Ireland Man charged over damage to Dublin's Gate Theatre
A 65-year-old tourist, described as a foreign national, was allegedly dragged to the ground into a laneway around Bachelors Walk and Bachelors Way on Dublin's city centre quays at 9.10pm, and her handbag was allegedly discarded. Rian Dunne, 24, of Raheen Park, Ballyfermot, Dublin, was charged by gardaí on the Tuesday night with robbery, refused bail at Dublin District Court, and remanded in custody to Cloverhill District Court the following week; his solicitor said he contests the allegations. A separate Gate Theatre report dated 24 August 2023 describes criminal damage at the theatre in Dublin's north inner city early on a Thursday morning, with windows smashed and an intercom damaged, and says a man in his 30s has been charged, but it does not name him or link him to the robbery. The latest development is that this man is expected to appear before Dublin District Court at a later date, and investigations into the Gate incident are ongoing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged24 Aug
- In court23 Aug
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 65-year-old tourist was allegedly dragged to the ground into a laneway during a predatory robbery.
- The accused allegedly discarded the victim's handbag and ran.
- A number of windows were smashed and an intercom was damaged at the Gate Theatre.
- Where
- The alleged robbery took place around Bachelors Walk and Bachelors Way on Dublin's city centre quays.
- The Gate Theatre report places the criminal damage at the theatre in Dublin's north inner city.
- When
- The alleged robbery happened at 9.10pm, and the accused was charged on the Tuesday night.
- The Gate Theatre damage happened early on a Thursday morning, outside business hours.
- Charges
- Rian Dunne, 24, of Raheen Park, Ballyfermot, Dublin, is accused of robbery under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.
- The Gate Theatre report says a man in his 30s has been charged over criminal damage, without naming him; the age differs from Dunne's reported age of 24.
- Investigation
- Garda Patrick Hynes said he apprehended the accused at Abbey Street after the incident, and a garda said CCTV showed a premeditated element.
- Gardaí said investigations into the Gate Theatre incident were ongoing, and repair works were under way.
- In court
- Dunne was refused bail at Dublin District Court and remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court the following week, and was granted legal aid as he is unemployed.
- Directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions must be obtained, and the man in the Gate report is expected to appear before Dublin District Court at a later date.
- Other details
- The defence contests the allegations, and the accused's solicitor said his client denies them.
- The Gate Theatre said instances of antisocial behaviour affecting the theatre were very rare, and its performance schedule was not disrupted.
33 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA 65-year-old tourist was dragged to the ground into a laneway during an alleged predatory robbery. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA 65-year-old tourist was dragged into a laneway during a robbery. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused allegedly discarded the victim's handbag and ran. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA man has been charged following an alleged instance of criminal damage at the Gate Theatre. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA number of windows were smashed and an intercom was damaged. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident happened around Bachelor's Walk and Bachelor's Way. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe alleged robbery took place around Bachelors Walk and Bachelors Way on Dublin city centre quays. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident took place at the Gate Theatre in Dublin's north inner city. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident happened at 9.10 pm. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whenGardaí charged him with the offence on Tuesday night. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident happened early on a Thursday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí apprehended the accused at Abbey Street. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA garda told the court there was CCTV evidence of a premeditated element to the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí apprehended the accused at Abbey Street after the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí said there was CCTV evidence of a premeditated element to the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí said investigations into the incident were ongoing. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe damage was reported to the Garda and repair works were under way. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeRian Dunne is accused of robbery under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeRian Dunne was charged on Tuesday night and refused bail. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDunne is accused of robbery under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man, who is in his 30s, has been charged. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe bail hearing took place at Dublin District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe accused was refused bail and remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court the following week. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe accused was granted legal aid after the judge noted he was unemployed. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge refused bail and remanded Dunne in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDirections from the Director of Public Prosecutions have to be obtained about the case. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe man is expected to appear before Dublin District Court at a later date. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe alleged handbag was discarded and the accused ran, according to the garda. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe accused's solicitor said his client contests the allegations. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defence contested the allegations. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDunne was granted legal aid after the judge noted he was unemployed. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Gate said instances of antisocial behaviour affecting the theatre were very rare. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe theatre said its performance schedule was not disrupted by the incident. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 24 Aug2023Man charged over damage to Dublin’s Gate theatre
First report of the charge against a man in his 30s over damage at the Gate Theatre; no existing case matches this incident.
accused, 30s, male - 23 Aug2023Tourist (65) dragged down Dublin city centre lane by her handbag in ‘predatory’ robbery
Court hearing at Dublin District Court, reported on 23 August 2023. The judge refused bail and remanded Dunne to Cloverhill District Court. The defence disputes the allegations and the evidence.
victim, 65, femaleaccused, Rian Dunne, 24, male, named, irish (judged from name)Rian Dunne - 23 Aug2023Man in court over alleged 'predatory' robbery of female tourist in Dublin
First report of the case: the accused was charged, refused bail at Dublin District Court, remanded in custody to Cloverhill District Court, and granted legal aid.
accused, Rian Dunne, 24, male, named, irish (judged from name)Rian Dunnevictim, 65, female