Saturday 31 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. 20638Harassment (threatening communications) · Co. Dublin

Charges against man over threats to Russian embassy dismissed at Dublin District Court

Brian Murphy, aged 53, a community worker, was accused of sending threatening or grossly offensive Facebook messages to staff of the Russian embassy at Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin, in March 2022. Gardaí arrested him in October after a warrant was issued, and he was charged in 2022 under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act, released on bail and pleaded not guilty. On Monday, 19 June 2023, at Dublin District Court, no evidence was heard because a witness did not attend and the alleged injured party would not engage with prosecutors. Judge John Hughes dismissed the case without prejudice.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Brian Murphy, aged 53, a community worker, was accused of sending threatening or grossly offensive Facebook messages that said the Russian embassy would be "burned down".
Where
The alleged target was the Russian embassy at Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin.
When
The alleged communications were sent on four dates between March 4 and March 16, 2022, weeks after the invasion of Ukraine.
Investigation
Garda Austin Larkin arrested Mr Murphy after a warrant was issued in October.
Charges
Gardaí charged Mr Murphy under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act with four counts of sending threatening or grossly offensive communications with intent to cause harm to embassy staff.
In court
  • The Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the case be dealt with at District Court level.
  • Mr Murphy was released on bail in October and pleaded not guilty, and his defence counsel said he would contest the case.
  • The non-jury trial was due to be heard at Dublin District Court on Monday, but no evidence was heard.
  • A witness did not attend the scheduled hearing, and a State solicitor told Judge John Hughes that the injured party was not engaging with prosecutors and would not attend.
Sentence
Judge John Hughes dismissed the case without prejudice, and Mr Murphy left court free.
Other details
Mr Murphy wore a top saying "Slava Ukraini" and did not address the court.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man accused of threatening the Russian embassy in Dublin walked free after the case collapsed. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged target was the Russian embassy at Orwell Road, Rathgar. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged communications were sent on four dates from March 4 to March 16, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenMr Murphy was released on bail in October and pleaded not guilty. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGarda Austin Larkin arrested Mr Murphy after a warrant was issued in October. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeGardaí charged Brian Murphy under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe faced four counts of sending threatening or grossly offensive communications via Facebook with intent to cause harm to embassy staff. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the case be dealt with at District Court level. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe non-jury trial was due on Monday, but no evidence was heard. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA witness did not turn up at the scheduled hearing. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA State solicitor told the court the injured party was not engaging with prosecutors and would not attend. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge John Hughes dismissed the case without prejudice after noting there was no witness. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused wore a top saying "Slava Ukraini" and did not address the court. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Jun2023
    Otheririshtimes.com, first report
    Man accused of threats against Russian embassy walks free from Dublin District Court

    The case was dismissed without prejudice on Monday after the alleged injured party did not engage with prosecutors or attend, and a witness did not turn up.

    accused, Brian Murphy, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian Murphy