Conor O’Brien jailed for knife possession after fatal Carlow attack

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Conor O’Brien was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to four years and six months in prison, with the final year suspended for two years, for possessing a knife in a public place with intent to cause injury, incapacity or intimidation. Mr Justice Paul McDermott backdated the sentence to October 2024. The proceedings were reported on 17 November 2025.

O’Brien, of Ardmore Drive, Browneshill Road, Co Carlow, had pleaded guilty to the knife charge. The offence occurred at Market View, New Oak Estate, Carlow, on 21 October 2024. A further charge of possessing a metal bar was taken into consideration.

O’Brien told gardaí that he went to the scene with his co-accused and brought a knife and a bar, believing the intention was to give Darren Quigley “a few digs”. He said he was there to support his co-accused, did not confront Mr Quigley and pulled the co-accused off him during a tussle.

Mr Justice McDermott said O’Brien had helped set up a confrontation and contributed to the violence. The judge accepted that O’Brien had tried to pull his co-accused off Mr Quigley and had shouted for an ambulance. He also noted that O’Brien left the scene and attempted to dispose of some items.