An Garda Síochána said on Tuesday, February 6 that a male in his 60s had been arrested and charged in connection with the serious public disorder events in Dublin City Center that occurred on November 23, 2023.
The man was arrested on Monday afternoon in Parnell Square, Dublin 1, and detained at a Garda station in Dublin North Central.
He was later charged and appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Tuesday afternoon.
An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to anyone with information about the events on that day or anyone involved in organising or participating in these events to contact the Garda investigation team at Store Street Garda Station at 01 666 8000, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
An Garda Síochána noted that 34 individuals had been arrested at the time of the November 23 “serious public disorder” incident in Dublin. Monday's arrest was the third supplementary arrest linked to this investigation.
The man who was arrested and charged this week is 61-year-old John Tate, who has an address in Dublin.
Tate has been charged with two counts of arson, two counts of violent disorder, and two counts of obstructing traffic at Parnell Street and O'Connell Street on November 23.
The Irish Times reports that gardaí searched Tate’s home and seized items of clothing and a mobile phone as part of their investigation. Detective Sergeant Eoghan Byrne said that gardaí traced Tate’s movements for four hours, having harvested a “large quantity” of CCTV footage.
In court on Tuesday, Det Sgt Byrne gave evidence of arrest, charge, and caution, and said Tate made no reply to the charges.
Byrne described the events of November 23 as “a series of criminal acts that quickly escalated into a mass riot."
November 23, 2023: Fire in Dublin as riots broke out. (RollingNews.ie)
Byrne said in court that Tate was one of a number of protesters who gathered at a Garda cordon at the top of O’Connell Street, close to where schoolchildren and their carer had been stabbed near Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire
Byrne claimed in court that Tate was the first person to pass the Garda cordon, and “encouraged, led, and directed” others to do the same and approach the scene of the crime.
Tate is also accused of setting fire to a Luas by placing bags of garbage on the tram and setting them alight, causing "extensive" damage.
Tate is further charged with violent disorder for allegedly throwing missiles at gardaí, and attempting to open the door of a marked Garda car on O’Connell Bridge.
Tate also allegedly "blocked" a Luas carrying passengers at O'Connell Street and caused it to come to a halt and to reverse, and allegedly obstructed a bus carrying passengers, forcing it to stop.
Judge Stephanie Coggans set bail at €5,000 with strict conditions. Tate, who was granted free legal aid, was remanded to appear in court again on February 13.
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