Courts / Dublin / Report
Man (22) gets 5.5 years for role in live-streamed riot attack on garda sergeant
Summary
Thomas Fox, 22, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a global custodial term of five and a half years after pleading guilty to multiple offences arising from the November 23, 2022 riots. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of eight years before reducing it to the final term. Fox admitted to committing a riot on Burgh Quay, violent disorder, burglary of Foot Locker on O'Connell Street, interfering with a bus mechanism on O'Connell Bridge, assaulting Sergeant Brendan Eddery causing him harm, and possession of cocaine for sale or supply in his Lord Edward Street hostel. The prosecution accepted the assault charge on the basis of joint enterprise. Fox was identified by two gardaí via CCTV and arrested in July 2024. During the hearing, Sergeant Eddery read a victim impact statement detailing his injuries and the psychological trauma caused by the live-streamed attack, which his family later viewed. The judge acknowledged Fox's sincere remorse and apology, noting his history of drug addiction and homelessness. Despite the significant damage caused by the riots, estimated at €10 million, the court imposed the custodial sentence, concluding with Judge Nolan wishing the sergeant luck.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man (22) gets 5.5 years for role in live-streamed riot attack on garda sergeant. Charges or matters: committing a riot on Burgh Quay, Dublin 2 on November 23, 2022; violent disorder, burglary of Foot Locker on O'Connell Street, interfering with the mechanism of a bus on O'Connell Bridge, assaulting Sgt Eddery causing him harm also on Burgh Quay and possession of cocaine for sale or supply in the hostel he was living in at the time on Lord Edward Street in Dublin City Centre. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- November 23, 2022 Incident
- July 22, 2024 Incident
- New Year Other
- Christmas Other
- 2025-10-08 Publication
Why: When asked why he had got involved in the riots, he said because of what happened to a child earlier that day – referring to the stabbing of a child on Parnell Square. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: committing a riot on Burgh Quay, Dublin 2 on November 23, 2022; violent disorder, burglary of Foot Locker on O'Connell Street, interfering with the mechanism of a bus on O'Connell Bridge, assaulting Sgt Eddery causing him harm also on Burgh Quay and possession of cocaine for sale or supply in the hostel he was living in at the time on Lord Edward Street in Dublin City Centre (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Nolan said Fox deserved a custodial sentence before he set a headline sentence of eight years. He then imposed a global sentence of five and a half years. "Best of luck sergeant," Judge Nolan said after imposing sentence on Fox.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Parnell Square
- Lord Edward Street
- Dublin City
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- O'Connell Street
Topics
Burglary Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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