Man accused of setting fire to Garda vehicle, fanning the f lames of Dublin riots
Expected there will be more arrests
Yet to indicate how they will plead
A MAN has been accused of setting fire to a Garda vehicle, which allegedly contributed to ‘further acts of arson’ during the Dublin riots in November.
Dublin District Court heard it was among the most serious and largest ‘scenes of public disorder that has ever occurred in the history of the State’.
It resulted from protests after an earlier incident where several people including children were injured. Gardaí have already brought dozens of people before the courts on public order, weapon, theft and various other charges in connection with the rioting and looting on November 23 in the city.
Following this, Declan Donaghey, 27, from William’s Place, Upper Dorset Street, Dublin 1, and Kyle Lawrence, 18, of Lurgan Street, Dublin 7, were arrested on Wednesday and brought to Store Street Garda Station where they were charged with various serious offences. They were held overnight and appeared before Judge Bryan Smyth at Dublin District Court yesterday.
He remanded them on strict bail to appear again on April 4.
Mr Donaghey is accused of four offences at Parnell Street – arson by setting fire to a marked Garda vehicle, criminal damage of another Garda vehicle, throwing an object through the glass front window of a business, and violent disorder.
Detective Garda Michelle Fitzpatrick told the court Mr Donaghey ‘made no reply to the charges’, and she objected to bail due to the seriousness of the case.
She told
Judge Smyth that there had been protesters at the scene of the earlier crime, where several people and children were injured. Gardaí also became aware of a protest at the Garden of Remembrance. There were deliberate acts of arson, looting and criminal damage. Det Gda Fitzpatrick alleged Mr Donaghey ‘set fire to a marked Garda patrol vehicle at Parnell Street at 6.45pm’. She added that ‘this was the first vehicle set alight, and it is the position of investigating gardaí that this act also contributed to further acts of arson throughout the evening’.
It was also alleged Mr Donaghey caused damage to another marked patrol vehicle by jumping on the bonnet and repeatedly stamping on the windscreen, causing it to smash, and that he engaged in violent disorder.
Det Gda Fitzpatrick claimed that officers traced Mr Donaghey’s movements for over two hours, and there was video evidence of each offence. It was also expected that there would be further arrests, the court heard.
Defence solicitor Tony Collier said that his client was unemployed and had applied for social welfare but was looking for work. He submitted that Mr Donaghey, who was granted legal aid, did not have the resources to flee and live outside the jurisdiction.
Judge Smyth said they were very serious charges, but he held that the court could grant bail with strict conditions.
Mr Donaghey was remanded on his bond of €500 to appear again on April 4.
He was also ordered to sign on at his local Garda station daily, surrender his passport, provide gardaí with a contact phone number, and obey an 11pm-7am curfew at his home address.
The second defendant, Mr Lawrence, who is participating in an educational programme, faces ten charges. They include five counts of burglary – at Foot Locker, Arnotts, JD Sports, Lifestyle and Asics – and two charges for violent disorder at Parnell Street and O’Connell Street Lower. He is also accused of attempted criminal damage at Penneys on Mary
Street, and two further acts of attempted criminal damage.
Detective Garda Alan O’Toole said Mr Lawrence ‘made no reply after caution and was handed a true copy of each charge sheet’.
The detective did not object to his bail but asked the court ‘to impose strict conditions’.
Judge Smyth ordered the accused to continue his education programme, reside at his current address and notify gardaí of any change, engage fully with other services, sign on three days a week at a Garda station, and obey a 9pm–7am curfew.
He must remain contactable by phone to inform officers if he changes his phone.
The detective said that Mr Lawrence’s mobile phone had been seized as part of the investigation but would be returned to him after the court hearing.
His barrister, Barry Lysaght, told the court that there was consent to the bail terms sought and a nine-week adjournment. Legal aid was also granted.
Judge Smyth informed the defendants that breaching the terms could result in applications to revoke bail, and they could be remanded in custody.
They spoke once during the hearings, each saying ‘yes’ to indicate they understood the judge’s warning about bail terms compliance. They have yet to indicate how they will plead.
The unrest in the city erupted after a girl, aged five, was severely wounded in a stabbing at Parnell Square on the afternoon of November 23.
Two other children and a crèche worker, Leanne Flynn Keogh, from Dublin, were also injured.
Riad Bouchaker, 50, who has no fixed abode, was charged on December 21 with the attempted murders of two girls and a boy, as well as assault and production of the 36-centimetre knife. He’s in custody on remand pending trial.