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Dublin rioter who set garda car alight gets 6.5 years
Summary
Declan Donaghey, 28, pleaded guilty to arson, violent disorder and criminal damage after setting a Garda patrol car on fire and damaging a migrant centre during a riot in Dublin. The court found the offences to be of a very serious nature, noting the destruction of a patrol car valued at €20,000 and damage to a migrant accommodation centre, as well as the broader context of the riot that saw 60 locations damaged or looted. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced Donaghey to seven-and-a-half years, with the final year suspended on the arson charge, and imposed four-and-a-half years for violent disorder and three years for criminal damage, all to run concurrently. The judge took into account Donaghey's personal circumstances, including anxiety, depression and alcohol addiction, but did not consider his five prior convictions. The sentence was imposed in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 20 November 2024.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Dublin rioter who set garda car alight gets 6.5 years. Charges or matters: arson, violent disorder and criminal damage on November 23, 2023. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- November 23, 2023 Incident
- 2024-11-20 Publication
Why: Judge Crowe said she was giving no credit to Donaghey because there were many people connected to the school who did not go out on the roads and attack gardai. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: arson, violent disorder and criminal damage on November 23, 2023 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: A large crowd of supporters were in court today, some of whom looked shocked as the sentence was imposed on Declan Donaghey (28), while others cried. Judge Crowe sentenced him to seven-and-a-half years with the final year suspended on the arson charge to incentivise rehabilitation.
Places mentioned
- Williams Place
- Dorset Street
- Dublin
- Parnell Street
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Parnell Street
Topics
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