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. 6628Arson; criminal damage; violent disorder; burglary · Co. Dublin · 23 Nov 2023

Two men charged over Dublin city centre riots appear in court

Riots in Dublin city centre on 23 November 2023 followed a stabbing on Parnell Square East, and caused millions of euro in damage. On the morning of Wednesday 31 January 2024, gardaí arrested Declan Donaghey (27) and Kyle Lawrence (18), who were then charged. Donaghey is accused of setting fire to a marked Garda vehicle on Parnell Street, and Lawrence faces 10 charges including five counts of burglary. On 1 February 2024 both men appeared before Judge Bryan Smyth at Dublin District Court, where they had not yet indicated a plea, and they were remanded to appear again on 4 April 2024 pending DPP directions on the trial venue.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested31 Jan
    3 reports
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court1 Feb
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Declan Donaghey, 27, and Kyle Lawrence, 18, were arrested in connection with the riots in Dublin city centre.
  • The riots caused millions of euro in damage in the city centre.
Where
  • Donaghey is from William's Place, Upper Dorset Street, Dublin 1, and Lawrence is from Lurgan Street, Dublin 7.
  • Donaghey is alleged to have set fire to a marked Garda vehicle on Parnell Street at 6.45 pm.
When
  • The riots took place on 23 November 2023 in Dublin city centre.
  • The two men were arrested on Wednesday morning, 31 January 2024.
Cause
The riots followed a stabbing on Parnell Square East in which three children and a carer were injured, and one source says a five-year-old girl was severely wounded.
Investigation
  • Gardaí believe Lawrence carried out a crime spree of looting, criminal damage and theft, captured on CCTV, during the disturbances.
  • Gardaí are examining more than 20,000 hours of CCTV footage and believe they have identified at least 12 more suspects.
  • Gardaí have arrested 34 people on the day of the riots, with 24 charged, and 36 people in the investigation so far.
Charges
  • Donaghey faces four charges: arson of a marked Garda vehicle, criminal damage to a Garda vehicle and a business window, and violent disorder.
  • Lawrence faces 10 charges, including five counts of burglary at Footlocker, Arnotts, JD Sports, Lifestyle and Asics, and two of violent disorder.
In court
  • Both men appeared before Judge Bryan Smyth at Dublin District Court on 1 February 2024 and have yet to indicate how they will plead.
  • Donaghey made no reply to the charges, and gardaí objected to bail; one source says he was remanded on a €500 bond, while another says he was remanded on strict bail with daily signing on, passport surrender and an 11pm to 7am curfew.
  • Lawrence was granted bail with conditions, including a 9pm to 7am curfew and signing on three days a week.
  • Both men were remanded to appear again on 4 April 2024, pending DPP directions on the trial venue.
55 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo people were arrested in connection with the riots in Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe riots caused millions of euro worth of damage in the city centre. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatDeclan Donaghey is accused of setting fire to a marked Garda vehicle at Parnell Street. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe arrested people are detained at a Garda station in the Dublin Region. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe two men were arrested in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe disorder took place in Dublin City Centre. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereDonaghey is alleged to have set fire to a marked Garda patrol vehicle at Parnell Street at 6.45 pm. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe two people were arrested on the morning of the article. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe arrests took place on Wednesday morning. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe disorder occurred on 23 November 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe offences relate to the riots and looting on November 23rd in Dublin city centre. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe riots happened on 23 November 2023 in Dublin city centre. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe riots followed a stabbing at Parnell Square East on 23 November 2023. (dublinlive.ie)
  • causeOne man is suspected of involvement in an arson attack that destroyed a Garda car on Parnell Street. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe riots followed a stabbing on Parnell Square East in which three children and a carer were injured. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe disorder followed protests after an earlier incident in which children and several people were injured. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe unrest followed a stabbing at Parnell Square on the afternoon of 23 November in which a five-year-old girl was severely wounded. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are investigating violent disorder and public order incidents. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí continue to appeal for information about the events of that day. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí believe the second man undertook a crime spree captured on CCTV during the disturbances. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí believe they have identified at least a dozen more suspects for some of the most serious riot crimes. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe two men are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in the Dublin Region. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are examining more than 20,000 hours of CCTV footage. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí have identified at least 12 more suspects they believe were involved in the most serious trouble. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí have a suspect list of around 200 rioters. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationTwo individuals were arrested by gardaí from DMR North Central in connection with the investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationOne man was in his late 20s and the other was in his late teens, and both were arrested in the Dublin City area. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe older man is being questioned over an arson attack that destroyed a Garda car in the city centre. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe younger suspect is under investigation for looting, criminal damage and theft. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí have arrested 36 people in the investigation so far. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí traced Donaghey's movements for over two hours and said there was video evidence of each offence. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí traced Donaghey's movements for over two hours and there was video evidence of each offence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe other man was being questioned about suspected violent disorder, affray, criminal damage and looting. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeAbout 24 suspects have been charged. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeDonaghey faces four offences: arson, criminal damage to a Garda vehicle and a business window, and violent disorder. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeKyle Lawrence faces 10 charges, including five counts of burglary and two of violent disorder. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeLawrence has five counts of burglary at Footlocker, Arnotts, JD Sports, Lifestyle and Asics. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeTwo men were charged with various serious offences after being arrested on a Wednesday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeDonaghey is accused of four offences at Parnell Street, including arson of a marked Garda vehicle and violent disorder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeLawrence faces 10 charges, including five counts of burglary at shops and two charges of violent disorder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeLawrence is accused of five counts of burglary at Footlocker, Arnotts, JD Sports, Lifestyle and Asics. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtDonaghey made no reply to the charges, and gardaí objected to bail because of the seriousness of the case. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDonaghey must sign on at his local Garda station daily, surrender his passport and obey an 11pm to 7am curfew. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtLawrence was granted bail with conditions, including a 9pm to 7am curfew and signing on three days a week. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe two men appeared before Judge Bryan Smyth at Dublin District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThey were remanded on strict bail to appear again on April 4, pending DPP directions on trial venue. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceDonaghey was remanded on a €500 bond to appear again on April 4th. (irishtimes.com)
  • other34 arrests were made on the day of the riots, with 24 of those already charged. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherSuspects who burned out a Luas tram at the height of the trouble are among those being targeted. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe special investigation team has 346 gardaí and some 20,000 hours of CCTV evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe two men can be detained for up to 24 hours. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí said further arrests were expected. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe two accused have yet to indicate how they will plead. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDonaghey made no reply to the charges. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí have already brought dozens of people before the courts over the rioting. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Feb2024
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Two men appear in court charged in connection with Dublin city riots

    Names two accused (Declan Donaghey and Kyle Lawrence) and sets out their charges, bail terms and next court date. The riot is the same event as the November 2023 riot cases in the list, but these accused are not among the existing case people.

    accused, Declan Donaghey, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Declan Donagheyaccused, Kyle Lawrence, 18, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kyle Lawrence
  2. 1 Feb2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Dublin riots: Two charged over incidents linked to ‘largest scenes of public disorder’ in ‘history of State’

    Covers two accused from the November 2023 riot, with charges and bail conditions from their first court appearance. No existing case in the list matches these two men.

    accused, Declan Donaghey, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Declan Donagheyaccused, Kyle Lawrence, 18, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kyle Lawrence
  3. 1 Feb2024
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Gardai quizzing two suspects as net closes in on Dublin riot ringleaders

    Adds the 31 January 2024 arrests of two men in their late 20s and late teens, the offences each is being questioned or investigated for, and the wider investigation figures (36 arrests, about 24 charged, 200 suspects on a list, 346 gardaí, 20,000 hours of CCTV).

    suspect, late 20s, malesuspect, late teens, male
  4. 31 Jan2024
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Gardaí identify up to a dozen suspects at apex of Dublin riot violence

    Reports the arrest of two men in the riot investigation: one suspected of an arson attack on a Garda car on Parnell Street, the other questioned over violent disorder, affray, criminal damage and looting. Adds that gardaí have identified at least a dozen more suspects and that 34 arrests were made on the day.

    suspect, 18, malesuspect, late 20s, male
  5. 31 Jan2024
    Arresteddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    A man and teen arrested in connection with Dublin riots

    Reports the arrest of a man in his late 20s and a male teenager on 31 January 2024. The arrests appear to precede the court appearance of two men already recorded in this case.

    suspect, late 20s, malesuspect, teenager, male