Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 6184Assault causing harm; arson; criminal damage; unauthorised taking of a tractor · Co. Kilkenny · 25 Dec 2022

Brothers jailed over Christmas Day 2022 rampage in rural Kilkenny

On Christmas night 2022 in rural Kilkenny, brothers Glen Murphy and Colin Murphy were involved in incidents in which a tractor was stolen from a nearby farm and crashed, a vehicle was set on fire, and two men were assaulted, one with a glass vodka bottle. Gardaí arrested and interviewed the two men after speaking to their grandmother, and both were remanded in custody from December 26, 2022. Both brothers pleaded guilty at Kilkenny Circuit Criminal Court to charges including criminal damage, arson, assault causing harm and unauthorised taking of a tractor. They were jailed for ten years, with the final two years suspended on conditions including staying away from Ballygurteen and Castlewarren for five years after release, and the sentencing was reported on April 2, 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced2 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Glen Murphy and Colin Murphy were involved in a series of offences in rural Kilkenny.
  • A tractor was stolen from a nearby farm and crashed several times, hitting telecommunications poles.
  • The estimated damage to Eir was €1,722.
  • A vehicle was set on fire.
  • One man was assaulted and a second man was left unconscious on the road with a head injury that caused a long induced coma.
When
The offences took place on Christmas night, December 25, 2022.
Where
The offences took place in a rural Kilkenny community, with conditions later referring to Ballygurteen and Castlewarren.
Weapon
One man was assaulted with a glass vodka bottle.
Investigation
Gardaí arrested and interviewed the two men after speaking to their grandmother.
Charges
  • Glen Murphy pleaded guilty to criminal damage to an MPV, criminal damage to Eir poles, two counts of assault causing harm and unauthorised taking of a tractor.
  • Colin Murphy pleaded guilty to criminal damage and arson of an MPV and assault causing harm.
In court
The brothers had been held in custody since December 26, 2022, and pleaded guilty at Kilkenny Circuit Criminal Court.
Sentence
  • The brothers were jailed for ten years, with the final two years suspended for both on conditions including staying away from Ballygurteen and Castlewarren for five years after release.
  • Glen Murphy received two years for criminal damage to an MPV, three years for assault causing harm on the man struck with a bottle and five years for assault on the unconscious man, with the sentences running consecutively.
  • Colin Murphy received a seven-year sentence for arson.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe brothers pleaded guilty to a number of charges at Kilkenny Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA tractor was stolen from a nearby farm. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe tractor crashed several times and hit telecommunications poles. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe estimated damage to Eir was €1,722. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA second man was left unconscious on the road and had a head injury that caused a long induced coma. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA vehicle was set on fire. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place on Christmas night. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponOne man was assaulted with a glass vodka bottle. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested and interviewed the two men after speaking to their grandmother. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGlen Murphy admitted taking and crashing the tractor and assaulting the unconscious man. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationColin Murphy admitted arson and assault causing harm. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeGlen Murphy pleaded guilty to criminal damage to an MPV, criminal damage to Eir poles, two counts of assault causing harm and unauthorised taking of a tractor. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeColin Murphy pleaded guilty to criminal damage and arson of an MPV and assault causing harm. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe brothers had been held in custody since December 26, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe brothers were jailed for ten years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceGlen Murphy received a two-year sentence for criminal damage to an MPV. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceGlen Murphy received a three-year sentence for assault causing harm on the man struck with a bottle and a five-year sentence for assault on the unconscious man. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceGlen Murphy's sentences run consecutively, with the final two years suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceColin Murphy received a seven-year sentence for arson. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe final two years were suspended for both brothers on conditions including staying away from Ballygurteen and Castlewarren for five years after release. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Apr2024
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Brothers jailed over Christmas day rampage across rural community

    Reports the sentencing of Glen and Colin Murphy at Kilkenny Circuit Criminal Court for the Christmas 2022 offences, with the guilty pleas, the sentences imposed and the court's description of the offences.

    convicted, Glen Murphy, male, named, irish (judged from name)Glen Murphyconvicted, Colin Murphy, male, named, irish (judged from name)Colin Murphyvictim, 65, malevictim, male