A father of two who set fire to cars and threw a wheelbarrow at gardaí during last year's "Love Ulster" parade riot has received a four-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Dean Heapes (22), Clanranald Road, Donnycarney, gave a false name and address to gardaí who saw him setting fire to two Mercedes cars, but he was later identified from media coverage in the acts of looting and committing further crimes of violence against gardaí.
He pleaded guilty to arson, burglary and violent disorder around the O'Connell Street and Leinster Street South areas of Dublin city centre on February 25th, 2006.
Judge Frank O'Donnell suspended the final two years of the four-year term and said: "In any civilised society behaviour like this cannot be tolerated. It is a very serious matter." He noted a defence submission that Heapes had said his reason for becoming involved in the riot was that he had been struck on the head by a garda with a baton, but he had not told gardaí this story.
"It is most likely that you had just gone off your head. I'm sure your father is very embarrassed," the judge said.
Luan Ó Braonáin BL, defending, said Heapes had €10,000 available as compensation and had apologised to gardaí for his behaviour, but in relation to the compensation the judge said: "no one can buy their way out of jail".
Garda Shane Graham told Dominic McGinn BL, prosecuting, that he saw Heapes set fire to two cars parked on Kildare Street. Another youth smashed the windows of the cars and Heapes set them alight, causing damage worth a total of €19,000. He gave a false name and address when arrested.
Garda Graham said a photograph later published in the Sunday World showed Heapes leaving the looted Foot Locker shop on O'Connell Street. Various other depictions from media outlets and CCTV footage showed him smashing paving stones to throw at gardaí and hurling glass bottles, rocks, traffic cones and pipes at them. A series of photos showed him lifting a green wheelbarrow over his head and throwing it at gardaí.
Garda Graham said Heapes set wooden pallets on fire and was also one of a group which attacked a fire engine.
Mr Ó Braonáin said Heapes was one of a number of youths who had become involved in the riot without intention or planning, but because "something snapped in his head and he went off the rails".