Man jailed for attacking tram during Dublin riots

€5m of damage was caused to the Luas tram during the rioting

A 20-year-old man who admitted rioting and setting fire to a Luas tram during rioting in Dublin in November 2023 has been jailed for three years.

Evan Moore, from Grangemore Road, in Donaghmede, Dublin, broke the windows of the tram and brought a burning bin onto it, setting it on fire.

The service had to be suspended for 24 hours and €5m (£4.34m) worth of damage was caused to the inside, seats and wiring of the tram.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told Moore, who was 18 at the time, ignored a texted plea from his mother to "get out [of the city centre] before it is too late and something happens".

Six months later, he was spotted by gardaí (Irish police) during another anti-immigration protest and admitted he had been in the city at the riots the previous November.

He was arrested, his home was searched, his phone seized and he identified himself on footage which showed him bringing the burning bin onto the Luas.

He has no previous convictions and his defence counsel told court that he comes from a good home but has brought "shame on his family" who are "appalled" at his actions.

They said he is attending school in prison and has a second-year college placement as an electrician when he is released.

'Whipped up'

The rioting broke out hours after a woman and three children were injured in a stabbing near a primary school in Dublin.

During the disturbances, rioters set off flares and fireworks, looted shops and attacked police during several hours of disorder.

Judge Orla Crowe said Moore was actively involved in the riots for over half an hour, chose to go into and stay in the city centre, allowed himself to be "whipped up" and has to go to jail.

The lawlessness in Dublin city centre, she said, arose from a very serious incident elsewhere and the emergency services were involved in a very serious investigation.

"Instead of being permitted to do their work," she said, "they had to deal with a mob who rioted and looted".

She said the riots were the most serious incident in Dublin for years.

"It caused most serious concern to the whole country and still represents a stain on Dublin," she added.

'Sincere letter of apology'

The judge said she had taken into account that Moore made admissions to gardaí, pleaded guilty and was 18 and "immature at the time".

She also said he is remorseful, is an enhanced prisoner in custody who had written a "sincere letter of apology" and has completed an online anti-racism course.

She sentenced him to four years in prison and suspended the last 12 months.