Irish far right 'using false information' to target immigrants, warns Policing Authority

Policing Authority said the stabbing attack on children in Dublin city centre and subsequent violent disorder on November 23 last demonstrated 'a fundamental shift' in how Irish society was responding to immigration. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins 

The Irish far right is successfully using disinformation to target vulnerable communities, claiming groups such as asylum seekers and the LGBT+ community pose “an existential threat” to Ireland, the Policing Authority has said.

It said the nature of the violent disorder at the “more ominous protests” should not enjoy the “constitutional protections” afforded to peaceful protests.

In its 2023 annual report, the authority said the stabbing attack on children in Dublin city centre and subsequent violent disorder on November 23 last demonstrated “a fundamental shift” in how Irish society was responding to immigration.

The report said research published by the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, a think-tank, identified how false information that is spread online cold lead to “direct and real-life action”, including acts of violence.

It said the report showed how online misinformation (sharing of information not knowing it is false) and disinformation (knowingly sharing false information) had been “successfully co-opted by the far right in Ireland”.

It said that post-pandemic the Irish far right “has targeted vulnerable communities such as asylum seekers, refugees and the LGBT+ community, framing them as an existential threat to our country”.

The report added: “The protests and public order events that have occurred throughout the year have been deeply intertwined with the surge of social media, as the spread of misinformation facilitated discord and incited the momentum of public order events.” 

The report said there was a 100% increase in protests in Dublin in 2023, of which more than one-third were anti-migrant in sentiment.

It pointed out that according to gardaí the “vast majority” were peaceful.

It said there were 13 arson attacks on properties allocated or purported to be allocated for international protection applicants, seven of them in a five-week period after the November riots.

“The tragic incident and subsequent violent disorder of 23 November, demonstrated a fundamental shift in society’s response to the challenges we are facing as a collective," the report said.

“The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic expression, however this must co-exist with the rights of others to feel safe and free from intimidation. This contrasts sharply with more ominous protests in 2023 that escalated into spontaneous public order events.” 

The report said the nature of the violent disorder that took place in 2023 “should not enjoy” the constitutional protections afforded to peaceful protests.

It said the protests and use of social media in 2023 posed a challenge to community cohesion, policing responses and oversight.

“These challenges may require a change from the Garda Síochána, in their ability and capacity to anticipate, respond to and engage in critical incidents," it said.

The authority said policing has become a “more complex task”, with demands ranging from cybercrime to social issues.

“The general public has voiced a desire for increased visibility and presence of the Garda Síochána on our streets," the report said. 

"However, this must be balanced with an obligation to invisibly monitor and police the escalating challenges posed by modern crimes such as cyber and economic offences.”