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. 1288Assault (using a syringe) · Co. Cork · 8 Feb 2024

Trevor Murphy jailed for spraying garda in face with syringe in Cork

On 8 February 2024, Trevor Murphy, a 37-year-old man, sprayed liquid from a syringe into the eyes of a garda at his home on Millerd Street in Cork city after locking himself in the bathroom and refusing to cooperate with officers who had been called to a report of self-harm. The garda required preventative antibiotics, and blood tests for HIV and Hepatitis came back negative. Murphy pleaded guilty to assault at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, where the judge noted his 64 previous convictions for offences including robbery and assault, as well as his mental health crisis and efforts to beat alcohol and drug addiction as mitigating factors. On 18 July 2025, Judge Helen Boyle sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment with the last 12 months suspended.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced18 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Murphy sprayed liquid from a syringe into the eyes of a garda after locking himself in the bathroom and refusing to cooperate with officers.
  • Members of the Armed Support Unit broke into the bathroom and Murphy was restrained with pepper spray.
  • The garda needed to take preventative antibiotics, and blood tests for HIV and Hepatitis were negative.
Where
The incident took place at Millerd Street in Cork city.
When
The incident occurred on 8 February 2024.
Cause
Gardaí were called after a phone report that a man was threatening to harm himself.
Charges
Murphy pleaded guilty to assault.
In court
The case was heard at Cork Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Helen Boyle.
Sentence
Murphy was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment with the last 12 months suspended.
Other details
  • Murphy has 64 previous convictions for offences such as robbery and assault.
  • The judge noted Murphy's mental health crisis and efforts to beat alcohol and drug addiction as mitigating factors.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMurphy sprayed liquid from a syringe into the eyes of a garda (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMurphy locked himself in the bathroom and refused to cooperate with gardai (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMurphy told gardai he would assault them if given the chance (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMembers of the Armed Support Unit had to break into the bathroom (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMurphy was restrained with pepper spray (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe garda needed to take preventative antibiotics (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe garda's blood test was negative for HIV and Hepatitis (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at Millerd Street in Cork city (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 8 February 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeGardaí were called after a phone report that a man was threatening to harm himself (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceMurphy was sentenced to two and a half years with the last 12 months suspended (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMurphy has 64 previous convictions for offences such as robbery and assault (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Jul2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man jailed for spraying contents of a syringe at a garda

    Sentencing report: Murphy pleaded guilty to assault; judge noted his mental health crisis and efforts to beat alcohol and drug addiction as mitigating factors; 64 previous convictions noted.

    convicted, Trevor Murphy, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Trevor Murphyvictim, male