Mark Griffin remanded on bail over violent disorder

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

Mark Griffin was remanded on continuing bail pending sentencing. The proceedings were reported on 19 November 2013.

He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to violent disorder. The offence occurred on Dorset Street Upper on 17 May 2011 during Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Ireland.

Griffin also pleaded guilty to three charges of possession of drugs for sale or supply and to conveying heroin into Wheatfield Prison. The possession offences occurred at his home on 18 October 2011. The heroin offence occurred on 17 February 2011.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring remanded him until the following March, when she would finalise sentence. She ordered urine analysis to confirm his claim that he was now drug-free. Griffin had 71 previous convictions for offences including drugs, road traffic, theft and public order.

The report said Griffin was spotted throwing rocks and glass bottles and helped push a burning bin against shielded riot officers. After his arrest, he admitted joining the riot “because everyone else was” and said he had thrown a bike at a garda van.

Garda Tara Dolan agreed with Dean Kelly BL, defending Griffin, that Griffin was not part of a republican group and had spent the previous night binge drinking. She agreed that he regularly came to garda attention but had since “quietened down”.

Dolan also agreed that others were masterminding the riot and directing local youths. She told Judge Ring that none of the ringleaders had been prosecuted.

This case may have concluded differently. The outcome has not yet been confirmed by a public source we could find.