Stephen Bedford jailed for driving into protester in Dublin

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Stephen Bedford was sentenced to 16 months in prison by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 27 March 2025. The proceedings were reported on 27 March 2025.

Bedford, 38, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle through a crowd of people, creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to others. The offence occurred at the Five Lamps junction in Dublin on 15 February 2023.

Garda Eoin Cannon testified that he saw a vehicle moving through the crowd and hitting one person, and saw that Bedford was the driver when it stopped. Footage from Bedford’s phone showed him leaving a line of traffic, crossing to the other side of the road and turning into a road where the injured party was standing.

Under cross-examination, Garda Cannon agreed that two masked men had looked into Bedford’s vehicle before the manoeuvre and that people were striking it with their hands. Defence counsel Patrick Jackson said Bedford drove away because he feared for his life; he also said Bedford should have remained stopped. The garda said Bedford could easily have made a U-turn.

The injured party said he was hurt and attended hospital. Garda Cannon agreed that a doctor had noted no visible bruising to his foot, toe or leg and that no treatment was needed. Judge Nolan noted that the speed was not high but said Bedford could have caused injury.

Counsel asked that Bedford be allowed to attend an upcoming medical appointment. The judge said that if the authorities considered it in Bedford’s interest to attend, they should bring him.