Derek Blighe's problem with paying court fine to Irish Refugee Council 'purely a religious matter'

Activist Derek Blighe appeals conviction, citing religious reasons for refusing to pay the Irish Refugee Council 

Derek Blighe of the Ireland First party, had been given the opportunity by Judge Colm Roberts at Fermoy District Court to avoid a criminal conviction and avail of the benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act by making the donation. File picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe, who was convicted on a public order charge following his failure to make a €350 contribution to the Irish Refugee Council, appealed that conviction on Wednesday saying through his barrister that his problem with paying was not political but religious.

The appellant’s barrister Alan O’Dwyer said: “It is purely a religious matter.” Mr O’Dwyer explained at Cork Circuit Appeals Court that Mr Blighe’s difficulty was with the position taken by the Irish Refugee Council on the repeal of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution in relation to abortion.

Judge Helen Boyle said she would vary the order of Fermoy District Court and that instead of paying €400 to the Irish Refugee Council, the appellant could pay €500 to NASC, the organisation that advises migrants and refugees on their rights. The appellant indicated through his barrister that he would make this contribution.

Judge Boyle adjourned the appeal for two months to allow for confirmation of payment of that €500 to NASC.

During the brief hearing, state solicitor Jeremiah Healy said that the area where the public order issue arose during a protest by the appellant and others had quietened down and there had not been further issues.

The 44-year-old from Croughevoe, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, of the Ireland First party, had been given the opportunity by Judge Colm Roberts at Fermoy District Court to avoid a criminal conviction and avail of the benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act by making the donation.

At a previous court sitting, Inspector Jason Wallace alleged that the appellant had engaged in threatening and abusive behaviour during an incident at Abbeyville House, Fermoy, on December 22, 2023. Witness Christopher Gomez said he was duty manager at Abbeyville when it was being prepared as accommodation for migrants and a protest by people opposing its use for this purpose had been taking place for several months outside.

Mr Gomez said Mr Blighe obstructed an oil delivery to the premises and told him: “You are a guest in this country. Shame on you. You should be ashamed. You will go down in the history books, you will go down in the sewers of Irish history. Go back to where you came from.” 

Video of these comments was live-streamed. As an Irish citizen for 20 years, Mr Gomez said he had “never experienced anything like this before”.