Social justice campaigner Jack Brazil accused of burglary during Dublin riots but claims alibi

Social justice Campaigner Jack Brazil has been accused of burglary during the 2023 Dublin riots.

A former Green Party candidate and social justice campaigner has been accused of burglary during mass riots in the Ireland capital of Dublin – though he claims he has an alibi.

Jack Brazil, who contested the Dunedin electorate in the 2020 election for the Green Party and was the victim of a shooting in the southern Kiwi city last year, was arrested this week, according to Irish media.

He appeared in the Dublin District Court accused of burglary at a Footlocker store during widespread riots and looting in the city in the days after a knife attack on young children.

Garda Brian Kenny told the court that when charged, Brazil replied: “I reserve the right to provide further exculpatory evidence,” the Journal online newspaper reported.

Judge Bryan Smyth granted Brazil bail on a €200 ($368) bond, noting his passport had been seized and there was no objection to bail. Conditions included a curfew and, having surrendered his passport, a ban on applying for new travel documents.

The New Zealander will reappear in court on January 29.

Legal aid was granted as Brazil is unemployed and has no assets, the Journal reported.

Brazil was shot in Dunedin last year in mysterious circumstances.

On April 16, police were called to an address on Moray Place at 3.10am and found Brazil had suffered a gunshot wound.

Inquiries found the activist was shot in the early hours on Littlebourne Rd while in a car with another man, then drove himself alone to Yours, a cafe and venue operated by the Ōtepoti Possibilities Co-operative, in which Brazil had a shareholding.

Brazil called for an ambulance but then flagged down a passing car to take him to the hospital.

Police said the shooting was an “isolated incident” and later asked for public help in finding another man reportedly in a car with Brazil at the time of the shooting.

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