Thursday 29 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. 6032Murder · Co. Cork · 26 Mar 2022

Man found not guilty by reason of insanity over Carrigaline killing of brother

John Murphy Jnr, a 44-year-old man (one report gives 43) of Seaview Avenue, Carrigaline, Co Cork, was charged with murdering his brother Shane Murphy, 27, and attempting to murder their father, John Aloysius "Weeshie" Murphy Senior, 75, in a knife attack at the family's semi-detached home on Saturday, March 26th, 2022. Gardaí arrested him in Passage West, and he was charged with murder and attempted murder on March 28th, 2022. In April 2024 a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork returned a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict on both charges after the defence said he was in an acute psychotic state at the time. The prosecution then applied under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 for his remand to the Central Mental Hospital, where he was transferred, and the judge adjourned the matter until May 7th.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court22 Apr
  5. Acquitted24 Apr
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • John Murphy Jnr stabbed his father and then returned to continue his assault on his brother Shane.
  • The accused stabbed Shane Murphy repeatedly, and Shane suffered nine stab wounds, including one fatal wound through the heart.
Where
The attack took place in the family's semi-detached home, and the accused lived on Seaview Avenue, Carrigaline, Co Cork.
When
The attack occurred on Saturday, March 26th, 2022.
Cause
Shane Murphy died of haemorrhage and shock.
Weapon
An 18cm blade broken from its handle was recovered at the scene, and a broken knife was recovered from the property.
Investigation
  • CCTV captured the accused in a nearby garden with a rucksack shortly after the attack and showed him concealing a bag of clothes in a garden compost heap.
  • Gardaí arrested the accused in Passage West and took him to Gurranebraher Garda station, where he admitted assaulting his father and stabbing Shane Murphy.
Charges
The accused was charged with the murder of his brother Shane and the attempted murder of his father on March 28th, 2022, and was also charged with two counts of producing a knife.
In court
  • The trial took place before the Central Criminal Court in Cork, where the defence asserted that the accused was effectively not guilty by reason of insanity at the time of the offence.
  • A defence psychiatrist said the accused was in an acute psychotic state due to schizophrenic illness at the time of the attack.
  • In April 2024 the jury took one hour and 43 minutes to return a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict on the murder and attempted murder charges.
Sentence
The prosecution applied under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 for the accused to be remanded to the Central Mental Hospital, where he was transferred, and the judge adjourned the matter until May 7th.
25 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatJohn Murphy Jnr went out on to the street and stabbed his father before returning to continue his assault on Shane. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe accused stabbed his brother Shane repeatedly. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShane Murphy suffered nine stab wounds, including one fatal wound through the heart. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe attack occurred in the family's semi-detached home. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe accused lived on Seaview Avenue, Carrigaline, Co Cork. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe attack occurred on March 26th, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on Saturday, March 26th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeShane Murphy died of haemorrhage and shock. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponAn 18cm blade broken from its handle was recovered at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA broken knife was recovered from the property. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe accused was captured on CCTV in a nearby garden with a rucksack shortly after the attack. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationCCTV footage showed the accused concealing a bag of clothes in a garden compost heap. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí arrested the accused in Passage West and took him to Gurranebraher Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeJohn Murphy Jnr is charged with the murder of his brother Shane and the attempted murder of his father. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe accused was charged with murder and attempted murder on March 28th, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe accused was charged with murdering his brother and attempting to murder his father. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence asserts that the accused was effectively not guilty by reason of insanity at the time of the offence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe case continues the following day. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe defence psychiatrist said the accused was in an acute psychotic state at the time due to schizophrenic illness. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury took one hour and 43 minutes to return a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict on the murder and attempted murder charges. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge adjourned the matter until May 7th. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceProsecution applied under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 to have the accused remanded to the Central Mental Hospital. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe trial is before the Central Criminal Court in Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe accused admitted assaulting his father and stabbing Shane Murphy in garda interviews. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe accused was transferred to the Central Mental Hospital. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Apr2024
    Acquittedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man accused of murdering brother and attempting to murder father found not guilty by reason of insanity

    Court verdict: the jury returned a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict on the murder and attempted murder charges, plus two ancillary charges of production of a knife. Evidence on the 2022 stabbings, the arrest and the psychiatric evidence is given in detail.

    accused, John Murphy jnr, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Murphy jnrvictim, Shane Murphy, 27, male, irish (judged from name)Shane Murphyvictim, John Aloysius “Weeshie” Murphy, 75, male, irish (judged from name)John Aloysius “Weeshie” Murphy
  2. 22 Apr2024
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Murder trial hears man claimed he was under influence of 'airwave manipulation'

    Reports the trial at the Central Criminal Court in Cork, including the defence insanity claim, garda evidence of the attack, CCTV and interviews, and the victims' injuries.

    accused, John Murphy Jnr, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Murphy Jnrvictim, Shane Murphy, 27, male, irish (judged from name)Shane Murphyvictim, John Aloysius “Weeshie” Murphy Senior, 75, male, irish (judged from name)John Aloysius “Weeshie” Murphy Senior