment of a garda

Olivia Kelleher

Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe has appeared before Cork District Court charged with the harassment of a member of An Garda Síochána.

Mr Blighe of Curraghvoe, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, is charged that on dates between February 22nd, 2023, and December 4th, 2023, he harassed a garda.

The alleged offence is contrary to Section 10 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Det Sgt Christopher Cahill said that Mr Blighe and another man were involved in a “campaign of harassment” against the garda. His co-accused in the case has yet to appear before the court.

Det Sgt Cahill gave evidence of the arrest, charge, and caution of Mr Blighe. He told Judge Mary Dorgan that he arrested the 45-year-old at 7:20am on Tuesday at Ballygiblin, in Co Cork.

He said that Mr Blighe replied “no comment” when the charge was put to him under caution at Togher Garda Station in Cork city.

Dt Sgt Cahill said that the case of the State is that Mr Blighe harassed the garda for a period of 10 months.

He stated that in February 2023 the victim in the case was walking outside Cork District Court having given evidence in a separate case when he was approached on Anglesea Street by the accused and two other people.

The garda was wearing a civilian jacket as he walked down the street.

He was allegedly recorded and live-streamed by the accused who also verbally abused him. A video of the interaction was posted on social media.

Dt Sgt Cahill said that the garda was followed by the people filming him. He was afraid to get his bus home in case his address became public.

Det Sgt Cahill said that a video of the incident, which had a caption with derogatory comments about the garda, was viewed several thousand times online.

He stated that Mr Blighe also allegedly went on to post videos of himself talking about the alleged victim in the case in April, August, and December 2023. In one post, Mr Blighe allegedly said that the garda was “terrified” and “afraid to leave his home.”

Dt Sgt Cahill said that the alleged harassment has had a negative effect on the Garda and his family.

“The victim will say he had not consented to being recorded. He was prevented from going to a bus station to go home because he feared he would be followed. The victim was distressed and it has had a negative impact on him and his family.”

Sgt John Dineen said that the DPP had consented to the case being dealt with at district court level once a guilty plea is entered. It will be heard at Cork Circuit Court if Mr Blighe opts to contest the case against him.

Judge Dorgan said that the case was at the “highest level” of what she would accept in the District Court. She accepted jurisdiction in the case in the event of guilty plea being entered.

Defence solicitor Frank Buttimer asked for a six to eight week adjournment in the case to allow for disclosure. Mr Buttimer indicated that an application for legal aid will be made at a later date.

“Mr Blighe is working but he needs to assess his means. “

Mr Blighe agreed to adhere to bail conditions set down by the court which included that he enter his own bond of €500 and on twice a week at Fermoy Garda station in Co Cork.

He also has to refrain from having any contact, direct or indirect, with the alleged victim in the case. Mr Blighe cannot post about anything related to the case on social media.

He also has to be in possession of a fully charged and in credit mobile 24 hours a day so that he can be contactable to gardaí.

Mr Blighe, who was wearing a grey hoodie tracksuit top and an olive green pants said that he understood the terms of his bail. He was remanded on bail under November 18th next to consider his position in the case.

Derek Blighe was eliminated in the 16th count in the European Parliament elections in June 2024 having received 38,625 votes.