Dublin's 2023 riot: Woman charged with arson as more arrests made

An Garda Síochána provided an update today about its investigation into the "serious public disorder" that unfolded in Dublin City on the night of November 23, 2023.

Gardaí said this morning, Wednesday, May 7, that a female was due to appear in the Criminal Courts of Justice to be charged with Criminal Damage (Arson) to a Dublin Bus at O’Connell Street Lower on the night of the disorder.

The Journal reports that 34-year-old Leanne Kelly, of no fixed abode, appeared before Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court today to face the charges.

In court, Detective Garda Barry Brennan alleged the incident occurred at about 7:30 pm on the evening of the "Dublin riots." 

Kelly is accused of using a piece of rubbish to 'extract flames' from a garda car that was on fire and throwing the burning rubbish on a Dublin Bus, "setting it alight."

Brennan said the Dublin Bus, which had already been abandoned after being surrounded by rioters, was “completely destroyed," causing €477,851 worth of damage.

The Journal added that Brennan said that at the time of the alleged incident, Kelly was “sleeping rough in the north inner city."

However, he agreed with her defence solicitor Niall O'Connor that Kelly now presented as a “different person” from the one on the CCTV evidence.

O'Connor proposed that Kelly could reside with family in Co Wicklow, though Brennan also voiced concerns that she would not turn up to court if granted bail.

Judge Finan deferred the application for bail to allow gardaí time to inquire about the address furnished.

Legal aid was granted to Kelly, who has yet to enter a plea.

The charge under Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act carries a possible 10-year sentence and a €10,000 fine.

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November 23, 2023: Scenes from the "serious public disorder" in Dublin City. (RollingNews.ie)

More arrests

Also in their update on Wednesday, An Garda Síochána said that between Sunday, May 4 and Tuesday, May 6, Gardaí in Store Street have arrested nine people in connection with the November 2023 "disorder."

Of the nine arrested, three were adult females, four were adult males and two were male juveniles.

Two of the females were charged and released on station bail to appear in court at a later date.

The two male juveniles were released pending the submission of files to the Director of the Youth Diversion Programme.

The remaining were released without charge pending the submission of files to the DPP.

An Garda Síochána said on Wednesday that to date, 85 people have been arrested / interviewed in relation to their alleged offending on the night of the disorder.

Of those 85, 66 have been charged with offences.
 
Gardaí added that a total of 24 people have now been arrested as a result of the media appeal made to the public in November 2024.

Investigations are ongoing.

An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to anyone with information about the events on that day, or anyone involved in organising or participating in these events, to contact the Garda investigation team at Store Street Garda Station at 01 666 8000, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

The 2023 Dublin riot

Today's statement is An Garda Síochána's first major update since January regarding the "serious public disorder" on November 23, 2023.

An Garda Síochána previously said that on that night, 28 vehicles were subject to arson or criminal damage, 66 premises / places of business were subject to criminal damage, and 13 members of An Garda Síochána were injured.

The riot was preceded earlier in the day by a serious assault in Dublin's Parnell Square East near Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, which saw three young children and their caregiver hospitalized.

Two of the children were released from the hospital soon after, while the caregiver Leanne Flynn received treatment for a longer period.

The third child. a girl, was only released from hospital last December after more than a year in care.

Riad Bouchaker, who was also hospitalized, was arrested later in December 2023. He has been charged with the attempted murder of two female children and one male child; assault causing serious harm to a female childcare worker; and three counts of assault causing harm to the three children and was additionally charged with one count of possession or production of a 36cm kitchen knife. 

Last month, RTÉ News reported that Bouchaker's trial has been adjourned until May 28 pending review of a report from a psychologist.