AN anti-refugee activist has been barred from social media and ordered to stay away from asylum centres after gardaí charged him with “incitement to hatred”.
The Garda Special Detective Unit (SDU) arrested Graham Carey, 39, of Dunsink Drive, Finglas, Dublin, on Wednesday. He was held at Shankill Garda station under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
Officers charged him at 11.05pm on Thursday night. According to the charge, it is alleged that on January 30, at a place unknown within the State, he distributed, showed, or played a recording of visual images or sounds to stir up hatred. The offence is contrary to section two of the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act.
He was kept in Garda custody overnight pending his appearance before Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court on Friday.
SDU Detective Sergeant Eamon Hoey said Carey’s reply to the charges was: “In hindsight, it won’t be happening again; I will be taking a different approach going forward”.
Bail conditions
Judge Finan noted there was no objection to bail with conditions the detective sergeant had already discussed with defence solicitor Rory Staines. He asked that Mr Carey reside at his address, surrender his passport and not apply for travel documents.
The accused, in a grey jumper, black trousers and runners, told the court he did not have a passport. The garda sought an 8pm to 7am curfew, but Mr Staines pointed out his client worked full-time, and the judge moved the start time to 9pm.
Mr Carey told the court, “Nine at night will do. I do be home at nine every evening”. The judge also agreed to impose another condition on him not to organise or participate in gatherings and protests, either in person or online.
The SDU officer asked that Mr Carey not post or record videos on any social media platform. Judge Finan agreed to make that another bail condition, and went further, telling the accused, “You are barred from social media”.
Mr Staines queried the social media
