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. 4303Criminal damage · Co. Dublin · 23 Nov 2023

Woman jailed for six years for setting fire to bus during 2023 Dublin riots

Leanne Kelly, 34, was sentenced to six years in prison for criminal damage after setting fire to a Dublin Bus on O'Connell Bridge during the riots of 23 November 2023, causing €477,851 worth of damage. The sentence was backdated to 10 October 2025, when her prior assault sentence expired.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced16 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatShe set fire to a piece of cardboard and threw it onto the bus (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe bus suffered €477,851 worth of damage (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe bus was completely destroyed in the incident (irishtimes.com)
  • whatKelly was the only person involved in setting fire to the bus (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe used a burning Garda car as an accelerant (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe riots started after children and childcare workers were attacked on Parnell Square (irishtimes.com)
  • whatEight vehicles were damaged that day, including three that were completely destroyed (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDublin Bus suffered a loss of about €1.9 million (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationKelly was identified from 17,000 hours of CCTV footage analysed by gardaí (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKelly was homeless and addicted to drugs at the time of the incident (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKelly has 66 previous convictions including criminal damage, theft, robbery, assault causing harm and misuse of drugs (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKelly was on bail for other offences at the time of the incident (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKelly has been in custody since last year serving a sentence for assault (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDublin Bus employs 4,000 people including about 3,100 drivers from 85 countries (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKelly has limited education and ran away from home at the age of 14 (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 Dec2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Woman who set fire to bus during Dublin riots jailed for six years

    Sentencing details: six-year term backdated to 10 October; judge's comments on the 'mob mentality' and 'breathtaking and completely gratuitous' disdain; victim impact statement from Dublin Bus noting €1.9 million loss across eight damaged vehicles; defence submissions on Kelly's background and drug addiction; Kelly's outburst in court before sentencing.

    convicted, Leanne Kelly, 34, female, named, irish (judged from name)Leanne Kelly