Garda harassment case involving anti-immigrant activist Derek Blighe is adjourned
Olivia Kelleher
Further directions are awaited from the DPP in relation to anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe who is charged with the harassment of a member of An Garda Síochána.
Mr Blighe of Curraghvoe, Mitchelstown Co Cork appeared before Cork District Court, having previously been 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.
Sgt Gearoid Davis applied for an adjournment of the case to allow for further directions from the DPP. Mr Blighe is pleading not guilty to the charge.
Defence solicitor Frank Buttimer asked that Mr Blighe’s bail conditions be relaxed. As it stands Mr Blighe (45) has to sign on at his Garda station on a twice-weekly basis.
Judge John King reduced the signing-on order from twice to just once a week.
Meanwhile, Dt Sgt Christopher Cahill previously said that Mr Blighe and another man were involved in a “campaign of harassment” against the garda.
Dt Sgt Cahill said that the case of the State is that Mr Blighe harassed the garda for a period of ten months.
He stated that in February 2023, the victim in the case was walking outside Cork District Cour,t 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 harmed him and his family.”
Under the terms of his bail Mr Blighe 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 have a fully charged and in-credit mobile 24 hours a day so that he can be contactable to gardaí.
Derek Blighe was eliminated in the 16th count in the European Parliament elections in June 2024.
