Two years jail for man who took part in riot in Oberstown Detention Centre
By Isabel Hayes
A young man who took part in a riot in a detention centre which led to millions of euro’s worth of damage has been jailed for two years.
Shane Farrelly (20) was part of a group of teenagers who engaged in “damage and mayhem” at Oberstown Children Detention Campus during a staff industrial strike on August 29, 2016, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard on Friday.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Farrelly, of Ben Madigan Road, Drimnagh, pleaded guilty to one count of public disorder and two counts of damaging property at a unit in the detention centre. He has 21 previous convictions including assault, criminal damage and threatening to kill.
Three of his co-accused, who also pleaded guilty to arson, were jailed for five years, with the final two years suspended.
Others are still before the court.
Handing down a sentence of three-and-a-half years with the final 18 months suspended, Judge Martin Nolan noted Farrelly did not take part in setting fire to the building.
But he said he took part in violent disorder which caused “damage and mayhem” on the day in question and already had a lengthy criminal history.
The court has previously heard that €3 million worth of damage was caused to the unit.
A further €500,000 worth of damage was caused to other units when inmates ransacked it, smashing televisions and windows.
The teenagers escaped from their bedrooms after getting hold of keys. Initially, three youths were let out of their rooms before two further teenagers escaped when the windows of their rooms were smashed in and they were encouraged to get involved.
CCTV footage shown in court on Friday depicted the youths climbing onto the roof, pulling off tiles and throwing objects off the side of the building.
Patrick Gageby SC, defending, told the court that on the day in question, staff at the centre were on strike over an industrial dispute. “That had an impact on the care of the youngsters,” he said.
He said his client, who was 17 at the time of the offence, was one of 10 children, had a troubled childhood and difficulties with alcohol.
He is now the father of a young child.
