A 28-year-old man who destroyed a Garda patrol car by setting it on fire during the Dublin riots last year insisted he is “not a racist,” and just got “caught up in it”.
Declan Donaghey, of Williams Place Upper, Dorset Street, Dublin, will be sentenced tomorrow for charges of arson, violent disorder, criminal damage and rioting.
At Declan Donaghey’s sentence hearing today, the court heard the riot in Dublin was, “one of the gravest examples of public disorder in the history of the State.”
An incident earlier in the day, where a number of people, including children were injured, led to the eruption of a riot, during which sixty locations were damaged or looted.
An abandoned bus and Luas were also set alight.
Mr Donaghey was caught on camera throwing a burning box into the back of a garda patrol car, causing it to be completely destroyed by fire.
He also damaged a second garda car by jumping on the bonnet; and attacked a migrant centre.
Following his arrest, he insisted he wasn’t a racist and just got “caught up in it”.
When gardai asked if he thought he made a difference, he replied, “no, I only made myself look like a scumbag”.
A letter of apology was handed into the court.
Mr Donaghey is due to be sentenced tomorrow.
A car burns on Parnell Street in Dublin city. 23/11/2023. Image: Sam Boal / © RollingNews.ie
