Declan Donaghey, a 28-year-old man from William Street in Dublin, has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison for setting a Garda (Irish police) vehicle on fire during the violent riots in Dublin last November. The attack was part of a series of disturbances on November 23, 2023, which saw Donaghey also target an accommodation centre for International Protection applicants.

Judge Orla Crowe dismissed Donaghey’s claim that his actions were a moment of madness, describing him as an active participant in one of the most severe public order incidents in the country’s history. She referred to his actions as “shameless and senseless vandalism” and stressed that any assault on Gardaí was an attack on society itself.

During the riot, Donaghey threw a wheelie bin at a Garda car on Parnell Street, jumped on the bonnet of another, smashing its windscreen, and then set fire to a third Garda vehicle. He placed a burning object into the car’s back seat, which resulted in the vehicle being completely destroyed.

Later, Donaghey attacked a facility housing International Protection applicants, with around 50 people inside at the time, putting them in a state of siege. He pleaded guilty to charges of arson, criminal damage, and violent disorder.

In court, Donaghey wrote a letter apologizing for his actions, stating that they were completely “out of character” and that he had only been there to “support the victims.” However, he admitted that his actions had made him “look like a scumbag.”

Judge Crowe sentenced Donaghey to seven and a half years in prison, with one year of the sentence suspended. After the hearing, Donaghey’s supporters were escorted out of the courtroom by Gardaí, and he was heard shouting insults at officers before being taken away.