Cork anti-immigration activist Ross Lahive faces harassment charge after fresh social media posts

Ross Lahive appeared at Cork District Cork on Thursday 25th September 2025.

Anti-immigration activist Ross Lahive allegedly made fresh comments on social media on Wednesday night before meeting a garda sergeant on Thursday morning to be charged with harassment of a garda.

Cross-examined in Cork District Court, Sergeant John Kelleher put it to the 46-year-old that he had given an undertaking not to comment on the case online, but had posted a video about it the night before.

“You say you have no difficulty not discussing the case but you had no difficulty sharing a video about this case last night – you thought it appropriate to post a video about this case last night,” Sgt. Kelleher asked.

Ross Lahive replied, “I felt it was my constitutional right to have freedom of speech.”

Sgt Kelleher pressed him again, asking if he thought it was appropriate to discuss the case on social media. Mr Lahive replied: “I have a constitutional right.”

Defence solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher, representing Mr Lahive on free legal aid, argued that his client was not charged with any offence related to the video, and that he was only charged with the harassment offence this morning.

Mr Lahive said regarding bail conditions, including refraining from social media commentary: “I will abide by all bail conditions. I will absolutely abide by them.” 

Judge Mary Dorgan imposed the same bail conditions on Mr Lahive as those earlier imposed on co-accused Derek Blighe of Curraghavoe, Mitchelstown, who faces a related charge of harassing the same garda. 

The only change was to Mr Lahive’s bond: instead of a €500 bond with a cash lodgement, the judge required no lodgement but increased the bond to €1,000.

Mr Lahive must also sign on twice weekly at Bridewell Garda Station, live at his Shandon Street home, have no contact directly or indirectly with the complainant or witnesses, avoid all social media commentary about the case, and provide a mobile number at which gardaí can reach him at all times.

Free legal aid was granted after the court heard that Mr Lahive earns €250 a week through a community employment scheme.

Ross Lahive of Church Street, Shandon Street, Cork, faces a charge alleging: “On dates between October 9 2022 and February 6 2025 he harassed (the garda) contrary to Section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.” 

Sergeant John Kelleher said the Director of Public Prosecutions directed the case to proceed to trial by indictment at Cork Circuit Criminal Court but would accept summary jurisdiction if a guilty plea was entered. Judge Dorgan accepted jurisdiction on those terms.

Detective Sergeant Cahill arrested the accused at 9.52am today at Bridewell Garda Station and brought him before the court on the harassment charge. After caution, he made no reply.

Det Sgt Cahill alleged Mr Lahive engaged in a campaign of harassment against a garda who arrested him at a public event in October 2022. The arrest was recorded and posted on Facebook.

 “In February 2023 it is alleged that the victim in this was walking from Cork District Court having given evidence in a separate case. He was approached by the accused and co-accused and a third person. He was verbally abused by him. He (the garda) said he did not consent to being recorded.

“He was followed for a number of minutes and was afraid to get on the bus at the bus station in case his address would become known.

“It is alleged that the accused went on to post videos of himself talking about this injured party. The injured party was distressed. It had a negative effect on himself and his family.” 

The defendant was remanded on bail to appear in court again on November 20.

Solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher applied for a copy of the prosecution evidence so the accused can decide whether to plead guilty or not guilty.