The stupid bollox sticking to his "principles" and demurring on the probation act.
Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe has been convicted of a public-order offence and fined €400 over a protest outside an asylum seeker centre after he refused to make a donation to the Irish Refugee Council to avoid a conviction.
Blighe (44), of Croughevoe, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, leader of the Ireland First party, was last month 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.
When the case was called on Friday, Blighe’s solicitor, Matthew Bermingham, said his client, who polled 2,475 votes in the Cork North Central constituency in the recent general election, was willing to donate to another charity.
“Mr Blighe has an issue with the genuineness of the applicants [seeking asylum and assisted by the council],” he said, adding that Blighe had the money with him and was willing to donate to a charity such as Cork Penny Dinners which assists the homeless.
However, the judge said Blighe could not choose a charity and there was nothing wilful about his choice as he frequently requested defendants make donations to charities working in areas relevant to their offending.
“He can’t go tarnishing the reputation of the Irish Refugee Council because that’s what he’s doing by saying he questions the genuineness of the applicants they assist. He can’t do that,” the judge said.
Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe has been convicted of a public-order offence and fined €400 over a protest outside an asylum seeker centre after he refused to make a donation to the Irish Refugee Council to avoid a conviction.
Blighe (44), of Croughevoe, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, leader of the Ireland First party, was last month 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.
When the case was called on Friday, Blighe’s solicitor, Matthew Bermingham, said his client, who polled 2,475 votes in the Cork North Central constituency in the recent general election, was willing to donate to another charity.
“Mr Blighe has an issue with the genuineness of the applicants [seeking asylum and assisted by the council],” he said, adding that Blighe had the money with him and was willing to donate to a charity such as Cork Penny Dinners which assists the homeless.
However, the judge said Blighe could not choose a charity and there was nothing wilful about his choice as he frequently requested defendants make donations to charities working in areas relevant to their offending.
“He can’t go tarnishing the reputation of the Irish Refugee Council because that’s what he’s doing by saying he questions the genuineness of the applicants they assist. He can’t do that,” the judge said.
