Kyle Lawrence jailed for role in Dublin riots

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Kyle Lawrence was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years in prison, with the final year suspended, for his role in the Dublin riots. The suspension included a condition that he remain under Probation Service supervision for a year after his release.

Lawrence pleaded guilty to two counts of violent disorder and one count of trespass and theft at Arnotts on Henry Street. RTÉ also reported that he pleaded guilty to criminal damage. The proceedings were reported on 4 February 2025.

The offences occurred during the riots in Dublin city centre on 23 November 2023. CCTV showed Lawrence throwing objects at public order units, throwing a fire extinguisher at an abandoned garda car and hitting an abandoned bus. Both vehicles later caught fire.

When arrested in January 2024, Lawrence made full admissions and said he was following the crowds. His barrister, John Berry SC, said Lawrence had just turned 18, was not an instigator and had not encouraged others on social media or been violent towards people. Berry said Lawrence told gardaí he had left items taken from shops in various places.

Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Lawrence was not an instigator, was not violent towards any person and had not profited greatly from the looting. He set a headline sentence of seven and a half years, reducing it to four and a half years in light of Lawrence’s youth, immaturity and co-operation.