The streets of Ely, Cardiff, still bear scars from the devastating riots that erupted in May 2023, sparked by the tragic deaths of two teenagers. The harrowing details of that fateful evening are now being brought to light as sentencing continues for those involved in the widespread violence. Among the most shocking revelations is the fact that a police officer was set alight by a petrol bomb during the chaos.
The unrest, which saw nearly 140 years in custody handed down to rioters, was triggered by the deaths of 16-year-old Kyrees Sullivan and 15-year-old Harvey Evans. The teenagers had been riding an e-bike when it crashed, leading to accusations against the police by some residents. An investigation later found that a police van had been following the pair, but there was no evidence to suggest they were being pursued aggressively.
Among those sentenced this week is Lee-Martin McQuade, 30, from Ely, who received a six-year and four-month jail term for his role in preparing petrol bombs. The court heard that he had been part of a group preparing the explosives, one of which was thrown at officers, setting a female officer alight. Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke noted that McQuade's sentence was reduced from a potential maximum of eight years due to an early guilty plea.
Other significant sentences included Liam Black, 21, from Ely, who received six years and nine months in a young offenders' institution for throwing fireworks at police and inciting others. Connor O'Sullivan, 27, was jailed for five years after throwing missiles, including a brick, and participating in pushing a door at police while chanting 'Ely gang'. Callum O'Sullivan, 25, received three years and nine months for repeatedly throwing missiles, with video evidence of his involvement found on his phone.
Gemma Virgin, 45, from Ely, was sentenced to three years and eight months for throwing missiles and approaching an officer with a 'large piece of wood', while verbally abusing them. She later expressed remorse, stating she had 'jumped on the bandwagon'. Malaki McQuade, 19, received six years in a young offenders' institution for throwing missiles and being part of a group that overturned a car, alongside concurrent sentences for unlawful wounding and drug charges. Matthew Evans, 22, was given six years and four months for setting alight a bed base, smashing a car window, using an aerosol as a flamethrower on a car, and throwing missiles at police.
In total, 30 individuals have been sentenced this week, with 26 receiving custodial sentences ranging from three years and eight months to six years and nine months. Four individuals who were under 18 at the time of the riot were given community orders. Judge Lloyd-Clarke commended the bravery of the hundreds of police officers present on the night, acknowledging they 'risked their safety in a very dangerous and volatile situation'.