Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe to go on trial for harassment of garda

Olivia Kelleher

Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe is set to go on trial next year, 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.

Defence solicitor Frank Buttimer told Cork District Court that his client would be pleading not guilty to the charge. Sgt John Dineen said gardaí would require time to prepare a book of evidence in the case for the matter to be tried in the circuit court.

Judge Joanne Carroll remanded Mr Blighe on bail to appear before Cork District Court on January 13th, 2026.

Det Sgt Christopher Cahill previously told the court that gardaí would allege 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 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.

Under the terms of his bail, Mr Blighe has to sign 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.

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