Two individuals have been hit with additional accusations of inciting a “riot”, supplementing existing charges stemming from the extreme public upheaval in Dublin last year. The city centre unrest on the 23rd of November was among the most severe and expansive in the state’s history, the Dublin District Court has been told.
Declan Donaghey, aged 27, hailing from William’s Place, Upper Dorset Street, Dublin 1, and 18-year-old Kyle Lawrence of Lurgan Street, Dublin 7, were both granted bail, complete with a host of conditions, back in January.
Initially, Mr Donaghey was charged with four infringements on Parnell Street: torching a marked Garda vehicle, vandalizing an additional Garda vehicle, hurtling an object through a commercial enterprise’s glass façade, and engaging in violent disruptions.
Conversely, Mr Lawrence was leveled with five burglary charges at various outlets such as Footlocker, Arnotts, JD Sports, Lifestyle, and Asics. He also faced two counts of participating in violent disruptions on Parnell Street and O’Connell Street. The student was further alleged to have purposefully damaged property at Penney’s on Mary Street, with two additional attempted acts of property damage.
Both men have been implicated in orchestrating a riot on the O’Connell Bridge on the 23rd November, which breaches the terms of the Public Order Act, Section 14. Mr Lawrence was also served with a further charge of conducting criminal damage at Arnotts on Henry Street.
Garda Detectives Michelle Fitzpatrick and Alan O’Toole informed the Dublin District Court on Thursday that the pair said nothing in response to their new charges. The Director of Public Prosecutions seeks a “trial by indictment” in the Circuit Court, which has more extensive sentencing rights.
Judge Monika Leech directed the two men, who are still to enter pleas, to present themselves again at the District Court on June 10th to receive the books of evidence and the issuance of return for trial orders.
In January, Mr Donaghey was allowed to reclaim his passport for a two-week holiday in May, which was initially surrendered as a bail condition. At the time, it was revealed that he was on social welfare but seeking employment, and both were provided with legal aid.