Ben Gilroy

Bernard Gilroy (born 1967 or 1968) is an Irish political activist, anti-eviction campaigner and conspiracy theorist who has been leader of the far-right political party Liberty Republic (formerly Direct Democracy Ireland) since 2024, having previously held the position from 2012 to 2014.

Gilroy was once a campaigner against evictions and has been described as a "serial litigant" for his multiple legal actions taken against Irish banks, with AIB having successfully obtained a court order against him for continued frivolous lawsuits. During one of these court hearings, Gilroy threatened and abused the court in a written affidavit and was charged with contempt of court as a result. He was sentenced to 80 hours of community service but failed to attend. As a consequence of his failure to attend the community service, he was subsequently sentenced to 3 months' imprisonment.

Gilroy has been described by the Irish Times as a far-right political candidate. He opposes abortion, Irish membership of the European Union and vaccinations, and has republished a number of conspiracy theories relating to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland.

Having stood for election numerous times, Gilroy has never been elected to a political position. He unsuccessfully stood for the European Parliament twice; in Midlands–North-West in 2014 and in the Dublin constituency in 2019. He also unsuccessfully campaigned for a seat in the Dáil in the Meath East constituency in a 2013 by-election and 2016 general election. He was an unsuccessful candidate with the far-right Irish Freedom Party in Dublin Bay North at the 2020 general election, and was also unsuccessful, standing for Liberty Republic in multiple constituencies, in the 2024 general election.