Gardaí have removed 14 of the ‘persons of interest’ images from the Dublin riots gallery following their identification.

The images were made public to assist Garda investigations into riots in Dublin city last November.

The gallery originally contained 99 images - which were made public to assist Garda investigations into last November's riots.

Gardaí have not commented on the alleged role of any of the 14 individuals in the riots but have said their identification does not automatically mean they were criminally involved.

On The Pat Kenny Show, Irish Independent reporter Robin Schiller said the use of CCTV footage has been vital to investigations.

28-year-old Declan Donaghey of Williams Place Upper, Dorset Street, Dublin, is the first person to be convicted before the Criminal Court in relation to the riots.

“He's pleaded guilty to burning out a Garda patrol car, to rioting and to causing criminal damage to a migrant hostel,” said Mr Schiller.

“He was seen on CCTV footage as part of that major trawl before the rioting took place with his face visible.

“Now, obviously while he was carrying out these criminal acts he made efforts to cover his face - but he was in the area beforehand and because of that deep dive into CCTV footage from Dublin city centre he was identified and subsequently prosecuted.”

Members of the Garda Public Order Unit on O'Connell Street and Parnell Street in Dublin tonight, as members of the public took to the streets to riot after an attack on Parnell Square. Photograph: Sam Boal / © RollingNews.ie

Mr Schiller said the reason investigations have taken so long is that Gardaí were unable to make arrests on the night of the riots.

“They simply didn't have the numbers to deal with the amount of protesters," he said.

“There was evidence given in a court case of one Garda who had to stay with a public order van being effectively isolated in his van - and being in fear of his life - because he was under threat and being targeted with bricks being thrown to the van.

“A number of colleagues from a nearby station tried to come to his rescue and they were also attacked and had to leave the area.

“So, certainly, in those initial hours the city suffered reputation damage – it was simply impossible for Gardaí to make arrests.”

Public disorder

According to Mr Schiller, displays of public disorder have continued in part due to the delayed arrests and sentencings.

"There is a fade factor there,” he said.

“We've seen a number of people sentenced for, I suppose, lesser offenses before the District Courts – but sentencing somebody over a year after in the Circuit Court obviously does remove that immediate impact."

Mr Schiller concluded that the slow pace of the arrests was ‘unfortunate’ but necessary.