Philip Dwyer fined for trespass at protection center

Philip Dwyer, a well-known anti-immigration activist, was found guilty of trespassing at an International Protection centre. The ruling was made by Judge Alec Gabbett at Ennis District Court on Wednesday, who also imposed a €500 fine. During the hearing, Judge Gabbett criticized Dwyer's language as "unkind" and "quite unseemly." He watched video footage that Dwyer had provided, but he stated that this footage actually supported the prosecution's case against him. The incident took place on May 18, 2023, while protests were happening at Magowna House, where 29 people seeking international protection were staying. There were also road blockades gaining media attention at the time. Ahlam Salman, the manager of Magowna House, testified that Dwyer's presence made her and her staff feel "afraid and unsafe." Judge Gabbett noted that Dwyer’s video confirmed Ms. Salman’s fears. He emphasized that Magowna House was not functioning as a hotel and was considered private property. In the footage, Dwyer was heard making controversial statements about immigrants. For example, he questioned a Ukrainian man’s presence in Ireland, suggesting he should be fighting in Ukraine instead. Dwyer's lawyer, Ann Doyle, stated that he disagrees with the court’s decision and plans to appeal the conviction to the Circuit Court.