Ireland Case No. 5633Criminal damage (petrol bomb attack) · Co. Dublin · 21 May 2024
Man charged over petrol bomb attack on Tallaght building earmarked for asylum seekers
At around 11pm on 21 May 2024, a vacant building at St John's House on High Street, Tallaght, Dublin 24, earmarked to house families seeking asylum, was allegedly attacked with petrol bombs and set alight, and the only occupant, a female security guard, got out. Two men in their 40s and 30s were arrested on 23 May after a break-in at the building, and a man in his late teens was arrested on Saturday 25 May. Andy Donohue, an 18-year-old man, was charged on Sunday 26 May with causing criminal damage, and on Monday 27 May Tallaght District Court refused him bail and remanded him in custody. The latest development is that the High Court granted him bail in June 2024 on strict conditions, including a €3,000 lodgement.
- Reported22 May
- Arrested21 May
4 reports - Charged21 May
3 reports - In court27 May
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí are investigating criminal damage by fire at a vacant building at St John's House in Tallaght.
- Where
- The building is on High Street in Tallaght, Dublin 24, and was earmarked to house families seeking international protection.
- When
- The fire happened at around 11pm on Tuesday 21 May 2024, and Gardaí were alerted at about 11:10pm.
- Cause
- The building was allegedly set alight in a petrol bomb attack, although one report describes it as a pipe bomb attack.
- Weapon
- It was alleged that a petrol bomb was thrown through a window near the security guard's desk, and that a hammer was then used to smash glass and throw in two more petrol bombs.
- Other details
- The only occupant was a female security guard, who fled through a rear or emergency exit, and no injuries were reported.
- Witnesses and social media footage show a hooded figure running from the blaze.
- Investigation
- Two men, one in his 40s and one in his 30s, were arrested after a break-in at the vacant building, on 23 May according to most reports, and were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984; the sources do not link them to the fire.
- A man in his late teens was arrested on Saturday 25 May and detained at a Garda station in Dublin under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
- The damage is estimated at €20,000, an extensive CCTV review and a technical examination of the scene were carried out, and investigations are ongoing.
- Charges
- Andy Donohue, 18, was charged on Sunday 26 May with causing criminal damage under the Criminal Damage Act, and made no reply when charged.
- Sentence
- Gardaí said the charge could carry a 10-year sentence and a fine of up to €10,000 on conviction.
- In court
- On Monday 27 May at Tallaght District Court, Judge Patricia McNamara refused bail and remanded him in custody, with gardaí objecting on the seriousness of the charge and concern he could be a danger to the community.
- On a fresh application to the High Court in June 2024, Mr Justice Burns granted bail with a €100 bond, approval of an independent surety and a €3,000 lodgement.
100 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí are investigating criminal damage by fire at a property in Tallaght. (garda.ie)
- whatA pipe bomb attack caused a fire at a property earmarked for asylum seeker families. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe site was due to be used to house families seeking asylum. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe vacant building was set alight in a suspected petrol bomb attack. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatTwo men were arrested after being caught breaking into the damaged property. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA vacant building on High Street, Tallaght, earmarked to house refugees, was set alight in a suspected petrol bomb attack. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA teen was arrested and charged in connection with a suspected petrol bomb attack on a property earmarked for refugees in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man was arrested in connection with criminal damage caused by a fire at a property in Tallaght. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe case concerns a petrol bomb attack on a building earmarked for asylum seekers. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe fire was at a property in Tallaght, Dublin 24. (garda.ie)
- whereThe fire damage was to a property in Tallaght, Dublin 24. (garda.ie)
- whereGardaí ask anyone in the vicinity of High Street, Tallaght, between 10:30pm and 11:30pm on Tuesday evening who saw unusual activity to contact them. (garda.ie)
- whereThe attack happened at St John’s House in Tallaght Village. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereGardaí and emergency services were alerted to a fire at a vacant property on High Street at about 11:10pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe vacant building is on High Street in Tallaght. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe building is a vacant property on the High Street in Tallaght, South County Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe attack occurred at St John's House in Tallaght Village. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe vacant building is on the High Street in Tallaght, South Co Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe attack was on St John's House in Tallaght Village, a site due to be used to house families seeking asylum. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident happened at a premises in Tallaght, Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe attack was on St John’s House, High Street, Tallaght. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident happened at St John's House on High Street in Tallaght, Dublin 24. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident happened on Tuesday night, 21 May 2024. (garda.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on the Tuesday night, 21 May 2024. (garda.ie)
- whenThe attack happened at around 11pm on a Tuesday night. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenGardaí investigated criminal damage by fire at the property on Tuesday 21 May 2024. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenGardaí were alerted to the fire at about 11:10pm. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenTwo men were arrested after a break-in at the vacant premises just after midnight on 23 May 2024. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe fire was on Tuesday 21 May 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe attack happened at around 11pm on Tuesday, 21 May. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on Tuesday night, which the article calls 'last'. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe attack happened at around 11pm on 21 May. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident happened on May 21st. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe fire was caused by a pipe bomb attack. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe building was set alight in a suspected petrol bomb attack. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe court heard that the male, who was not wearing gloves, threw a petrol bomb at a window, but it was deflected. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponThe vacant building was set alight by a suspected petrol bomb. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponA petrol bomb was thrown through a window near the security guard's desk. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponIt was alleged that he then used a hammer to smash glass and throw in two more petrol bombs. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí in Tallaght are investigating the incident. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe man was arrested on Saturday 25 May 2024. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested one man. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí appeal to anyone with information about the incident to contact them. (garda.ie)
- investigationRoad users and pedestrians with camera footage, including dash cam, are asked to provide it to Gardaí. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí confirmed an investigation had started. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are investigating the incident as criminal damage by fire at a property in Tallaght, Dublin 24. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA technical examination of the scene has been conducted. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for anyone with information to contact them. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe two men were detained at a Garda station in the DMR under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe men are aged in their 40s and 30s. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for information about the fire. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested two men who were caught breaking into the damaged property shortly after midnight on 23 May 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí appealed to the public for information about the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationTwo men were arrested less than 24 hours after the attack, after breaking into the property. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA man in his late teens was arrested on Saturday 25 May. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing to anyone with information about the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí in Tallaght investigating the criminal damage arrested a man in his late teens on Saturday. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations into the incident are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí said their investigations are ongoing. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAn extensive CCTV review was carried out. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationEmergency services were called to the scene shortly after 11pm. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDublin Fire Brigade brought the blaze under control. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAn extensive CCTV trawl was carried out during the investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecution. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe arrested man has been charged in relation to the incident. (garda.ie)
- chargeThe man has since been charged in relation to the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe man was charged in relation to the incident on Sunday. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAndy Donohue was charged with causing criminal damage. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAndy Donohue is charged under the Criminal Damage Act. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe gardaí said the charge could carry a 10-year sentence on conviction. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe man is due to appear before Tallaght District Court on Monday 27 May 2024 at 10.30am. (garda.ie)
- courtHe is due to appear before Tallaght District Court on Monday 27 May 2024 at 10.30am. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe man will appear before Tallaght District Court on Monday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBail was refused and he was remanded in custody at Tallaght District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge remanded him in custody by Judge Patricia McNamara at Tallaght District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was denied bail at Tallaght District Court on May 27th. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe made a fresh bail application to the High Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe State said the bail objection was based on concern the accused could be a danger to the community. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Burns granted bail but imposed strict conditions. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge set the bond at €100 and ordered approval of an independent surety and a €3,000 lodgement. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe man was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in Dublin. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in Dublin. (garda.ie)
- otherThe Department of Integration said the property was intended for families seeking international protection. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherLocal fire services brought the fire under control a short time later. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherNo injuries were reported to any persons at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSocial media footage shows a hooded figure running from the blaze. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherNo injuries were reported at the scene. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe property was intended for use by families seeking international protection. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherWitnesses reported a hooded figure running from the blaze. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe two men were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man arrested is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man was detained in a Garda station in Dublin under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe only occupant of the building during the attack was a female security guard. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí arrested the accused on the Saturday after the attack. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe estimated cost of repairing the damage was €20,000. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe incident caused damage believed to be worth €20,000. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe building was a vacant property at the time. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAt the time of the incident, the building was being considered for asylum seekers. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA female security guard was nearby inside and had to flee through an emergency exit. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Jun2024Man charged with petrol bomb attack on building earmarked for asylum seekers released on bail
Reports the charge, the building's use at the time, the alleged attack details, and the High Court bail ruling after an earlier District Court refusal.
accused, Andy Donohue, 18, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andy Donohuevictim, female - 27 May2024Bail refused for 18-year-old accused over petrol bomb attack on Tallaght building earmarked for asylum seekers
Earlier court report: Andy Donohue was charged on Monday, refused bail and remanded in custody at Tallaght District Court. Adds the garda objection to bail, the CCTV evidence, the €20,000 repair estimate and the proposed bail conditions.
accused, Andy Donohue, 18, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andy Donohuevictim, female - 26 May2024Man charged in relation to criminal damage caused by fire at Tallaght property
Adds that the man is in his late teens, was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Dublin Garda station, was charged on Sunday, and is due before Tallaght District Court on Monday morning. The article does not name him or mention a petrol bomb.
accused, late teens, male - 26 May2024Teen arrested after suspected petrol bomb attack at refugee site due in court
Adds that a man in his late teens was arrested on Saturday, charged in relation to the incident, and due before Tallaght District Court on Monday 27 May 2024. Does not name him.
accused, male - 25 May2024Teenager arrested after suspected petrol bomb attack at Tallaght refugee site
Adds that a man in his late teens was arrested on Saturday 25 May and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. Also reports that two men were arrested less than 24 hours after the attack, after a break-in at the property.
suspect, late teens, male - 23 May2024Two men arrested after break-in at proposed asylum seeker site
Adds that two men, one in his 40s and one in his 30s, were arrested shortly after midnight on 23 May 2024 for breaking into the damaged property, and that they were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. Gives the High Street location and states the building was intended for international protection use.
suspect, 40s, malesuspect, 30s, male - 23 May2024Two men arrested after break-in at proposed Dublin asylum seeker site
Adds that two men, one in his 40s and one in his 30s, were arrested on 23 May 2024 after a break-in at the same vacant building. They were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. The article does not link them to the arson or name them.
suspect, 40s, malesuspect, 30s, male - 22 May2024Pipe bomb attack leads to blaze at property earmarked for asylum seekers
Describes the attack as a pipe bomb attack, says the property was earmarked for asylum seeker families, and reports no injuries. Gardaí have launched an investigation and are appealing for information. The article does not mention any arrest or charge.
- 21 May2024Arrest: Criminal Damage by Fire at a Property in Tallaght, Dublin 24, 21st May 2024
Official Garda press release with no names. Reports the arrest of a man in his late teens on 25 May 2024, detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, and appeals for witnesses and dash-cam footage for High Street, Tallaght, between 10:30pm and 11:30pm.
suspect, late teens - 21 May2024Court Appearance: Criminal Damage by Fire at a Property in Tallaght, Dublin 24, 21st May 2024.
Garda press release on the Tallaght fire: adds the arrest on 25 May 2024, the charge, the Tallaght District Court appearance date, and that investigations are ongoing. It does not name the man, and its issue date line (26 May 2025) conflicts with the 2024 metadata.
accused, late teens, male