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.