Ireland Case No. 6253Arson (criminal damage by fire) · Co. Dublin · 31 Dec 2023
Crane driver charged with arson of former Ringsend pub
Steven McDonnell, 49, was charged with causing damage by fire to the former Shipwright pub on Thorncastle Street, Ringsend, in the early hours of New Year's Eve. He is accused of causing more than €2m in fire damage and was granted bail with conditions.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested8 Feb
2 reports - Charged1 Mar
2 reports - In court21 Mar
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports66 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe former Shipwright pub was gutted by a fire in late December. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThree people were arrested in connection with an arson incident in Ringsend. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe article concerns an arson incident. (garda.ie)
- whatSteven McDonnell, 49, was charged with causing damage to the former pub by fire under section two of the Criminal Damage Act. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused is alleged to have caused more than €2m worth of fire damage. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe alleged fire damage was more than €2m. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe pub is in Ringsend, Dublin, on Thorncastle Street. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe fire was at the former Shipwright pub on Thorncastle Street, Ringsend. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident took place on Thorncastle Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4. (garda.ie)
- whereThe fire was at the Shipwright pub on Thorncastle Street in the south inner city. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe fire was at the old Shipwright Pub on Thorncastle Street in Ringsend. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe former Shipwright pub was on Thorncastle Street in Ringsend. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe fire broke out at around 2am on 31 December. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on 31 December 2023. (garda.ie)
- whenThe fire broke out in the early hours of New Year’s Eve. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- causeA technical examination determined the blaze was an act of criminal damage. (irishtimes.com)
- causeInvestigators are examining a theory that the site was targeted because it was wrongly believed it would be renovated to house asylum seekers. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeGardaí confirmed at the time that the fire was the work of arsonists. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThree people have been arrested in the investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationFour residential properties were searched under warrant on Thursday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationItems of evidential value, including electronic devices, were seized. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are still keen to speak to anyone with information about the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationFour residential properties were searched under warrant during an operation in the Dublin area. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationTwo men, aged in their 30s and 50s, and a woman in her 20s were arrested. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí continue to appeal for information about the investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationThree people, two men and a woman, were arrested for questioning last month and released without charge. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationSearches were carried out and items including mobile phones were seized for examination. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí at Irishtown Garda station examined social media posts and urged people with information to come forward. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí and six units of Dublin Fire Brigade attended and brought the blaze under control. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationDetective Sergeant Jonathan Kelly arrested the accused at his home at 7.18 am on Thursday. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested the man at his home at 7.18am on a Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeA man in his 40s arrested as part of the investigation has been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeGardaí confirmed another arrest had been made and a man charged. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe criminal charge is the first in the case. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeSteven McDonnell was charged with causing damage to the former pub by fire, contrary to section two of the Criminal Damage Act. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe accused is expected to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice, Court No. 4, on Thursday 21 March 2024 at about 10.30am. (garda.ie)
- courtThe man was due to appear before the courts in the city on Thursday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe appeared before Judge Fiona Brennan at Dublin District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe DPP directed trial on indictment, so the case will be dealt with at the Circuit Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe was held in custody until he takes up €2,750 bail with strict terms. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge set a €250 bond and required a €2,500 lodgement or approved surety. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBail conditions require him to sign on three days a week at his local garda station. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge refused the defence request to remove the €2,500 lodgement or surety requirement. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear again on March 27, pending a book of evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions has directed trial on indictment, so the case will be heard at the Circuit Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Brennan set bond at €250 and required a €2,500 lodgement or approved surety. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBail conditions include signing on three days a week and staying away from Thorncastle Street and Fitzwilliam Street. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe defence asked the court to remove the €2,500 lodgement or surety requirement, but the judge refused. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was initially remanded in custody with consent to bail, to appear again on March 27. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was released on bail that Thursday evening, subject to the judge's conditions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe building was falsely rumoured to be earmarked for asylum seeker accommodation. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe building was actually being readied to house homeless families. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman was later released without charge on Thursday afternoon. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe site had been the scene of protests by people opposed to asylum seekers being housed there in the days before the fire. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherAll three are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 for alleged offences under the Criminal Damage Act at a Garda station in the Dublin Region. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherNobody was injured in the fire, but the building was very extensively damaged. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe premises was being readied for use as a hub for homeless families. (irishtimes.com)
- otherFalse rumours circulated claiming the premises was to be used for international protection applicants. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí said the man was expected to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice that morning and that investigations are ongoing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe fire went on amid rumours the pub would be repurposed to house immigrants. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe Dublin Regional Homeless Executive had prepared to use the property for homeless families. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe accused denies the allegation. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe pub was earmarked for homeless accommodation and rumours circulated that it would house migrants. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused denied the allegation through his solicitor. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Dublin Regional Homeless Executive was prepared to use the property for homeless families at the time of the fire. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 21 Mar2024Crane driver (49) accused of causing €2m in fire damage due to Ringsend arson attack
First report of this case. Adds the charge, the alleged damage of more than €2m, the trial on indictment at the Circuit Court, the bail terms and the court appearance at Dublin District Court.
accused, Steven McDonnell, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)Steven McDonnell - 21 Mar2024Man charged with arson of pub earmarked for homeless accused of €2m damage
Court appearance and bail hearing for the accused, who denies the charge. Adds details of the damage value, arrest, bail terms and the case moving to the Circuit Court.
accused, Steven McDonnell, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)Steven McDonnell - 21 Mar2024Man charged after arson attack at falsely rumoured refugee centre in Ringsend, Dublin
Reports a man in his 40s charged in the Shipwright pub arson, the first charge in the case, after earlier arrests and releases. Notes that the premises was being readied as a hub for homeless families and that false rumours about international protection applicants circulated.
accused, 40s, male - 1 Mar2024Update (4): Court Appearance - Arson Incident, Thorncastle Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4, 31st December 2023
Update (4) confirms that the man in his 40s arrested in the investigation has been charged and is expected at the CCJ, Court No. 4, on 21 March 2024 at about 10.30am.
accused, 40s, male - 8 Feb2024Three people arrested following arson attack on Dublin pub
Adds that three people (two men and a woman) were arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, that four properties were searched, and that investigators are examining a theory that the site was targeted over a false belief it would house asylum seekers.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 50s, malesuspect, 20s, female - 8 Feb2024Three people arrested over December arson attack at former Ringsend pub
Reports three arrests (two men, in their 30s and 50s, and a woman in her 20s) and searches of four residential properties under warrant, and says the woman was later released without charge. Gardaí say the blaze was criminal damage and appeal for information.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 50s, malesuspect, 20s, female