A left-wing activist who live-streamed himself driving his jeep into an anti-immigration protest organised by East Wall Says No and taking place in Dublin’s North Strand in February 2023 has been sentenced to 16 months in prison.
Stephen Bedford, 38, with an address at Merchants Quay, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today having pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle through a crowd of people, which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to others.
RTÉ reported that 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.”
The court heard Bedford has previous convictions relating to various protests where he “overstepped the line”.
Bedford filmed his claims on his live-stream, and while he claimed to have been threatened, Gardaí informed the court that Bedford could have used several other routes to leave the area.
Bedford was previously sent to prison in 2015 in connection with his involvement in a squat run at Grangegorman by far-left activists.