Courts / Carlow / Report
Sentence reduced for brothers who went on Christmas Day 'crime spree'
Summary
Ms Justice Tara Burns reduced the prison sentences of brothers Colin Murphy (36) and Glen Murphy (33) from ten years to eight years each following an appeal against their convictions for a Christmas Day crime spree in Co. Carlow. The original sentencing judge, Judge Cormac Quinn, had imposed consecutive sentences for offences including criminal damage to an MPV and Eir poles, assault causing harm, and a serious assault leaving a man unconscious. Ms Justice Burns ruled that consecutive sentencing was inappropriate given the closely connected nature of the offending within the same criminal transaction. She quashed the original sentences and resentenced both appellants. For Glen Murphy, who was convicted of criminal damage to an MPV, criminal damage to Eir poles, assault causing harm, and assault on a man left unconscious, the total sentence was set at nine and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended for 18 months. Similarly, Colin Murphy received a total sentence of nine and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended for 18 months. The court acknowledged the extreme seriousness of the assault, which caused traumatic brain injury, but determined that the aggregate sentence must reflect the single criminal transaction rather than cumulative consecutive terms.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Sentence reduced for brothers who went on Christmas Day 'crime spree'. Charges or matters: criminal damage to an MPV; criminal damage to Eir poles; assault causing harm; assault on a man left unconscious. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- December 25, 2022 Incident
- Christmas Day Incident
- 2025-07-24 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: criminal damage to an MPV; criminal damage to Eir poles; assault causing harm; assault on a man left unconscious (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; In the case of Glen Murphy, Ms Justice Burns said that the total sentence imposed was nine and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended for 18 months. Judge Quinn convicted Glen Murphy of criminal damage to a MPV and sentenced him to two years, with a further two years for criminal damage to the Eir poles.
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