Gavin and Lee Quinn plead guilty to offences against garda

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

Gavin Quinn pleaded guilty to assaulting a peace officer in the execution of his duty. Lee Quinn pleaded guilty to attempting to cause serious harm to Garda Alan Murphy. The proceedings were reported on 17 June 2022.

The offences took place at St Vincent’s Street West, Inchicore, Dublin 8, on 30 March 2020. The brothers had originally been due to stand trial for Garda Murphy’s attempted murder, and a jury had been sworn. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted their pleas to the lesser charges. The report said they were charged at the Central Criminal Court on 1 March.

At a sentence hearing before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon on 17 June 2022, Garda Murphy said the memory of the incident crossed his mind daily. The report said Lee Quinn had slashed him across the head before Dublin Fire Brigade colleagues pulled Lee away.

Garda Murphy said Gavin Quinn had disabled his right arm and leg while Lee Quinn tried to force a knife through his eye. Patrick Gageby SC, for Gavin Quinn, said his client had been stabbed before the garda arrived and described his actions as antisocial and irrational. Mr Devally said Lee Quinn thought he was protecting his older brother, adding that a lack of judgment was not an excuse.

The hearing was adjourned to 11 July, when both men were expected to be sentenced.