Dublin man jailed for setting fire to Luas Tram during 2023 riots

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

Evan Moore, of Grangemore Road in Donaghmede, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to charges arising from the disturbances that caused widespread damage in the city centre.

The court heard that Moore, then aged 18, broke the tram’s windows and brought a burning bin onto it, setting it ablaze. The fire caused extensive destruction to the tram’s interior, including seats and wiring, with repair costs estimated at €5 million (£4.34 million). Luas services were suspended for 24 hours following the incident.

Prosecutors said Moore’s mother had texted him during the unrest, pleading with him to leave the city centre “before it is too late and something happens.” He ignored the warning.

Six months later, Moore was spotted by gardaí during another anti-immigration protest in Dublin and admitted to being involved in the previous year’s riots. His home was subsequently searched, his phone seized, and he was identified in video footage carrying the burning bin onto the tram.

The court was told that Moore had no previous convictions and that he came from a “good home.” His defence counsel said his family was “appalled” and deeply ashamed of his actions.

Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged Moore’s youth and lack of prior record but noted the seriousness of the offence, describing the attack as “reckless and destructive behaviour that endangered public safety.”

The defence said Moore is now attending school in prison and has secured a college placement as an electrician for when he is released.

The November 2023 riots, which erupted following a knife attack outside a Dublin school, led to significant property damage, looting, and public disorder across the city — prompting one of the largest policing operations in recent Irish history.