Far-right agitator spread lies that girl (7) had been ‘gang-raped’ by migrants in Celbridge

Fergus Power posted the false claims on social media platform X on Tuesday, several hours before a large crowd gathered outside Celbridge Manor chanting ‘paedophiles out’ and making threats to burn the building down.

During the protest, gardai were verbally abused while also being targeted with fireworks and other missiles.

In the ‘fake’ post headlined ‘Major Incident Celbridge’, Power claimed: “Hearing reports of a 7-year-old migrant girl who was allegedly raped by three Roma men on the grounds of this hotel.

“The police have tried to cover it up allegedly going so far as to have the child taken to hospital by taxi instead of an ambulance so as not to bring any attention…”

The post continued: “Police, MSM [mainstream media] and the monsters in this government will not want this story getting out. They actively try cover them up and have been doing for months and months now to keep their seedy money-making scheme and agenda up.”

Encouraging protesters to descend on the hotel based on the false narrative, he continued: “This has to stop — make a stand now before it’s too late. Join ‘South Dublin Says No’ and other concerned parents for a peaceful assembly.”

Addressing the false information shared online by Power and other far-right agitators that resulted in the shocking scenes outside the hotel, Garda Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary said on Thursday that he has “serious concerns” about misinformation spread online which included the “completely untrue” claim that a child was sexually assaulted by a group of foreign nationals.

Speaking at a meeting with the Policing Authority, the senior officer in charge of policing in the Eastern Region, Assistant Commissioner Cleary, said: “in the last week, we had reports circulating online about allegations of an assault on a child, allegedly by males staying in one of these centres.

“Completely untrue and [it] resulted in a fairly large protest on that particular centre with people taking a certain view due to the misinformation circulating online.

“Again, we also have an investigations underway in relation to those and we are liaising with the social media platforms.”

Fergus Power was one of five people named by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy under Dáil privilege as having incited the riot that paralysed Dublin in the wake of the stabbings of three children and a care worker at Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire.

“We know who incited this riot,” he said, during a Dáil session in which TDs were giving statements on policing, protests and public order.

“We know who called for people to come out on the streets.”

Among the five named, he said: “Fergus Power tweeted at 2.55. A five-year-old girl is alleged to have passed away. This better get people off their arses and out onto the streets.” He added: “We know who called people out.”

Addressing the Celbridge protest during Dáil Questions on Thursday, the People Before Profit TD again named Power and fellow agitator Derek Blighe.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - March 6

“On Tuesday night,” he said, “a crowd gathered outside Celbridge Manor. That’s where more than a hundred people seeking asylum, children, women and men live.

“The crowd chanted: ‘Paedophiles out! Deport them now! Get them out!’ There were threats made to burn the building where people live … to burn the building down. Why?

“Because of a disgusting lie spread on social media by far-right agitators.

“The lie was that a seven year old girl had been raped in the hotel by three non-Irish men.

“First shared by a supporter of the Irish Freedom Party online, and then amplified by far-right agitators Fergus Power and Derek Blighe and people were called to protest.

“It was a lie but these people do not care about truth.”