Bench warrant issued for activist accused of driving into anti-immigration protest
At his first hearing in February, Mr Bedford claimed people 'threw' themselves in front of his car. Picture: Paddy Cummins
A judge has ordered the arrest of an activist who allegedly drove into immigration protesters during a live-streamed incident in Dublin.
Audio-visual technician and stage rigger Stephen Bedford, 36, with an address at a hostel on Usher's Quay, Dublin 8, was initially accused of dangerous driving at Amiens Street in the north inner city after a protester was hospitalised on February 15.
Later, he was charged with dangerous driving at Seville Place, being an unaccompanied learner driver, dangerous driving causing harm to a named man at Amiens Street, and endangerment of life at the Five Lamps junction, where he allegedly drove through a crowd of people.
He was due to appear at Dublin District Court on Monday to be served with a book of evidence and ordered to stand trial.
However, he did not turn up, and Judge Bryan Smyth issued a bench warrant.
The Director of Public Prosecution had directed trial on indictment, at a higher level, in the circuit court, which can, on conviction, impose harsher penalties.
Mr Bedford had already indicated he wished to have a trial before a judge and jury.
Legal aid had been granted to Mr Bedford, who had to obey bail terms: sign on regularly at a Garda station, not attend demonstrations involving anti-immigration protests, and not drive any motor vehicles.
At an earlier hearing, the defendant complained the pending case was "impacting on my ability to work" and wished to travel for an employment opportunity. He said gardaĂ had seized his Jeep car, which he needed for work, but he would not get it back until after the trial.
The court has heard the case was "a bit more complicated" because of the injuries alleged.
At his first hearing in February, Mr Bedford claimed people "threw" themselves in front of his car. Garda Cannon had told the court Bedford had "strong political and moral beliefs".
A protest in Dublin's north inner city led to a "tense stand-off" with Mr Bedford's counter-demonstration.
GardaĂ advised Mr Bedford to leave for his safety, and he left at about 7.30pm in his vehicle. The court has heard two people from the other protest were on his bonnet at one stage.
One was hospitalised, but the level of injury was not stated.
Mr Bedford allegedly "live-streamed it onto Facebook via his phone".
The defence had said a group of 60 to 100 were there to demonstrate against "anti-immigration protesters". Mr Bedford used a PA system, and there was a lot of animosity between the groups.
The court heard Mr Bedford maintained that he was threatened and left but came across a second branch of the protesters and tried to drive slowly.
He had claimed they had threatened to kill him previously. However, Garda Cannon said he could have used four other routes, and there was no official record of the threats.
The court had heard he usually streamed his demonstrations on Facebook.
He had given evidence at the bail hearing and claimed people in the anti-immigration protest shouted "That's him, that's him," and "threw themselves in front of my car" as he "tried to get away.
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