Graham Carey charged with incitement to hatred and barred from social media over anti-immigration activity

A Dublin man who has been a supporter and organiser of anti-immigration protests has appeared before the courts charged with an offence under incitement to hatred legislation.

The charge relates to social media content allegedly posted by Graham Carey.

Mr Carey (39), of Dunsink Drive, Finglas, was granted bail under a variety of conditions, including being barred from social media and banned from organising or attending any protests or gatherings, either in person or online.

Mr Carey is accused of distributing, showing or playing a recording of visual images or sounds regarded as being threatening, abusive or insulting and intended to stir up hatred or which was likely to stir up hatred. The alleged offence is contrary to Section 2 of the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989.”

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At Dublin District Court on Friday morning, Judge Michelle Finan also told Mr Carey, who was arrested on Wednesday morning in Finglas, that he was stay away from “any locations housing refugees” as she granted him bail on his own bond of €200.

There were no objections to bail from the Garda.

While gardaí initially proposed a ban from posting videos on social media for Mr Carey, Judge Finan said social media was a “complex” area as users could have many accounts under different names. “It’s very much clearer for him if he’s barred from social media,” she said.

Det Sgt Eamon Hoey of the Special Detective Unit gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution, telling the court that when the charge was put to Mr Carey at 11.05pm on Thursday he replied: “In hindsight, it won’t be happening again, I will be taking a different approach going forward.”

Mr Carey, who appeared in court dressed in a black jumper and black jeans, must also reside at his home address as part of his bail conditions as well as abiding by a curfew, which stipulates he must be at home between 9pm and 6am every day.

Mr Carey told the judge of the curfew: “From 9pm at night will do because I do be at home from 9pm every night.”

Mr Carey has also been ordered by the court to surrender his passport as part of the bail conditions and to give an undertaking he would not apply for any travel documents. He is also required to sign on at Cabra Garda station twice per week and provide a contact number to gardaí.

Judge Finan specified that Mr Carey’s new phone should be a “button phone”, a reference to a smartphone being unsuitable because of his ban from social media while on bail. She also told him he had “to stay away from all centres and locations housing refugees”.

Mr Carey, a former car wash worker, has come to prominence in recent years attending and organising protest events in Dublin. He was initially known as a critic of the Covid-19 lockdowns and the vaccine rollout and more recently has organised anti-immigration events in Dublin. The charge he faces relates to social media material he alleged recently posted relating to immigration and policing.

Mr Carey’s solicitor, Rory Staines, applied for free legal aid for his client. However, a statement of means must be furnished as part of considering that request.

Mr Carey was remanded on bail to appear before Blanchardstown District Court on April 28th.