Woman accused of setting Dublin bus on fire granted bail
A woman accused of setting fire to a Dublin Bus, at a cost of almost €500,000, during the November 2023 riots has been granted bail.
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, aged 34, who is from Wicklow but of no fixed abode, was accused of torching the bus on O'Connell Bridge.
She was charged last week and faced her second appearance before Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court this morning for the conclusion of a part-heard hearing.
Noting that a residential address was now available to the accused, the judge set her bail at €300 and required a €3,000 independent surety, which must be approved before Ms Kelly can be released under strict terms.
Detective Garda Barry Brennan told the court that the accused "made no reply" to a charge of causing criminal damage on 23 November 2023.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that she face "trial on indictment", meaning the case will go forward to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers.
Mr O'Connor proposed that Ms Kelly, who has yet to indicate a plea, could reside with family and would obey conditions.
Judge Finan ordered her to reside at Kilbride Grove, Bray, Co Wicklow, obey an 11 pm - 6 am curfew, sign on daily at the local garda station, and remain contactable by phone.
The charge under Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act carries a possible 10-year sentence and a €10,000 fine.
Prosecutors must complete and serve her with a book of evidence before she is sent forward for trial. She will appear again on 9 June.
To date, 85 people have been arrested in connection with the Dublin riots, with 66 charged.
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