Ireland Case No. 2796Assault (assaulting gardaí), violent disorder, criminal damage, producing a bottle to intimidate · Co. Dublin · 23 Nov 2023
Man sentenced to jail for assaulting gardaí in Dublin riots
Don Sheridan, 50, from Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to rioting, assaulting three gardaí and criminal damage during the 23 November 2023 Dublin riots on Parnell Street. He contacted gardaí to identify himself after his photo was among 99 images released as people of interest, making him the first to be charged from that release. He was granted bail with conditions in December 2024 before appearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. On 5 December 2025, Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of six years but reduced it to two and a half years, citing his early guilty plea, minor record, age and medical circumstances.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged5 Dec
2 reports - In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced5 Dec
5 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Don Sheridan, 50, from Whitestown Park in Blanchardstown, was charged with assaulting gardaí, violent disorder, criminal damage and producing a bottle to intimidate during the 23 November 2023 Dublin riots.
- Where
- The offences took place on Parnell Street in Dublin city centre.
- When
- The riots took place on 23 November 2023.
- Cause
- Protesters gathered after three children and a care worker were stabbed at a school in the area.
- Weapon
- Sheridan is accused of taking a glass bottle from his jacket to strike a garda and throwing a gas canister at a Public Order Unit vehicle.
- Investigation
- Sheridan contacted gardaí to identify himself after his photo was among 99 images released as people of interest, and was the first to be charged from that release.
- Gardaí reviewed 17,000 hours of CCTV during the investigation.
- Charges
- Sheridan pleaded guilty to riot, assaulting three gardaí and criminal damage.
- In court
- The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martin Nolan.
- Sentence
- The judge set a headline sentence of six years but reduced it to two and a half years, citing the early guilty plea, minor record, age and medical circumstances.
- Other details
- Sheridan had two minor previous convictions and was drinking at the time of the offences.
- Thirteen gardaí and five members of the public were injured during the rioting, and three buses, a Luas and 58 premises were damaged or destroyed.
73 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDon Sheridan, 49, from Whitestown Park in Blanchardstown, was charged with attacking gardaí and attempting to damage a garda car during the Dublin riots. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe is facing six criminal charges. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe is accused of assaulting a female and male garda, and a male on Parnell Street during the riots. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe is also accused of violent disorder, criminal damage to property, and producing a bottle to intimidate another person. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSenior gardaí posted the online images to rule people in or out of their investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe majority of images of people alleged to have been involved in the riots have now been identified following a public appeal. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe images have been removed from garda.ie. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSheridan was granted bail with conditions including signing on three times a week at Finglas Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBail conditions include being contactable at all times, being of good behaviour, having no contact with injured parties, and not attending any protest at the city centre. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSheridan assaulted three gardaí and threw a gas canister at a Public Order Unit vehicle. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatSheridan grabbed a female garda during the disturbances. (rte.ie)
- whatSheridan threw a gas canister at a Public Order Unit vehicle. (thejournal.ie, gript.ie)
- whatThirteen gardaí and five civilians were assaulted during the disorder. (gript.ie)
- whatThree buses were destroyed by fire and a Luas was destroyed during the disorder. (gript.ie)
- whatSheridan was active in the trouble for more than an hour. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSheridan grabbed a female garda and later threw a bottle at a third garda. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDuring the riots three buses and a Luas were destroyed by fire and 58 premises were damaged or had property stolen. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThirteen gardaí and five members of the public were injured in the rioting. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSheridan placed a female garda in a headlock. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThirteen gardaí and five members of the public were injured during the rioting. (irishmirror.ie)
- what58 premises were damaged or had property stolen from them during the disturbances. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDamage of €108,000 was done at the Holiday Inn. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereSheridan is from Whitestown Park in Blanchardstown. (rte.ie)
- whereThe assault on gardaí took place on Parnell Street. (rte.ie)
- whereThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whereSheridan is from Whitestown Park, Blanchardstown. (rte.ie)
- whereThe offences took place in Dublin city centre. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe incident took place after protesters gathered at the top of O'Connell Street. (gript.ie)
- whereSheridan lives at Whitestown Park, Blanchardstown. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe riots took place on 23 November 2023. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences took place on 23 November 2023. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- causeSheridan said he was swept up in the frenzy of the riots. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- causeProtesters gathered after three children and a care worker were stabbed at a school in the area. (gript.ie)
- weaponSheridan took a glass bottle from his jacket and tried to strike a garda over the head with it. (gript.ie)
- investigationSheridan is the first of 99 people whose images were published on the garda website to be charged and appear in court. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí posted the images to rule people in or out of their investigation. (rte.ie)
- investigationSheridan contacted gardaí to identify himself after his photo was included in a release of 99 images of people of interest. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí reviewed 17,000 hours of CCTV during the investigation. (rte.ie)
- investigationSheridan contacted gardaí to identify himself after his photo was included in a release of 99 images. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationSheridan contacted gardaí after recognising himself in photos of persons of interest released after almost a year of CCTV review. (gript.ie)
- investigationSheridan contacted gardaí to identify himself after his photo was among 99 images released of people of interest. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí reviewed 17,000 hours of CCTV during their investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationSheridan contacted gardaí to identify himself after his photo was among 99 images released. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeSheridan is facing six criminal charges. (rte.ie)
- chargeSheridan is accused of assaulting two gardaí, a male and a female, and attempting to damage a garda car. (rte.ie)
- chargeSheridan is also accused of violent disorder, criminal damage to property and producing a bottle to intimidate another person. (rte.ie)
- chargeSheridan pleaded guilty to riot, assaulting three gardaí and criminal damage. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- chargeSheridan pleaded guilty to rioting, assaulting three gardaí and criminal damage in Dublin city centre on 23 November 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeSheridan pleaded guilty to riot, assaulting three gardaí and criminal damage in Dublin city centre on 23 November 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtSheridan appeared in court charged with attacking two gardaí. (rte.ie)
- courtSheridan was granted bail on a number of conditions. (rte.ie)
- courtSheridan is due to appear again at Dublin District Court on 16 January. (rte.ie)
- courtGarda Tom McEvoy gave evidence of arrest charge and caution to the court on Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe is due to appear again at Dublin District Court on 16 January 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Martin Nolan passed sentence. (rte.ie)
- courtThe court heard Sheridan had been active in the disorder for over an hour. (thejournal.ie)
- courtVictim impact statements were handed to the judge but not read aloud in open court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe accused pleaded guilty to assaulting three gardaí on 23 November 2023. (gript.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of six years. (rte.ie, gript.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a two-and-a-half-year sentence. (rte.ie)
- sentenceSheridan was jailed for two and a half years. (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of six years and imposed two and a half years because of Sheridan's health. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe judge reduced the sentence to two and a half years, taking into account the early guilty plea, the very slight record, his age and medical circumstances. (gript.ie)
- sentenceDon Sheridan was jailed for two and a half years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 6 years before reducing it to 2½ years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of six years before reducing it. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSheridan has two minor previous convictions. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherSheridan had two minor previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
- otherSheridan co-operated with gardaí and made admissions. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe court heard that the accused had been drinking at the time and has epilepsy. (gript.ie)
- otherThe judge said the accused did not seem to have an active bias towards foreign people. (gript.ie)
- otherSheridan told gardaí he was protesting because foreigners were carrying blades. (gript.ie)
- otherSheridan expressed remorse and said he had made a thick out of himself. (gript.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 6 Dec2025Man, 50, assaulted 3 gardai and threw gas canister during Dublin riots
Sentencing of Don Sheridan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his part in the 2023 Dublin riots.
convicted, Don Sheridan, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Don Sheridan - 5 Dec2025Man who identified himself on CCTV of Dublin riots jailed for 2½ years
Sentencing of a man who pleaded guilty to rioting and assaulting gardaí during the 2023 Dublin riots.
convicted, Don Sheridan, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Don Sheridan - 5 Dec2025Dublin rioter (50) jailed for 2.5 years - Gript
Reports the sentence of two and a half years, the six-year headline sentence, the mitigating factors, and the judge's comments on the accused's motive.
convicted, Don Sheridan, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Don Sheridanvictim, Tracy O'Reilly, female, irish (judged from name)Tracy O'Reillyvictim, Robert Brennan, male, irish (judged from name)Robert Brennanvictim, Stewart Morrin, male, irish (judged from name)Stewart Morrin - 5 Dec2025Man jailed for assaulting three gardaí after being 'swept up in frenzy' of Dublin riots
Reports the sentencing on 5 December 2025: the two and a half year sentence, the six year headline sentence, the guilty plea, the judge's remarks, the defence mitigation, and the reasons Sheridan gave for his involvement.
convicted, Don Sheridan, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Don Sheridan - 5 Dec2025Man who identified himself rioting in Dublin jailed
Reports the sentence: two and a half years imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, after a headline sentence of six years, with the judge's remarks on Sheridan's conduct, health, drinking and work history.
convicted, Don Sheridan, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Don Sheridan - 5 Dec2024Man charged with attacking gardaí during Dublin riots following publication of 99 images
First person identified through photos on the garda website to be charged; majority of riot images now identified and removed from garda.ie.
accused, Don Sheridan, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)Don Sheridan - 5 Dec2024Man charged with assaulting 2 gardaí during Dublin riots
Reports the court appearance and bail conditions, lists the six charges, gives the next court date of 16 January, and says Sheridan is the first of 99 people whose images were published by gardaí to be charged.
accused, Don Sheridan, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)Don Sheridanvictim, malevictim, female