A judge has ordered a 39-year-old man to stay away from places housing refugees and barred him from social media as part of his bail conditions.
Graham Carey, from Dunsink Drive in Finglas in Dublin, appeared in court this morning charged with an offence under the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act.
He is accused of distributing, showing or playing a recording of threatening, abusive and or insulting material three days ago.
The court was told that in reply to the charge, Mr Carey said: "In hindsight it won’t be happening again, I will be taking a different approach going forward."
Judge Michelle Finan remanded Mr Carey on bail to appear again at Dublin District Court in April.
He was brought before Dublin District Court this morning by officers from the Special Detective Unit who have been investigating the activities surrounding anti-migrant protests and the dissemination of potentially illegal material online.
Mr Carey was arrested at 9.55pm at Shankill Garda Station last night and charged an hour and ten minutes later with an offence under the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989.
He is accused of distributing, showing or playing a recording of visual images/sounds that were threatening, abusive, or insulting and likely or intended to stir up hatred on 30 January.
Detective Sergeant Eamon Hoey from the Special Detective Unit said there was no objection to bail but on strict conditions.
These include that Mr Carey reside at his home at Dunsink Drive, surrender his passport and not apply for a new one.
Judge Finan imposed a curfew on him from 9pm to 6am after he told the court he was a full-time worker who did not get home until 9pm in the evening.
She also directed that he was not to attend, organise or participate in any protests or gatherings in person or online.
When the garda asked that Mr Carey also agree not to participate or publish any videos on any social media platform, the judge barred him from social media.
"It’s a complex issue," she said. "People have various different accounts. I think its better for him if he’s barred from social media."
His defence counsel said it was not a condition that Mr Carey was expecting, but he agreed to it.
The judge also directed that he stay away from any centres or locations housing refugees, that he sign on twice weekly at Cabra Garda Station and give gardaí a contact number where he can be reached.
The court also heard there would be an objection to legal aid and an application was deferred as gardaí want to see a statement of means first.
Judge Finan remanded Mr Carey on bail to appear again at the Dublin District Court on 28 April.
