Over the last several months some new individuals have come to the fore focusing on anti-migrant activity. They are filming people living or residing in emergency accommodation settings or in tents, those involved in solidarity work, site security, construction workers and journalists.

This note focuses on concerted and structured activity by two individuals who work closely together, but also at times by themselves. Both have been linked to the wider anti-migrant movement involved in catalysing anti-migrant mobilisations

Derek ‘Mousey’ Wright – Kilcross, Sandyford Dublin

Derek 'Mousey' Wright

Derek ‘Mousey’ Wright has been posting content to social media platforms showing his presence filming at anti-immigrant mobilizations for at least the past 10 months. In recent weeks, Wright’s livestreams on YouTube have been monetised (YouTube has begun showing advertisements alongside the video content and sharing the income with him), as displayed by YouTube on recent videos.

One livestream broadcast on July 6th 2024 is labelled by YouTube with the message ‘This channel got money or free things to make this video. In a video livestreamed on 5th August, Wright is seen wearing a YouTube embalzoned hoodie. YouTube labels the video with the message ‘includes paid promotion’.

Paul Nolan – Ballogan, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown.

Paul Nolan’s social media platform content shows he has been active filming at anti-migrant mobilisations from Dec 2023. Nolan uses his X platform account to promote his PayPal account. In a recent video Nolan said he was going to ‘torment’ people he is filming. During the recent local election campaign Nolan filmed himself abusing and chasing people as they were putting up election posters. Nolan has also documented himself taking down Pride posters and encouraging people to ‘rip them down’

Both men in recent months have tended to be active as a pair, filming at Clonmel, Coolock, Dundrum, Grand Canal, Clondalkin, Dublin city centre, Ballyogan, Kilmacud[, Saggart, Tallaght, Thornton Hall Ashbourne, Newbridge, Newtownmountkennedy. They have also filmed outside the home of Ministers Roderick O’Gorman and Simon Harris.  Both have tended to wear masks when engaging in tactics of up-close filming, a tactic recognised to intimidate, harass and create conflict. They have demonstrated a willingness to instigate confrontation with people, particularly when they accost individuals in small numbers or on their own.

 While neither are large influencers right now, they are both connected to ‘South Dublin Says No’ and ‘Dublin City Centre Says No’. We have seen in recent weeks that their content is being amplified and reshared by more established and high-follower anti-migrant influencers in Ireland and abroad including British loyalist Tommy Robinson. This has the impact of raising their profile and reach, and can further increase the financial incentives in creating content to share across and within the far right media ecosystem. Given this dynamic we expect both to continue this activity. 

 Most recently, both men appeared at the Grand Canal filming volunteers involved in solidarity work with people living in tents. Their videos showed them goading and harassing people there.

We would encourage people not to engage directly with either of these men. Filmed engagement, regardless of its form, is the content they are likely to share. We of course recognise the need for people to protect and defend themselves and each other against intimidation and assault.

SOURCES

[1] https://www.youtube.com/@Dmw0.1

[2] https://www.youtube.com/@Paulnolan1916.

[3] https://www.youtube.com/@Dmw0.1/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=1

[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxtXVJGlLqo&t=7s

[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grF6K30JEKg

[6] https://x.com/PaulNolan1916/status/1733084016801120364

[7] https://x.com/PaulNolan1916

[8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysGflmZITqQ

[9] https://x.com/PaulNolan1916/status/1811097475173748898

[10] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBwLXKnhGmg

[11] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqmHYKHaF8w

[12] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh1rMJhyEz4

[13] https://x.com/PaulNolan1916/status/1811372772490141980

[14] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztETnh-Mzl0

[15] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjcwHcBWyJY

[16] https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UUxCAdDi_5g

[17] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztETnh-Mzl0

[18] https://x.com/Mick_O_Keeffe/status/1811028770972655654

[19] https://x.com/PaulNolan1916/status/1811394869589365069

[20] https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/07/13/twitter-creators-payments-right-wing/

[21] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqmHYKHaF8w

[22] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScQack7vG9U&t=1200s

[23] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBwLXKnhGmg

[24] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYh9d3k0JM4