Courts / Dublin / Report

'Swept up in anti-immigrant sentiment': then-teen who started Luas fire during Dublin riots gets three years

Date
2025-10-13

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Evan Moore, aged 20, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to rioting, setting fire to a Luas tram and damaging its windows on 23 November 2023. The incident followed a stabbing of a five‑year‑old in Parnell Square and led to a 24‑hour suspension of Luas services and an estimated €5 million in tram damage. Court hearings revealed CCTV footage of Moore's involvement from 7.05 pm to 7.40 pm, including moving burning material onto the tram. Moore, who had no prior convictions and was 18 at the time, was found to have been influenced by anti‑immigrant sentiment and social media. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to four years with the final year suspended, requiring good behaviour and probation supervision. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the riot and the damage caused.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Swept up in anti-immigrant sentiment': then-teen who started Luas fire during Dublin riots gets three years. Charges or matters: rioting, damaging a Luas by fire and damaging the windows of a Luas tram on November 23, 2023. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

November 23, 2023 Incident
May 14, 2024 Incident
2025-10-13 Publication

Case subjects

Evan Moore

Defendant

Charges: rioting, damaging a Luas by fire and damaging the windows of a Luas tram on November 23, 2023 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: She suspended the final year of this sentence on a number of conditions, including that Moore be of good behaviour for four years and remain under the supervision of the Probation Service for 12 months upon his release.; Counsel asked for the case to be adjourned to allow for the preparation of a probation report.