Courts / Dublin / Report

Brothers 'were trying to butcher me like an animal': proud garda tells court

Date
2022-06-17

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 17 June 2022, Garda Alan Murphy recounted the night two brothers, Gavin Quinn (28) and Lee Quinn (27), attacked him in Inchicore, Dublin 8. Gavin pinned Murphy to the ground while Lee attempted to stab him in the eye with a six‑inch kitchen knife. The assault was reported to have occurred on 30 March 2020, when the brothers were already in custody. Both pleaded guilty to lesser charges: Gavin to assaulting a peace officer and Lee to attempting to cause serious harm. The court heard Murphy's victim impact statement, in which he thanked Dublin Fire Brigade for saving his life and described the lasting psychological trauma. He declined to label himself a victim, preferring to identify as a proud Garda. The hearing was adjourned to 11 July for sentencing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Brothers 'were trying to butcher me like an animal': proud garda tells court. Charges or matters: assaulting a peace officer in the execution of his duty, contrary to Section 19 (1) of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, at St Vincent's Street West, Inchicore, Dublin 8, on March 30, 2020; attempting to cause serious harm to Gda Murphy on the same date at the same location. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 30, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
March 1 Hearing Or Sentence
July 11 Adjournment
2022-06-17 Publication

Case subjects

Alan Murphy

Defendant

Gavin Quinn

Defendant

Charges: assaulting a peace officer in the execution of his duty, contrary to Section 19 (1) of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, at St Vincent's Street West, Inchicore, Dublin 8, on March 30, 2020; attempting to cause serious harm to Gda Murphy on the same date at the same location (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: At a sentence hearing today, Gda Murphy told the court there was "no doubt in his mind" he would be dead now if it weren't for the assistance of emergency service colleagues from Dublin Fire Brigade, who pulled Lee Quinn away from him moments after the knife-wielding attacker had slashed the officer across the head. "I'd like to thank members of the Dublin Fire Brigade for saving my life and putting their own bodies between myself and two individuals who were trying to butcher me like an animal," he said as he read out his victim impact statement from the witness box. "The memory of the incide The hearing was adjourned to July 11, when it is expected both men will be sentenced.; The hearing was adjourned to July 11, when it is expected both men will be sentenced.

Lee Quinn

Defendant

Charges: attempting to cause serious harm to Gda Murphy on the same date at the same location (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty