Court told police officer was set on fire during Ely riots as sentencing continues

Rioters who made petrol bombs are among seven more people who have been sentenced for their part in disorder in Cardiff three years ago.

The night of violence and vandalism in May 2023 was sparked by the deaths of Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, after their e-bike crashed in the suburb of Ely.

Around 150 people turned up to the area in the aftermath after police, whose van had been seen driving behind the pair earlier on the evening of the crash, were blamed by some for the teenagers' deaths.

Friday's sentencing took the number of people sentenced so far to 27, with tensions and outbursts in the public gallery earlier this week leading to the area being cleared by the judge.

As the latest hearing began on Friday at Cardiff Crown Court, a number of people in the public gallery wore turquoise t-shirts featuring the faces of the two teenage boys Sullivan and Evans, with the words "three years of missing you both" written on them.

All seven defendants were sentenced for rioting.

Lee-Martin McQuade was sentenced to six years and four months in jail, with the court told he was part of the group preparing petrol bombs of which one was thrown at officers and set a police officer on fire.

The 30-year-old from Ely shouted abuse at police and accused them of killing the two teenage boys, calling the officers "rapists", and he encouraged people to "hit Ely police station" with petrol bombs.

There were gasps in court when Judge Tracey-Lloyd Clarke told McQuade the maximum term he might have faced was eight years in jail but this was reduced because of his guilty plea early in the process.

Liam Black, 21, from Ely, was sentenced to six years and nine month detention in a young offenders' institution.

The court heard he threw fireworks at police, burned a plank of wood, and encouraged others to throw things at police.

Connor O'Sullivan, 27, from Ely, was sentenced to five years in jail, having thrown missiles including a brick at police.

He was also part of the crowd who threw a door at police, and was seen on a live stream video saying "come on, come on boys - any more?" and chanting "Ely gang, Ely gang".

All three were told they would serve up to half of their sentence before being released.

Callum O'Sullivan, 25, from Ely, was sentenced to three years and nine months after repeatedly throwing missiles at police during the riots, with a video of the disorder found on his phone.

Gemma Virgin, 45, also from Ely, was sentenced to three years and eight months after throwing several missiles, as well as approaching an officer with a "large piece of wood" and was verbally abusive.

Virgin later told police she had "jumped on the bandwagon" and expressed remorse.

Malaki McQuade, 19, from Ely, was sentenced to six years in a young offenders' institution for offences including throwing missiles and being part of a group that pushed a car onto its roof.

He was also sentenced for unlawful wounding and two drugs charges to be served concurrent, but the judge said there would be an uplift to his overall sentence to reflect those charges and the fact he was under a referral order at the time of the riot.

All three were told they would serve up to 40% of their sentences before release.

Throughout the hearings police officers have been a constant presence inside and outside the courtroom.

The final set of defendants are expected to sentenced this afternoon.