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Dublin rioter's 6.5-year jail sentence is upheld on appeal
Summary
The Court of Appeal upheld a six-and-a-half-year jail sentence for Declan Donaghey, who set a garda car alight and damaged a migrant centre during a riot described as one of the gravest examples of public disorder in the State's history. Donaghey had pleaded guilty to arson, violent disorder, and criminal damage. The court heard that his actions were part of a targeted attack on gardaí who were investigating a serious criminal offence earlier that day. CCTV footage showed Donaghey igniting a garda car and damaging another, as well as throwing objects at a migrant centre. The sentencing judge had imposed a seven-and-a-half-year sentence, with the final year suspended. Donaghey appealed, arguing the headline sentence was too high and that mitigating factors were not adequately considered. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, noting that the arson was the first act of the night and significantly escalated the situation. The court emphasized that an attack on gardaí is an attack on society and that the headline sentence was appropriate given the unprecedented nature of the event.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Dublin rioter's 6.5-year jail sentence is upheld on appeal. Charges or matters: arson, violent disorder and criminal damage on November 23, 2023. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- November 23, 2023 Incident
- November 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2026-05-19 Publication
Why: Delivering judgment, Ms Justice Butler noted the sentencing judge was "clearly not impressed" that Donaghey said he acted the way he did because he had a close relation in the school. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: arson, violent disorder and criminal damage on November 23, 2023 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: In November 2024, Judge Orla Crowe sentenced Donaghey to seven-and-a-half years with the final year suspended on the arson charge to incentivise rehabilitation. She imposed concurrent sentences of four-and-a-half and three years respectively for the violent disorder and criminal damage charges.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- The appeal court
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Williams Place
- Dorset Street
- Dublin
- Parnell Street
Topics
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