Woman accused of causing almost €500,000 damage to a bus during the Dublin riots
A WOMAN HAS been accused of setting fire to a Dublin Bus, which was 'completely destroyed' at a cost of almost half a million euros during the November 2023 riots in the capital.
Violence broke out after a girl, aged five, was severely wounded, and two other children and a woman were injured in a knife attack at Parnell Square in Dublin city centre earlier that day.
Leanne Kelly, 34, who is of no fixed abode, appeared before Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court today, accused of torching the bus on O'Connell Bridge.
Detective Garda Barry Brennan told the court that the accused woman was arrested shortly before the court hearing and 'made no reply' to the charge.
She was accused of criminal damage on 23 November, 2023, and was remanded in custody until 14 May following a part-heard bail hearing.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that she face 'trial on indictment' for the alleged arson, meaning the case will go forward to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers.
The detective objected to bail due to the seriousness of the case.
He alleged the incident occurred during the 'Dublin riots' and he claimed that at about 7.30pm, the accused picked up a piece of rubbish and ran to a garda car that had been set on fire.
The detective said the woman 'extracted flames from the garda car onto the piece of rubbish and she ran to the Dublin Bus.'
The court heard it had already been abandoned after being surrounded by rioters.
It was claimed that the accused ran onto the bus, threw the burning rubbish on the ground, 'setting it alight'.
He added that the bus was 'completely destroyed', causing €477,851 worth of damage.
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He agreed with defence solicitor Niall O'Connor that his client now presented as a 'different person' from the one on the CCTV evidence.
The detective said at the time of the incident, the accused was 'sleeping rough in the north inner city'.
The detective also voiced concerns that she would not turn up to court if granted bail.
The solicitor proposed that his client, who has yet to indicate a plea, could reside with family in Co Wicklow.
The judge deferred the application for bail to allow gardaí time to inquire about the address furnished.
The charge under Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act carries a possible 10-year sentence and a €10,000 fine.
Legal aid was granted.
To date, 85 people have been arrested in connection with the Dublin riots, with 66 charged.
Riad Bouchaker, 51, who has no fixed abode, was charged on December 21 with the attempted murders of two girls and a boy, as well as assault and production of the 36-centimetre knife.
He remains in custody on remand pending trial.
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