A man who was part of a group that surrounded and attacked a garda sergeant during the Dublin riots has been jailed for five-and-a-half years.
Thomas Fox, with an address at Kinlay House Hostel in the city, also admitted violent disorder, burglary and criminal damage to a bus that was set on fire on O'Connell Bridge on 23 November 2023.
Cannabis worth €210 and crack cocaine worth €340, along with drug paraphernalia was found during the 22-year-old's arrest.
The attack was one of the defining and most terrifying moments of the Dublin riots.
The garda sergeant was isolated, surrounded, abused and attacked by a mob on Burgh Quay in Dublin city centre.
Sgt Brendan Eddery said in court he knew that if he slipped, he would have been attacked on the ground.
A bus driver tried to beckon him on board, but he did not want to put the driver in danger.
Another garda, Mark Duffy, came to help him. He was also attacked and his bike thrown in the River Liffey.
Sgt Eddery thanked his colleague, saying he believes he would not have survived without him.
Fox was one of the mob. He also rioted that night, robbed from sports shop Footlocker, was involved in the attack on the bus burned out that night and was caught with cocaine and cannabis when he was arrested.
Detective Inspector Ken Hoare said Fox was involved in the riots for about four hours and. when interviewed. made derogatory and unfounded comments about migrants.
He initially denied involvement but subsequently pleaded guilty. He was jailed for five-and-a-half years for all six offences.
The attack on Sgt Eddery was livestreamed. He said his wife had an asthma attack and his daughter thought he had been killed.
Sgt Eddery also said he too still suffers from the effects of the attack.
Both he and Gda Duffy managed to escape the mob by barricading themselves into a building.
Judge Martin Nolan complimented him on the way he behaved that night and on the evidence he gave and wished him the best of luck for the future.
Additional Reporting Sonya McLean CCC
