Courts / Limerick / Report
Youth jailed for five years over 11-hour "rampage" at detention centre
Summary
Jack Walsh, 19, was sentenced to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in an 11-hour disturbance at Oberstown Children's Detention Campus on August 29, 2016. Walsh pleaded guilty to violent disorder and two charges of criminal damage, admitting he was present during the incident which caused €3 million in damage. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final two and a half years of the sentence, ordering Walsh to be of good behaviour for that period. The sentence was backdated to May 2. Three other youths, Clayton Brennan, Nathan Ginty, and Luke Cronin, also pleaded guilty to arson, criminal damage, and violent disorder. It was accepted that Cronin's plea was based on adding fuel to the fire rather than starting it. Brennan had seven previous convictions and was on remand; Ginty had 22 previous convictions. A 17-year-old defendant, who also pleaded guilty to the same charges, had 22 previous convictions and was on remand. The cases of Brennan, Ginty, Cronin, and the 17-year-old were adjourned for sentence to Friday, June 1. The court noted the youths had destroyed or attempted to destroy the institution, with the judge describing the event as a frightening rampage.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Youth jailed for five years over 11-hour "rampage" at detention centre. Charges or matters: arson, criminal damage and violent disorder at Oberstown on August 29, 2016, although it was accepted that Cronin's plea was entered on the basis that he didn't actually start the fire but added fuel to it; the same charge. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 29, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- Friday, June 1 Adjournment
- May 2 Incident
- 2018-05-30 Publication
Why: The unit was declared unsafe because of the damage and subsequently demolished. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: arson, criminal damage and violent disorder at Oberstown on August 29, 2016, although it was accepted that Cronin's plea was entered on the basis that he didn't actually start the fire but added fuel to it; the same charge (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Brennan had seven convictions and was on remand awaiting sentence at the time.; His case has been adjourned for sentence to this coming Friday, June 1.
Defendant
Charges: arson, criminal damage and violent disorder at Oberstown on August 29, 2016, although it was accepted that Cronin's plea was entered on the basis that he didn't actually start the fire but added fuel to it; the same charge (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: His case has been adjourned for sentence to this coming Friday, June 1.
Defendant
Charges: arson, criminal damage and violent disorder at Oberstown on August 29, 2016, although it was accepted that Cronin's plea was entered on the basis that he didn't actually start the fire but added fuel to it; the same charge (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: His case has been adjourned for sentence to this coming Friday, June 1.
Places mentioned
- Woodlawn Park
- Ballysimon
- Ballysimon Road
- Limerick
- Dublin
- Westport
- Bakers Road
- Cork
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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