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. 6591Criminal damage · Co. Kerry · 1 Jan 2024

Eamon Murphy charged with criminal damage at Harmony Inn, Killarney

Gardaí are investigating alleged criminal damage to the front door of the Harmony Inn, a direct provision centre for asylum seekers on Muckross Road, Killarney, Co Kerry, on 1 January 2024. Eamon Murphy, aged 23, was arrested on 6 February 2024 and charged with criminal damage, and a second man in his 20s, Evan Murphy, was also arrested and charged. Eamon Murphy appeared at Tralee District Court on 7 February 2024, where he was ordered to stay away from the Harmony Inn and any other direct provision centre, and gardaí did not object to bail on conditions. The latest reported step is that Evan Murphy was remanded on bail on his own bond of €200 to appear in Killarney on 5 March, and DPP directions were not yet available.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged1 Jan
    2 reports
  4. In court7 Feb
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Alleged criminal damage to the front door of the Harmony Inn, a direct provision centre for asylum seekers, is under investigation.
Where
The Harmony Inn is on Muckross Road, Killarney, Co Kerry.
When
The alleged criminal damage occurred on 1 January 2024.
Other details
The Harmony Inn is a 22-bed guest house that opened as an all-male direct provision centre at the end of November 2023.
Investigation
  • A man in his 20s was arrested on the evening of 6 February 2024 and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in County Kerry.
  • Eamon Murphy was arrested on 6 February 2024 on suspicion of criminal damage; one report places the arrest at New Road in Killarney and the garda statement places the detention at a Garda station in County Kerry.
  • A second man in his 20s was arrested in connection with the incident on the evening of 6 February 2024.
Charges
  • Eamon Murphy, aged 23, was charged with criminal damage at the Harmony Inn, contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991.
  • Evan Murphy was charged with damaging the front door of the Harmony Inn on 1 January 2024.
In court
  • Eamon Murphy appeared at Tralee District Court on Wednesday 7 February 2024 and was ordered to stay away from the Harmony Inn and any other direct provision centre.
  • A first man in his 20s had been charged earlier and appeared at Listowel District Court, where he was told to stay away from the centre.
  • Gardaí did not object to bail on conditions, and directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions were not yet available.
  • Evan Murphy was remanded on bail on his own bond of €200 to appear in Killarney on 5 March.
Sentence
No sentence has been reported, as the case is at the court stage.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAlleged criminal damage to a residential building in Killarney is under investigation. (garda.ie)
  • whatThe alleged offence was criminal damage to an asylum seeker accommodation facility. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatEamon Murphy was charged with criminal damage at the Harmony Inn. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe accused is accused of damaging the front door of the property. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident took place at a Direct Provision centre in Killarney. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereThe Harmony Inn is on Muckross Road, Killarney, Co Kerry. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 1 January 2024. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on 1 January 2024. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whenThe alleged criminal damage occurred on January 1st, 2024. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA man was arrested on Tuesday 6 February 2024. (garda.ie)
  • investigationA second person was arrested in connection with the incident. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationThe second man, in his 20s, was arrested on the evening of 6 February 2024 and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested the accused at New Road in Killarney on February 6th on suspicion of criminal damage. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe man has been charged. (garda.ie)
  • chargeThe second man has been charged. (corkbeo.ie)
  • chargeThe alleged offence is contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeEvan Murphy was charged with damaging the front door of the Harmony Inn on January 1st. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe man is due to appear before Tralee District Court on Wednesday 7 February 2024 at 10.30am. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe second man was due before Tralee District Court on 7 February 2024. (corkbeo.ie)
  • courtA first man, in his 20s, was previously charged and appeared before Listowel District Court, where he was told to stay away from the centre. (corkbeo.ie)
  • courtGardaí did not object to bail on conditions. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDirections from the Director of Public Prosecutions were not yet available. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtEamon Murphy was ordered to stay away from the Harmony Inn and any other direct provision centre. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtEvan Murphy was remanded on bail on his own bond of €200 to appear in Killarney on March 5th. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceEamon Murphy was remanded on bail on his own bond of €200 to appear in Killarney on March 5th. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe arrested man is a male aged in his 20s. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe man was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in County Kerry. (garda.ie)
  • otherEamon Murphy is the second man to appear in court in Kerry charged over the incident. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Feb2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Man (23) told to stay away from all direct provision centres after charge of criminal damage

    First report of this incident. Adds the court appearance of Eamon Murphy, his bail conditions, the co-accused Evan Murphy, and the pending DPP directions.

    accused, Eamon Murphy, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eamon Murphyaccused, Evan Murphy, 21, male, named, irish (judged from name)Evan Murphy
  2. 7 Feb2024
    Chargedcorkbeo.ie, follow-up
    Second man arrested for New Year's Day incident at Kerry Direct Provision centre

    Adds that a second man was arrested on 6 February 2024 and charged, and that a first man in his 20s had earlier appeared before Listowel District Court and been told to stay away from the centre.

    accused, 20s, maleaccused, 20s, male
  3. 1 Jan2024
    Chargedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Court Appearance: Criminal Damage at a Building in Killarney, Co. Kerry, 1st January 2024

    Garda press release confirming the arrest on 6 February 2024, the charge, and the Tralee District Court appearance on 7 February 2024. Does not name the accused or the building.

    accused, 20s, male