Suspended sentence for looting during Dublin riots

By Eimear Dodd

A woman involved in looting two shops during the Dublin Riots has been given a fully suspended prison sentence.

Megan Coleman (20) pleaded guilty to burglary of Footlocker on O’Connell Street on November  23, 2023.

A second charge of burglary of the Asics store was taken into consideration.

Garda Brian Kenny gave evidence that a public appeal for information on 99 persons of interest was made as part of the investigation into the Dublin Riots.

Coleman of Gulistan Cottages, Rathmines, Co. Dublin was nominated by a member of the public as  one of these persons of interest.

She was later formally identified by members of An Garda Siochana.

CCTV footage showed Coleman going into and coming out of the Footlocker store three times and into the Asics store once.

Gda Kenny said it is unclear what Coleman took. CCTV shows her eating food from Supermacs, pulling up a hood, entering the Footlocker shop, putting items in a bag then coming back and engaging with others.

The court was told that Footlocker had total costs of €435,201 including damage, theft of stock and loss of revenue while Asics’s total costs were €135,367.

Coleman’s TikTok account was accessed by gardai and a post identified in which she referred to the appeal for information, saying “I’m all over the internet, hahaha”

Coleman made admissions when interviewed by gardai, identified herself on CCTV and apologised.

She accepted taking items, but said they weren’t her size and she gave them to someone else.  She has no previous convictions.

Gda Kenny said it is accepted that Coleman (then 18) got caught up in what was happening on the night.

He accepted the defence’s suggestion that Coleman’s TikTok post might be seen to display a sense of naivety, but she made full admissions and apologised when interviewed.

It was further accepted that CCTV does not show Coleman engaging in protest, abusive behaviour or criminal damage on the night.

The garda agreed Coleman is seen in CCTV holding a Supermac’s bag and eating something before she gets involved in the looting, and that her offending was opportunistic.

Defence counsel said Colemen grew up in a household with drugs and alcohol abuse and her own abuse of substances spiralled following the death of her father.

She is looking for work and has recently been diagnosed with epilepsy.

Judge Martin Nolan said Coleman “got carried away on the emotion of the evening”.

He noted her youth at the time and lack of previous convictions, before saying the court did not consider it necessary to impose an immediate custodial sentence.

He handed Coleman an 18-month fully suspended sentence and placed her under the supervision of the Probation Services for one year.

Judge Nolan said he “hopes she takes advantage of the chance, if she doesn’t she will be back before this court or others and custody is inevitable”.

He said the court noted Coleman has difficulties and said she now has an opportunity to address them.