Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Lutz Bachmann/YouTube
Identity Ireland

Head of controversial Irish group addresses far-right rally in Germany

Identity Ireland said Germany’s Pegida movement invited Peter O’Loughlin to speak at its first rally of the year.

AN IRISH POLITICAL organisation calling for stricter border controls says it will work with “patriotic movements” across Europe to oppose mass immigration.

The head of Identity Ireland, a right-wing group launched in Dublin last July, was cheered by demonstrators in the German city of Dresden on Monday as he addressed a rally held by the country’s anti-Islam Pegida movement.

Peter O’Loughlin, a failed candidate in the 2014 European Parliament elections, said in his speech that German and Irish people should unite to fight the resettlement of migrants arriving in Europe.

“Our future depends on the united strength of reasonable, rational and emphatic European people,” he said.

From Stockholm to Athens, from Cork to Krakow, we must act together because the forces allayed against us are so powerful.

“For those of us who take our responsibilities seriously and speak out against the criminal neglect of our leaders,” O’Loughlin added, “what happens?”

They release the hounds. The cultural Marxist hounds and media hounds [call us] racist, fascist, Islamophobic, blah blah blah.

The secretary of the organisation, Gary Allen, said in a statement that the address represented “a good step forward for us and our members”.

“It’s a strong start to the year and we’re going to build on it significantly,” he said.

Pegida, short for Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident, hold anti-refugee demonstrations in Dresden every Monday.

Earlier this week, it launched a British branch headed up by former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson.

The launch of Identity Ireland – which favours EU withdrawal, a return to the punt and an end to mass immigration – was disrupted by anti-racism protesters last year.

O’Loughlin told TheJournal.ie at the event that the group intends to contest general election seats in areas like Cork and Dublin, where he said its support is strongest.

Read: These men tried to launch a new party … but anti-racism protesters gate-crashed their event

Your Voice
Readers Comments
174
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.