A Garda has been sentenced to one year in prison for assaulting a teenager during an arrest in Dublin city centre. The incident occurred on 1 June 2021, when officers were dispersing crowds drinking outdoors amid the tail end of Covid-19 restrictions.
Footage on social media saw comments like Lorcan Murphy was a thug and a bully.
Lorcan Murphy, then a 32-yr-old member of An Garda Síochána stationed at Pearse Street, arrested a 17-yr-old youth on Essex Street. During the takedown, he used a spear tackle and leg sweep that brought the teenager to the ground, causing him to strike his head. This resulted in a fractured skull and brain bleed requiring three days in hospital. The teenager, who was intoxicated and made a full recovery though with no memory of the event, posed no threat at the time.
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According to RTE, at Pearse Street Garda Station, Murphy pulled the handcuffed teenager’s hair and applied pressure to his chest while he lay face down. Concerns raised by a colleague prompted a referral to the Garda Ombudsman, now known as Fiosrú, leading to Murphy’s suspension.
Following a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a jury unanimously convicted him of two counts of assault causing harm. At the sentencing on 3 February 2026, Judge Pauline Codd described the force as unnecessary, disproportionate, and reckless, emphasizing that Gardaí are held to higher standards in respecting dignity and using only necessary force. She noted the actions undermined public trust, though she acknowledged Murphy’s remorse and career destruction.
RTÉ reported that the judge imposed a three-year sentence but suspended the final year, resulting in a two year of imprisonment. The case highlights the importance of restraint even under operational pressures.
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