Philip Dwyer, an anti-immigration activist and self-described citizen journalist, was convicted for failing to obey a Garda direction to leave during riots in Coolock, Dublin. This marks the first time body-cam footage was used in court to secure a conviction in Ireland. Dwyer was sentenced to a two-month suspended sentence and fined €500.
Garda body-cam footage has been used for the first time in a court case for the prosecution of citizen journalist Philip Dwyer for failing to obey a direction to move on during riots in Coolock, Dublin, last year.
But Dwyer, who told Gardaí at the scene that the case would be "thrown out of court", was found guilty of failing to comply with a direction to leave the area. He was fined €500 and ordered to report to the Probation Service every three months for the next two years. The former property manager and window repairman, who has a large social media following, claimed he was singled out. He maintained that he followed a direction given to him by Detective Inspector Alan McDevitt, who had told the hearing that the accused tried to "interview" him immediately after he was given the direction to leave.
Detective Inspector McDevitt instructed his unit to put on helmets and shields and to push the crowd back to the perimeter of Woodie's DIY store on Malahide Road, where a cordon was set up. After that, he saw 80 – 100 people about 75 metres away at a petrol station. Two large industrial bins were on fire, and Dublin Fire Brigade officers were attacked. A piece of masonry was thrown and struck Detective Inspector McDevitt's head.
He explained that he had an apprehension that public safety, including Mr Dwyer, could be in jeopardy. He said the accused replied, "What's happening?" and attempted to interview him using his microphone.
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