Case No. 2893Arson, violent disorder, criminal damage · Co. Dublin · 23 Nov 2023
Declan Donaghey jailed for six-and-a-half years for arson and violent disorder during Dublin riots
Declan Donaghey, 28, was sentenced to concurrent terms totalling seven-and-a-half years (with the final year suspended) at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for setting a Garda patrol car on fire and attacking Dublin City Dorms during the riots on 23 November 2023.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted18 Nov
- Sentenced20 Nov
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports43 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDonaghey threw a burning box into a Garda patrol car (irishtimes.com)
- whatDonaghey attacked a migrant centre during the riots (irishtimes.com)
- what60 locations were damaged or looted during the riot (irishtimes.com)
- whatAn abandoned bus and Luas were also set alight during the riot (irishtimes.com)
- whatCCTV showed Donaghey opening a rear door of a patrol car and putting a burning box into it (irishtimes.com)
- whatDonaghey wiped the handle of the Hyundai Kona door before shutting it (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe patrol car was completely destroyed by fire (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe valuation of the patrol car including depreciation was €20,000 (irishtimes.com)
- whatDonaghey damaged a second Garda car by jumping on the bonnet and kicking the windows and wing mirror (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatA wheelie bin was thrown at one of the Garda cars (irishtimes.com)
- whatKegs were thrown at the shutters of the accommodation centre (irishtimes.com)
- whatA garda became isolated and sought refuge in a Garda van parked behind the two patrol cars (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Public Order Unit got the isolated garda to safety (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo plain clothes gardaí were targeted when their riot vests identified them as members of the force (irishtimes.com)
- whatDonaghey threw the saddle of a bike at the migrant centre (irishtimes.com)
- whatDonaghey opened the rear door of a Hyundai Kona patrol car and put a burning box into it, then wiped the door handle before shutting it, leading to the vehicle being completely destroyed by fire. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA further €8,000 damage was done to the other Garda vehicle. (irishtimes.com)
- what€16,000 worth of damage was done to Dublin City Dorms, which has capacity for 90 international protection applicants but had 50 occupants on the date. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA further €63,000 was spent on security personnel following the attack on the accommodation centre. (irishtimes.com)
- what60 locations were damaged or looted on the night of the riot. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAn abandoned double-decker bus and a Luas tram were also set alight during the riot. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAn incident happened in Cavendish Row earlier in the day where a number of people including children were attacked and a cordon was put in place, which a large group broke through. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA garda became isolated in the riots and sought refuge in a Garda van parked behind the two patrol cars on Parnell Street. (irishtimes.com)
- whatPlain clothes gardaí were targeted in the riots when their riot vests identified them as members of the force. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFive victim impact statements were handed into the court. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatDonaghey threw a burning box into the rear of a Hyundai Kona patrol car, which was subsequently completely destroyed by fire. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKegs were thrown at the shutters of Dublin City Dorms and a bike saddle was thrown at the centre. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe patrol car was valued at €20,000 including depreciation and a further €8,000 damage was done to the other Garda vehicle. (irishmirror.ie)
- what€16,000 worth of damage was done to Dublin City Dorms and a further €63,000 was spent on security personnel following the attack. (irishmirror.ie)
- what60 locations were damaged or looted during the riots, including an abandoned double-decker bus and a Luas tram that were set alight. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeDonaghey pleaded guilty to arson, violent disorder, criminal damage and rioting on 23 November 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDeclan Donaghey, 28, of Williams Place Upper, Dorset Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to arson, violent disorder and criminal damage on 23 November 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDonaghey pleaded guilty to arson, violent disorder, and criminal damage. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Orla Crowe remanded Donaghey in custody pending sentence on Wednesday (irishtimes.com)
- courtDonaghey was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Orla Crowe. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceDonaghey was sentenced to 7½ years with the final year suspended on the arson charge, 4½ years on the violent disorder charge, and three years for criminal damage, all to run concurrently. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceDonaghey was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years with the final year suspended on the arson charge, four-and-a-half years on violent disorder, and three years for criminal damage, all to run concurrently. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDonaghey has five previous convictions with two for public order offences (irishtimes.com)
- otherDonaghey told gardaí his brother was robbed a week earlier by foreign nationals (irishtimes.com)
- otherDonaghey said he only made himself look like a scumbag (irishtimes.com)
- otherDonaghey has five previous convictions, two of which are for public order offences including threatening and abusive behaviour. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe judge was not taking his five previous convictions into account as they were of a minor nature. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA Garda became isolated during the riots and sought refuge in a Garda van parked behind the two patrol cars on Parnell Street until the Public Order Unit reached him. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Nov2024Man who set Garda car on fire during Dublin riots shouts 'scumbags' in court
Sentencing report detailing Donaghey's guilty plea, the judge's reasoning, the specific acts of arson and damage, and his personal circumstances including mental health and alcohol addiction.
suspect, Declan Donaghey, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Declan Donaghey - 20 Nov2024Man who set fire to Garda patrol car in Dublin riots is jailed for 6½ years
Sentencing details including concurrent sentences, mitigation factors (anxiety, depression, alcohol addiction, AA attendance), court observations on the riot's severity, and the defendant's apology and reaction in court.
convicted, Declan Donaghey, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Declan Donaghey - 18 Nov2024Man who set fire to Garda car during Dublin riot apologises and says he is ‘not a racist’
Covers the plea hearing at which Donaghey pleaded guilty and was remanded pending sentencing, providing details of CCTV evidence, his garda interview, his handwritten apology letter, and background on the riot including 60 locations damaged or looted.
accused, Declan Donaghey, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Declan Donaghey