Kildare man (19) jailed for five years for manslaughter of Ryan Weir Gibbons
Ryan Murphy was sentenced to five years in prison at Naas Circuit Court today Photo: Collins
A 19-year-old Kildare man was sentenced to five years in prison for the manslaughter of Ryan Weir Gibbons in Kildare town last October.
Ryan Murphy (19) of Curragh Plains pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced on Friday at Naas Circuit Court, in the presence of Ryan’s family and friends.
The court heard how in the early hours of the morning on 26 October 2025, the accused and injured party had a disagreement on the night bus from Naas to Kildare Town.
After exiting the bus, Mr Murphy pursued and approached Mr Weir Gibbons and delivered a punch which resulted in traumatic brain injury, and eventually led to his death at Magee Terrace, Kildare Town.
Mr Weir Gibbons died in hospital on 30 October as a result of his injuries.
Judge Elva Duffy commented on the destruction Mr Murphy had brought into Mr Weir Gibbon’s family, and his own, and that the deceased is deeply mourned by his family.
“Nothing I can say will change that,” she said.
However, Judge Duffy noted mitigation factors in the case, including the accused’s age of 18-year-old at the time of the crime, his early guilty plea, his attempt to deliver CPR to the victim and remorse to the family.
The judge imposed a five year sentence on Mr Murphy without suspension from 17 July 2026.
Outside the Naas Courthouse, Mr Weir Gibbon’s family gathered and spoke to the Kildare Nationalist, explaining their heartbreak and remembering Ryan for the bubbly person he was.
His sister, Nicole Weir Gibbons said that she wants him to be remembered for how he lived and not for the violence that resulted in his death.
“Ryan Weir Gibbons will always be deeply loved, forever missed and never forgotten,” she said.
In a victim impact statement, Ryan’s family said: ‘Ryan Weir Gibbons was just 29 years old when he died after sustaining life threating injuries outside Kildare Garda Station on 26 October 2025.
‘He passed away at Naas General Hospital on the 30th of October leaving our family heartbroken and countless friends whose lives have been changed forever.
‘Ryan was so much more than the circumstances of his death. He had the most infectious smile. He was bubbly, full of life and had a way of lighting up every room he walked into. Ryan was a messer. He loved making people laugh and could always find humour in any situation.
‘We always called him Ryano, although he much preferred the nickname his friends gave him, Gibby. Those are the memories we want people to remember. As heard in court, after being approached and assaulted on the bus, Ryan removed himself from the situation.
‘Instead of being left alone, he was pursued again later after getting off the bus During that pursuit, it was heard in court that the man convicted repeatedly shouted, "Do you know who I am?" in Ryan’s final moments , with Ryan saying “ Sorry, sorry” as his life was ended.
‘The evidence heard during the trial speaks for itself. Ryan will be remembered for how he lived, not for the violence that ended his life. Ryan did not spend his life hurting people. He spent his life helping them.
‘The pain of losing Ryan is something words can never fully describe. Every birthday, Christmas, family gathering and milestone will forever be overshadowed by his absence.
‘Our family has endured unimaginable grief while also carrying the emotional burden of the criminal justice process. One of the most traumatic experiences we have ever had to endure was being shown recordings of Ryan's assault and his final moments, captured on the mobile phone of a member of the group who was present.
‘Watching that footage caused immense emotional pain and lasting trauma. Those are images that no family should ever have to see. They remain with us every single day. Ryan's death is a reminder of the devastating and irreversible consequences that violence can have.
‘One act has taken his life and left our family with a loss that we will carry forever. We would like to sincerely thank the Garda members of Kildare & Newbridge who came to Ryan’s aid on the 26th October 2025, the vast Garda investigation team, our Garda liaison officers and the legal team.
‘As this case continues, we remain hopeful that the Garda investigation team will now progress to the next phase by submitting the Book of Evidence in relation to the remaining four people who were present that night.
‘As heard in open court, it was alleged that these individuals told gardaí they found Ryan lying on the road despite having been present during the events. It was also heard in court that one member of the group recorded the assault and circulated videos that night on a social media’s snapchat and that issues relating to information provided to gardaí formed part of the evidence before the court. ‘We hope every aspect of what happened on 26 October 2025 is fully examined through the criminal justice process. Ryan Weir Gibbons will always be deeply loved, forever missed and never forgotten.’
