Supporters of the National Party (NP) and Irexit Freedom to Prosper have been using 4chan, an online network popular with alt-right activists, to oppose the United Nations migration pact.

A silent protest outside the Dail on Thursday night was promoted on 4chan’s Irish-focused “eire/pol” thread in advance. Organised by the Irexit party on Facebook and Twitter, it attracted about 150 anti-pact activists. A counter-protest drew about 100 people.

A joint Sunday Times and Storyful investigation of the online network found an increase in activity by Irish users regarding the UN pact, an international agreement to support safer migration. A discussion thread devoted to the protest on Thursday was the largest that Storyful had observed since it began monitoring the platform.

A series of posts on