Bench warrant issued for Michael Dunne after missed sentencing

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Michael Dunne pleaded guilty to criminal damage to the Luke Kelly statue. The proceedings were reported on 15 December 2023.

On 15 December 2023, Dunne failed to appear for sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Orla Crowe issued a bench warrant after hearing that his lawyers had been unable to contact him.

Dunne threw blue paint on the statue on 12 July 2020, causing €240 worth of damage. He had 51 previous convictions, including five for criminal damage.

This report covers an earlier stage of the case. Later developments are not reported here.