How misinformation and conspiracy have fuelled fear, mistrust and anger and have led to an increase in protests in Ireland.

In September this year a protest took place outside the Dáil. The crowd was angry and TDs had to be escorted out of the building by Gardaí. Thirteen arrests were made

And yet, observers seemed unsure as to what the focus of the protest was.

This followed a series of anti-immigration protests outside direct provision centres around the country since the start of the year. Following a protest at a makeshift migrant camp in Dublin in May, tents were set on fire. There have been other protests with a similar atmosphere – such as protests at libraries in Cork when staff had to shut the doors.

The protests are driven by what is often referred to as far right groups. In this program journalist Fergal Gallagher looks to explore this movement - Where did it come from and what is driving it?

The people at the protests seem to have concerns that cross a number of issues - many are exercised by immigration but others by Covid vaccines, trans rights, climate change as well as other more extreme conspiracy theories. What seems to unite them is a mistrust of government and a fear for the future of the country and their own safety.

In Fear and Mistrust, Fergal explores the history of the right wing politics in Ireland from the Blueshirts to the arrival of the Internet.

He speaks to Jean, a woman who lost faith in traditional media during Covid and now gets her information from alternative sources. Jean believes that she is less safe because of the arrival of people from other countries to Ireland.

Fergal goes along to some of the protests to speak to the people there to find out their motivations for being there, and why they lost trust in government and institutions.

He also meets Phil - a self-described conspiracy theorist - who, at one stage, believed that things like the 9/11 attack were not real. He tells us about what it felt like to have ,what he believed, was insider knowledge and how he managed to climb out of the rabbit hole.

The people who monitor the online and real life activities of the far right movement tell us just how much of a threat to democracy this movement might be.

Presented by Fergal Gallagher

Produced by Fergal Gallagher and Nicoline Greer

First broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1, 2PM, Saturday 28th October 2023

An Irish radio documentary from RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland - Documentary on One - the home of Irish radio documentaries