President of right-wing party and anti-immigration activist told hotel manager to ‘go back where you came from’
Derek Blighe was ordered to make a donation of €350 to the Irish Refugee Council and allowed him one month to make the payment. Photograph: Eddie O'HareAn election candidate and anti-immigration activist has been found guilty of a single charge of threatening and abusive behaviour in the District Court.
Giving evidence, witness Christopher Gomez said that he was the duty manager at Abbeyville House on that day. He said that the building was being prepared as accommodation for asylum seekers and a protest had been taking place for several months outside the building by people who were opposed to its use as refugee accommodation.
Mr Gomez told the court that he was alone in the building and had ordered an oil delivery from a local company. He said that when the oil delivery truck arrived at about 11am, Derek Blighe approached the driver and spoke to him. Mr Gomez said Mr Blighe then told him “the driver’s not going to give you oil” and the truck left. Mr Gomez contacted the oil company and a second truck was dispatched which arrived at about midday.
Garda Dane Murphy said that when he visited the protest at Abbeyville House later that day the atmosphere was “borderline volatile”, he told the court that Mr Blighe made a caution statement regarding the incident on January 9th, 2024, but replied “no comment” to every question he was asked.
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