Free legal aid extended to Cork anti-immigrant activists accused of harassing garda

Free legal aid was extended today for the appointment of senior counsel to represent two anti-immigration activists Derek Blighe and Ross Lahive who are both accused of harassing a member of An Garda Síochána.

Each man appeared today at Cork Circuit Criminal Court represented by a solicitor and a barrister. 

Their barristers applied successfully to have a senior counsel appointed for each man on free legal aid.

Barristers Brendan Kelly and Jessica Kelleher for Mr Blighe and Mr Lahive respectively asked Judge Helen Boyle to extend free legal aid to the appointment of senior counsel to represent them at trial.

Mr Kelly said the prosecution involved a lot of video recordings uploaded to the internet and Cellebrite forensic computer analysis and that the injured party is a member of An Garda Síochána.

“It is a complex and rather unusual prosecution, involving a lot of data, the majority of which has not been disclosed to the defence,” Mr Kelly said. 

Ms Kelleher had a similar application in respect of Ross Lahive.

Judge Boyle said: “On the basis that there appears to be a significant amount of video evidence and interplay with the internet I will grant senior counsel to both parties.” 

Prosecution barrister Mahon Corkery said the state was not in a position to give the case a trial in these or the June sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court and that a date could be given on the opening day of the sessions commencing on October 27. 

Judge Boyle said she would first adjourn the case until June 22 for disclosure of prosecution evidence to the defence.

Derek Blighe (45) of Curraghavoe, Mitchelstown, County Cork, and Ross Lahive (46) of Church Street, Shandon Street, Cork, are charged that: “On dates between February 22 2023 and December 4 2023, they harassed (the garda) contrary to Section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.” 

Detective Sergeant Christopher Cahill testified previously that it was alleged that over a 10-month period from February to December 2023 there was a campaign of harassment against a member of An Garda Síochána and while this member was on duty at a public event in October 2022. 

It was further alleged that videos of the event were posted online, including various commentaries.