Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 7026Public order offences (riots) · Co. Dublin · 23 Nov 2023

Gardaí appeal for footage of Dublin city centre riots

On Thursday 23 November 2023, rioting broke out in Dublin city centre on O'Connell Street and surrounding streets after an alleged stabbing on Parnell Square in which three children and a woman or creche worker were injured. Garda vehicles, a bus and a Luas tram were set on fire, shops were looted, and a Garda officer was seriously injured. Thirty-four people were arrested on the night and 32 were charged, with the 32 due before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Friday 24 November 2023 at 10.30am. By 27 November, 48 arrests had been made since the rioting, and gardaí were reviewing 6,000 hours of CCTV and phone footage while compiling a list of more than 100 people.

  1. Reported23 Nov
    5 reports
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged24 Nov
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
When
The riots took place in Dublin city centre on Thursday evening and night, 23 November 2023.
Where
Violence centred on O'Connell Street and surrounding streets, including Parnell Street, O'Connell Bridge and Lower Abbey Street.
Cause
The riot followed an alleged stabbing on Parnell Square, reported as injuring three children and a woman or creche worker; sources differ on the exact number and roles of the injured.
What happened
  • At least one Garda vehicle, a double-decker bus and a Luas tram were set alight, and shops including Arnotts and Footlocker were broken into and looted.
  • Seven vehicles were damaged by fire, including three buses, three Garda patrol cars and one Luas tram, and eight other Garda vehicles were extensively damaged; the damage is likely to cost tens of millions of euro.
  • Thirteen properties were attacked and substantially damaged; other reports say about 13 shops were significantly damaged or looted.
  • A Garda officer was seriously injured and was in hospital, with reports that a toe may need amputating, and other gardaí were injured to a lesser extent, including one with a broken ankle and others with fractures.
Weapon
Individuals threw glass bottles at lines of gardaí.
Other details
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris blamed the unrest on a hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology, and the Taoiseach estimated that about 500 people were involved.
Investigation
  • Over 400 gardaí were deployed in the city centre, supported by over 250 Public Order gardaí, and a formal investigation was started with an incident room at Store Street Garda Station and a Senior Investigating Officer appointed.
  • Gardaí are collating CCTV and social media images, have 6,000 hours of CCTV and camera phone footage to review, and have appealed to anyone with video or images, or information on those involved or organising the events, to come forward.
  • Gardaí at Store Street Station are compiling a list of more than 100 people, and friends and family of some of those involved have reported them to gardaí.
Charges
Gardaí made 34 arrests on the night and 32 people were charged; by 27 November, 48 arrests had been made in the city since the rioting.
In court
The 32 people charged were due before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Friday 24 November 2023 at 10.30am, on charges including drugs, theft and public order offences.
62 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatOne Garda was injured and a number of Garda vehicles were damaged. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAt least one Garda vehicle, a double-decker bus and a Luas tram were set alight. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSeveral shops were looted. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe shops broken into and looted included Arnotts and Footlocker. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA small group broke into a Gala corner shop. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe glass door into the back of a Sports Direct store on Marlborough Street was smashed in. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA Garda officer was seriously injured and was in hospital. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatOther gardaí were injured to a lesser extent. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThirteen properties were attacked and substantially damaged. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatSeven vehicles were damaged by fire, including three buses, three Garda patrol cars and one Luas tram. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatRioters are being reported to gardaí by their own family and friends. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe riots caused tens of millions of euro in damage to the capital city. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatOne officer may need a toe amputated, another suffered a broken ankle, and others sustained fractures. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereViolent clashes between large groups and gardaí took place in Dublin city centre on Thursday evening. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereA Garda vehicle was set on fire on Parnell Street. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereA bus and a car were set on fire at the O’Connell Bridge end of O’Connell Street. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe entire width of Abbey Street was covered in flames, apparently from a burning vehicle. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe riot broke out on O'Connell Street and surrounding streets. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe riot took place in Dublin city centre. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereProtesters gathered in the city centre and damaged Garda cars. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe list includes people who attacked a lone Garda sergeant on O'Connell Bridge. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe riots took place in Dublin city centre. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe disorder took place on Thursday evening. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe riot took place on Thursday night in Dublin city centre. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe violence and looting took place on Thursday night, 23 November 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe riots took place on Thursday. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe riots took place on Thursday 23 November 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe public disorder erupted in the wake of a stabbing incident in which three children were injured. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe riot followed a stabbing attack on several schoolchildren on Parnell Square. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe riots followed the stabbing of three children and a creche worker. (dublinlive.ie)
  • causeThe rioting erupted after three schoolchildren and a woman were injured in an alleged stabbing on Parnell Square. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponIndividuals launched glass bottles at the line of gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationOver 400 gardaí were deployed on patrol in Dublin city centre, supported by over 250 Public Order gardaí. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí have started a formal investigation into the events. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationAn incident room has been set up at Store Street Garda Station and a Senior Investigating Officer appointed. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are collating CCTV and social media images from the events. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí at Store Street Station are compiling a list of more than 100 rioters. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are hunting arsonists who set fire to buses, Garda cars and vehicles, and looters who raided more than a dozen shops. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí have 6,000 hours of CCTV and camera phone footage to review. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationSome 48 arrests had been made in the city since the rioting. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are asking anyone with information about suspects to contact them. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationAn incident room has been established at Store Street Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are collating and harvesting CCTV and social media images from the events. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí have appealed to anyone present in the city centre who may have video footage or images to contact them. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí have appealed for information on persons organising or involved in the events. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe unrest resulted in 34 arrests. (dublinlive.ie)
  • charge32 people have been charged. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe 32 people charged were due before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Friday 24 November at 10.30am. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtMore than 30 people were scheduled to appear in court on Friday on charges including drugs, theft and public order offences. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGarda Commissioner Drew Harris blamed the unrest on a hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA delivery driver on a moped tried to drive through a crowd of at least 200 people. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherLarge numbers of gardaí were mobilised to restore order and clashed with groups of rioters. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherEight other Garda vehicles were extensively damaged. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherA Luas tram and overhead wires were burnt, and three Dublin Bus vehicles were set alight. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA Garda car, a bus, a Luas carriage were set on fire and shops were looted. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAbout 13 shops were significantly damaged or looted. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe Taoiseach said an estimated 500 people were involved in the disorder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherSome gardaí were injured as about 400 officers responded to the unrest. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe cost of damage to public infrastructure is likely to be in the tens of millions of euro. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAbout 400 gardaí were on the streets at short notice as the situation escalated. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherA Garda car was set on fire during the riots. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Nov2023
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Gardaí appeal for footage of Dublin riots from public as investigation continues

    Garda appeal for CCTV, social media images and information on those organising or involved in the riots; a Garda car was set on fire; no arrests are mentioned.

  2. 27 Nov2023
    Reporteddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Dublin rioters being shopped to gardai by own horrified friends and family

    Adds that more than 100 suspects are being identified, that tips are coming from family and friends, that 48 arrests had been made in the city since the rioting, details of injuries to gardaí and arson and looting, the 6,000 hours of CCTV being reviewed, and the public appeal for information.

  3. 24 Nov2023
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Dublin riots LIVE - Violence erupts in city centre after school stabbings

    Live coverage adds that the Taoiseach estimated about 500 people were involved, 13 shops and 11 Garda cars were damaged, some gardaí were injured, the repair cost may run to tens of millions, and more than 30 people were due in court on Friday on drug, theft and public order charges.

  4. 24 Nov2023
    Chargeddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Officer hospitalised as Garda update with list of damages from city centre riots

    Adds the injured Garda officer, the damage tally (13 properties, 7 vehicles set alight), the arrest and charge numbers, the court appearance, and the formal investigation and incident room details.

    victim
  5. 23 Nov2023
    Reportedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Dublin’s streets ablaze: Rioting, looting and vehicles set alight on the streets of Ireland’s capital

    Describes the riot itself: vehicles set alight, shops looted, gardaí clashing with rioters and a delivery driver on a moped confronted by a crowd. Names the shops targeted and says the riot followed the Parnell Square stabbing. No arrests are mentioned.

  6. 23 Nov2023
    Reportedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Dublin riots in pictures: Vehicles set on fire amid violent clashes with gardaí after stabbing

    Adds photo-report details: a Garda vehicle was set on fire on Parnell Street, a bus and a car were set on fire on O'Connell Street, one Garda was injured, the disorder followed the Parnell Square stabbing, and the Garda Commissioner blamed a far-right faction.