Far-right activist Philip Dwyer appears in court charged with public order offence

The anti-immigration campaigner is accused of using or threatening to use unlawful violence towards the father of a People Before Profit candidate

Philip Dwyer has become a regular attendant at anti-immigration protests including demonstrations outside buildings that house international protection applicants as well as properties rumoured as potential locations for housing asylum seekers. File picture: Collins Courts

A prominent anti-immigration campaigner has appeared in court over an alleged public order offence involving political rivals outside a church in Bray, Co Wicklow, during last year’s general election campaign.

Philip Dwyer, aged 57, of Tallaght Cross West, Tallaght, Dublin 24, appeared before a sitting of Bray District Court on Wednesday in relation to an incident outside the Holy Redeemer Church on Main Street, Bray, Co Wicklow, on November 24, 2024.

The self-styled citizen journalist and former postman is charged with committing an affray with another individual, David McConnell. Mr McConnell, aged 66, is the father of People Before Profit’s candidate in the constituency of Wicklow in last November’s general election, Kellie McConnell.

Mr Dwyer, a former member of the right-wing National Party, stood as an independent candidate in Wicklow in the same election. Both men were canvassing voters on Main Street in Bray at the time of the alleged offence.

The charge in Mr Dwyer’s case states that both men are accused of using or threatening to use unlawful violence towards each other outside the Holy Redeemer Church, contrary to Section 16 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.

It also states that the alleged conduct was such “as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at said place to fear for his or another person’s safety”. The court heard that Mr Dwyer had replied “no comment” after arrest, charge and caution.

Counsel for the accused, Ciara O’Brien BL, was granted an application for free legal aid for Mr Dwyer. Judge John O’Leary also granted another application by the barrister for a disclosure order.

Mr Dwyer, who was accompanied to court by another high-profile, anti-immigration activist, Fergus Power, did not speak during the brief hearing. Judge O’Leary remanded him on bail to appear before the same court on October 20.

In recent years, Mr Dwyer has become a regular attendant at anti-immigration protests including demonstrations outside buildings that house international protection applicants as well as properties rumoured as potential locations for housing asylum seekers.

He was 14th out of 18 candidates with 435 first preference votes in November’s election – one position behind Ms McConnell who was in 13th place with 1,259 votes. Mr Dwyer has also contested several other elections unsuccessfully, including last year’s local and European elections when he was a candidate for the far-right party, Ireland First.

It is understood gardaí investigated the incident outside the church in Bray after it was reported by Mr McConnell. A video which captured part of the encounter between the two accused parties was also shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Mr Dwyer.

In the short piece of footage, Mr Dwyer incorrectly identified the rival campaigners as members of the Social Democrats and engaged in an exchange about abortion and transgender issues.