Overview
- Judge Martina Baxter said Leanne Kelly used a burning garda car as an accelerant to ignite the double-decker on O’Connell Bridge.
- The bus was empty but completely destroyed, with damage valued at €477,851 according to prosecution evidence.
- Gardaí identified Kelly after reviewing roughly 17,000 hours of CCTV, which showed her looting a Circle K and then setting cardboard alight before throwing it onto the bus.
- A Dublin Bus victim impact statement said eight vehicles were damaged that day, three were destroyed, and losses totaled about €1.9 million, with lasting effects on staff morale.
- Kelly has 66 prior convictions, was on bail at the time, and, according to her defence, was homeless and drug-intoxicated; she submitted an apology letter but also used profane language toward the judge in court.