Courts / Kildare / Report

Bat murderer who beat 'best friend' to a 'pulp' told gardai he wanted to kill another person

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 7 April 2025, 30‑year‑old Robert Broughan was sentenced to a mandatory life term for the murder of his best friend, Roy Hopkins, 34, who was beaten to death with a baseball bat on 31 July 2020. Broughan admitted to striking Hopkins on the forehead, side of the head and nose, intending to make his head "explode" and to kill him. He claimed no prior conflict, stating the friendship had never involved a "cross word". Broughan also confessed to having put petrol on the bat and to having taken Solpadeine tablets before the attack. The court noted his previous convictions for criminal damage and public order offences, and his history of substance misuse. Hopkins' mother delivered a victim impact statement describing the tragedy and the lasting pain inflicted on her family. The sentence was back‑dated to 1 August 2020, when Hopkins died after being taken to Naas General Hospital.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Bat murderer who beat 'best friend' to a 'pulp' told gardai he wanted to kill another person. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

• July 31, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• August 1 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• February 28 Incident
• July 31 Hearing Or Sentence
• July 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2025-04-07 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Public Order Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Jury sworn-in for trial of man (24) accused of Peter Kennedy murder
• Brothers jailed for rape and abuse of children at family farm
• High Court challenge to proposed Kildare housing
• Trial date fixed for man accused of Kildare murder
• Gold bars and house linked to drug dealing DJ are proceeds of crime, judge rules
• Book of evidence for money laundering accused

Read the original CNI report