Additional Coverage:
Dublin Woman Gets Six Years for Bus Arson Amidst Courtroom Outburst
A Dublin woman, Leanne Kelly, 34, has been sentenced to six years in prison for setting a double-decker bus on fire during the tumultuous 2023 Dublin riots. The sentencing followed a dramatic courtroom outburst where Kelly hurled expletives at Judge Martina Baxter.
The incident occurred when Judge Baxter proposed a postponement for a governor’s report and urine analysis. According to reports, Kelly, who has no fixed address, erupted, stating, “F— off.
You’re not getting any urines out of me.” Unfazed, the judge proceeded to deliver the sentence immediately.
Kelly had previously admitted to committing arson, resulting in criminal damage on O’Connell Bridge on November 23, 2023. The bus, fortunately empty of passengers at the time, was completely destroyed in the blaze, costing Dublin Bus an estimated $561,683.
CCTV footage presented in court showed Kelly’s involvement. After ransacking a Circle K store with others, she joined a crowd around the deserted vehicle.
Earlier, rioters had assaulted the bus driver, forcing him to flee. Kelly then attempted to damage the bus further before igniting a piece of cardboard using flames from a nearby burning police car and throwing it onto the bus.
Detective Garda Barry Brennan confirmed she was solely responsible for starting the fire.
The riots erupted following a knife attack on Parnell Street that injured several children and a childcare worker. Kelly’s defense argued that she was homeless, struggling with drug addiction, and “got caught up” in the chaos without any political motive, unable to fully account for her actions due to drug influence.
Kelly has a history of 66 prior convictions, including theft, robbery, assault, and drug offenses, and was out on bail during the riot. She has been in custody since last year, serving a sentence for assault.
A victim impact statement from Dublin Bus detailed the trauma inflicted on its staff, highlighting that employees had “never experienced anything like the violent, threatening and volatile behavior on that day.” Eight vehicles were damaged that night, with three completely destroyed, leading to losses nearing $2.5 million.
Defense counsel John Byrne SC presented a handwritten apology from Kelly, outlining her difficult background, including running away from home at 14. He stated she deeply regretted participating in the “frenzy.”
Judge Baxter condemned Kelly’s “breathtaking and completely gratuitous” contempt in setting the bus on fire, noting her contribution to a “mob mentality” and shameful disregard for others, which had far-reaching effects on society and Dublin Bus workers. Despite her courtroom demeanor, the judge acknowledged Kelly’s genuine remorse. The six-year sentence was backdated to October 10, 2025, marking the end of her previous assault sentence.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the enduring repercussions of that chaotic night in downtown Dublin.