Courts / Dublin / Report
Activist who live-streamed himself driving into immigration protester is jailed
Summary
Stephen Bedford, 38, was sentenced to 16 months in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for driving a jeep into a crowd at an anti‑immigration protest on 15 February 2023. Bedford, who had previously been convicted for overstepping the line at protests, was livestreaming the incident to Facebook. Garda Eoin Cannon testified that Bedford's vehicle collided with an injured protester, who was later taken to hospital. Footage from Bedford's phone showed him leaving a blocked junction, crossing onto the opposite side of the road, and turning into a lane where the protester stood. Bedford pleaded guilty to driving through a crowd, creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm. The judge noted the speed was not great but that Bedford could have caused injury, and he was jailed for 16 months.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Activist who live-streamed himself driving into immigration protester is jailed. Charges or matters: driving a vehicle through a crowd of people, which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to others at the Five Lamps junction on February 15, 2023. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 15, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2025-03-27 Publication
Why: Gda Cannon explained that Bedford was streaming the events to Facebook. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: driving a vehicle through a crowd of people, which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to others at the Five Lamps junction on February 15, 2023 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Photo: Collins) By Natasha Reid and Claire Henry An activist who lived-streamed himself driving his jeep into an anti-immigration protester during a demonstration in Dublin has been sentenced to 16 months in prison. Judge Martin Nolan noted that the speed was not great, but said that Bedford could have caused injury. "I couldn't be certain that this man will not reoffend," he said. "I think he's very righteous in his own cause." He jailed Bedford for 16 months, and said that: "if the authorities feel it's in his interest to go to that (medical) appointment, they should bring him."
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