Man (21) who looted during Dublin riots sentenced to community service

Eimear Dodd

A man who got “caught up in the momentum” of looting during the Dublin riots and took items from three shops has been handed a suspended prison sentence and directed to complete community service.

Thomas Dannevig (21) of Marram Avenue, Lanestown View, Donabate, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of burglary on November 23rd, 2023.

He entered two Foot Locker stores on O'Connell Street and Mary Street and a Lifestyle Sports store on Mary Street and took items.

The court was told that Dannevig was not involved in the riots that evening and acted individually to go into the affected shops, but was part of a wider group.

He was not charged in relation to criminal damage at the shops and is only being held culpable for his individual behaviour, the court was told.

Karl Monahan, defending, previously told the court that Dannevig had been in town for food with friends and had no criminal intention. He said his client “describes himself as having made an obviously stupid decision in relation to his behaviour on the night”.

On Monday, Dannevig was directed to complete 100 hours of community service in lieu of a six-month sentence within the next 12 months in relation to one count of burglary.

He was also handed a sentence of two and a half years suspended on strict conditions and placed under Probation Service supervision for 18 months in relation to the other two counts.

Imposing sentence, Judge Pauline Codd said it was aggravating that this offending took place in the context of the Dublin riots, that Dannevig was one of a “collective of people looting the three different premises” and the losses sustained by the three retailers.

She said it was “open to him to walk away”, but instead he “allowed himself to get caught up in the momentum”.

“While his role was small, the collective criminal conduct led to a disastrous outcome for each premise concerned,” which could not be understated, the judge noted.

She said Dannevig was “someone who needs to be kept under supervision in the court’s view in order to fully rehabilitate”.

The court was previously shown CCTV of Dannevig going from one shop to the other.

At Foot Locker on O'Connell Street, Dannevig was seen going to a stockroom carrying two white baseball caps under his arm, then leaving the store carrying four Nike shoeboxes.

Some 25 minutes later, he entered the Foot Locker on Mary Street, still carrying the Nike shoeboxes.

He looked around the shop, went to the storeroom, then left.

Dannevig then went to the Lifestyle Sports, where he entered the shop, still carrying the Nike boxes and with other items in his hands. The court was told it was difficult to tell from the footage what items he took.

He picked up a blue Lifestyle Sports bag and filled it with items. He then left the store with one Nike box and the bag, which the investigating garda said “appears pretty full”.

Dannevig met gardaí by appointment in January 2025. He was interviewed once and made some admissions.

He said that he was given the items and boxes, but the court was told gardaí do not accept this.

Dannevig apologised, said he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and that he was not in the right headspace. He has one previous conviction for a minor drugs charge.

An investigating garda told Justin McQuade, prosecuting, that about €160,000 of stock was taken, with lost sales estimated at €100,000 at the Footlocker on O’Connell Street.

The estimated stock loss at Footlocker Mary Street was around €112,000, with another €120,000 in lost revenue and approximately €60,000 in damage.

The lost stock at Lifestyle Sports Mary Street was estimated at €168,000, with €88,000 in lost revenue and damage of about €60,000.

The garda agreed with Monahan that his client's early guilty plea was of value to the prosecution. A letter of apology from Dannevig was handed to the court along with letters from his family.

Monahan said his client offers a “profound and sincere apology” and is deeply ashamed.

He said his client wasn't thinking of the impact on shop workers that night, but unfortunately became part of a group of people, which put the injured parties in a situation of fear.

Monahan asked the court to take into account his client's relative youth. Dannevig's mother and stepfather were in court to support him and are horrified by his actions.

He has started a pre-apprenticeship and a course, but is not currently working, Monahan said.

A probation report places Dannevig at medium risk of reoffending. Monahan said Dannevig is attempting to address his addiction issues and is willing to engage with community service.

Dannevig had brought €300 to court. Judge Codd directed that the money should be given to the gardaí, with €100 to be sent to each retailer.