Anti-immigration campaigner appeals conviction over Wicklow election altercation
The Wicklow PeopleA prominent anti-immigration campaigner, convicted following a physical altercation with a rival election group during the 2024 General Election campaign, has appealed his conviction and sentence
Philip Dwyer (58), of Tallaght Cross West, Tallaght, Dublin 24, appeared at a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court on a District Court appeal.
Mr Dwyer, a former member of the National Party, was convicted of affray.
He had been fined €750 and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, with the sentence suspended fully by Judge David Kennedy in February 2026.
Counsel for Mr Dwyer, Sorcha Dianamh Ní Néill Fulham, informed the court that he was appealing both the finding of guilt and the sentence imposed by the District Court.
The court was previously told that Mr Dwyer denied the charge arising from an incident outside Holy Redeemer Church on Main Street, Bray, during the 2024 General Election campaign.
At the original hearing, it was alleged a physical altercation developed between Mr Dwyer and members of a rival election campaign group while canvassing outside the church.
Detective Garda Tom Bissett told the court that CCTV footage showed the accused being pushed by the father of election candidate Kellie McConnell, before reacting by pushing him back, causing him to fall to the ground.
After the alleged pushing incident, Mr Dwyer produced a selfie stick, with witnesses alleging he held the item in a threatening manner.
Ms McConnell, who was canvassing on behalf of People Before Profit, told the court she saw Mr Dwyer brandishing what she believed to be “a retractable baton”, while her partner William Wong described Mr Dwyer producing the item “in a very fluid motion”.
Mr Dwyer denied acting aggressively and maintained throughout the hearing that he had been acting in self-defence, after believing he was about to be assaulted.
He gave evidence that he had approached Ms McConnell while canvassing outside the church as he was “engaging in the democratic process” and wanted to ask another candidate about her views.
Mr Dwyer stated he had been cautious during the interaction as he claimed he had experienced violent assaults and verbal abuse in the past.
The defendant further alleged that Ms McConnell accused him of being a racist and a homophobe, which he described as “libellous and an abusive way to talk”.
Mr Dwyer’s barrister, Luke O’Higgins, remarked that his client was a former postman and now self-employed as a citizen journalist.
Circuit Court Judge, Patrick Quinn adjourned the matter until late July for the appeal to be heard.