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. 1252Assault causing harm · Co. Dublin · 1 Jun 2021

Garda Lorcan Murphy convicted of assaulting teenager in Temple Bar

Garda Lorcan Murphy, 32, was convicted on 24 July 2025 of assaulting a 17-year-old man in Temple Bar, Dublin, on 1 June 2021. The alleged assaults took place on Essex Street, Dublin 2, and at Pearse Street Garda Station, where Murphy is said to have performed a leg sweep that caused the teenager's head to hit the ground, fracturing his skull, and to have pulled his hair and applied force to his chest. Murphy pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault causing harm under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, and was tried at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. After four hours and 20 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on both counts. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned sentencing to 3 November 2025 and remanded Murphy on continuing bail.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court23 Jul
  5. Convicted24 Jul
    3 reports
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Garda Lorcan Murphy allegedly performed a leg sweep on a 17-year-old man on Essex Street, Dublin 2, causing his head to hit the ground, and at Pearse Street Garda Station allegedly pulled his hair and applied force to his chest.
Where
The alleged assaults took place on Essex Street, Dublin 2, and at Pearse Street Garda Station.
When
The alleged assaults took place on 1 June 2021.
Cause
The leg sweep caused the complainant's head to impact the ground, resulting in a fractured skull and a contusion to the brain.
Investigation
The complainant was transferred to Beaumont Hospital where he stayed for five days.
Charges
Murphy was charged with two counts of assault causing harm under section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.
In court
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on both counts after four hours and 20 minutes of deliberation on 24 July 2025.
Sentence
Judge Pauline Codd adjourned sentencing to 3 November 2025 for a probation report and victim impact statement, and remanded Murphy on continuing bail.
Other details
  • The complainant had 44 previous convictions, was drinking and smoking cannabis, and was not charged with any offences in relation to the events.
  • Murphy stated the complainant produced a glass bottle; witnesses described the complainant being flipped and his head bashed off the ground.
45 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe complainant was a minor who was handcuffed and awaiting medical attention during the second alleged assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe complainant was 17 years old at the time of the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe complainant was transferred to Beaumont Hospital where he stayed for five days. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe complainant had 44 previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatWitness Aileen Fitzmaurice described the complainant being flipped and his head bashed off the ground. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatConsultant Neurosurgeon John Caird said the complainant had a fracture to the skull and a contusion to the brain. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMurphy stated the complainant produced a glass bottle and that he performed a leg sweep. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe prosecution also alleged pulling the complainant's hair and applying force to his chest at Pearse Street Garda Station caused harm. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe complainant was not charged with any offences in relation to the events in Temple Bar that day. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim fractured his skull. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe victim had a fracture to the skull and a contusion to the brain and made an excellent recovery. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe victim had no recollection of the events due to a head injury. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe victim was drinking and smoking weed on the day of the incident. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe victim went to meet his girlfriend in Temple Bar. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe last thing the victim remembered was walking past McDonald's on Grafton Street. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe victim woke up in James' Hospital and then was transferred to Beaumont Hospital where he stayed for five days. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatTen days after the incident, the victim kicked and beat a person after they withdrew money from an ATM on O'Connell Street. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatWitness Darragh Fitzpatrick saw Garda Murphy spear tackle the complainant. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatWitness Aileen Fitzmaurice described the gardai flipping the complainant and bashing his head off the ground. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatGarda Murphy performed a leg sweep that caused the complainant's head to make contact with the ground. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe prosecution argued excessive force was used in the leg sweep resulting in the complainant's head impacting the ground. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe prosecution also alleged that pulling the complainant's head using his hair at Pearse Street Garda Station caused harm in the form of immediate pain. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe assaults on the then 17-year-old are alleged to have taken place on Essex Street, Dublin 2 and Pearse Street Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe assaults took place on Essex Street, Dublin 2, and at Pearse Street Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe assaults occurred on Essex Street, Dublin 2, and at Pearse Street Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe assaults took place on Essex Street, Dublin 2 and Pearse Street Garda Station. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe alleged assaults took place on 1 June 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe assaults occurred on 1 June 2021. (irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe assaults took place on 1 June 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeLorcan Murphy pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault causing harm under section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe jury indicated they have reached one verdict in the trial of a garda accused of assaulting a teenager in Temple Bar. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe foreman indicated to Judge Pauline Codd that the jury has reached one verdict and wished to continue deliberations on the second count. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe foreman did not indicate the verdict to the court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe jury had been deliberating for just over four hours. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Codd suspended deliberations for the day and told the jury to return in the morning. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on both counts after four hours and 20 minutes of deliberation at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on both counts after four hours and 20 minutes of deliberation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Pauline Codd adjourned sentencing until 3 November 2025 and remanded Murphy on continuing bail. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe jury deliberated for four hours and 20 minutes before returning unanimous guilty verdicts on both counts. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtJudge Pauline Codd adjourned sentencing to 3 November 2025 for a probation report and victim impact statement. (dublinlive.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Pauline Codd adjourned sentencing to 3 November 2025 to prepare a probation report and a victim impact statement. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMurphy was remanded on continuing bail. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe complainant admitted he had been drinking and smoking cannabis before the encounter. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe victim has 44 previous convictions. (dublinlive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Jul2025
    Convicteddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Garda convicted of assaulting teen in Temple Bar four years ago

    First report of the conviction. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on both counts after four hours and 20 minutes of deliberation. The victim suffered a fractured skull and brain contusion. Sentencing adjourned to 3 November 2025 for a probation report and victim impact statement.

    convicted, Lorcan Murphy, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Lorcan Murphyvictim, 17, male
  2. 24 Jul2025
    Convictedirishmirror.ie, first report
    'I fractured my skull' - Garda convicted of assaulting teenager in Temple Bar

    Jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on both counts after four hours and 20 minutes of deliberation; sentencing adjourned to 3 November 2025 for a probation report and victim impact statement; Murphy remanded on continuing bail.

    victim, 17, maleconvicted, Lorcan Murphy, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Lorcan Murphy
  3. 24 Jul2025
    Convictedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Garda convicted of assaulting teenage boy in Temple Bar

    Reports the jury's unanimous guilty verdicts on both counts, details of the alleged assaults (leg sweep causing fractured skull and brain bleed; head pulled back by hair and force applied to sternum), and the adjournment of sentencing to 3 November 2025.

    suspect, Lorcan Murphy, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Lorcan Murphyvictim, 17, male
  4. 23 Jul2025
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Jury indicate they have one verdict in trial of garda accused of assaulting teen

    Reports that the jury foreman indicated to Judge Pauline Codd they have reached one verdict on the two counts of assault causing harm after just over four hours of deliberation, with the judge suspending deliberations for the day.

    victim, 17, maleaccused, Lorcan Murphy, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Lorcan Murphy