A 19-yr-old former Leinster Rugby youth player has been sentenced to five years in prison for the manslaughter of Ryan Weir Gibbons after an earlier altercation over noise levels on a bus.
Ryan Murphy, of Curragh Plains, Kildare, had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of the 29-year-old on 26 October 2025, reports RTE.
Mr Weir Gibbons died in hospital a few days after hitting his head on the ground after being punched by Murphy on the Dublin Road in Kildare after a night out.
The family of Mr Weir Gibbons said they are heartbroken, saying words will never fully describe the pain of losing him, reports RTE.
In a statement, the family said: “Every birthday, Christmas, family gathering and milestone will forever be overshadowed by his absence.”
“He had the most infectious smile, was bubbly, full of life and had a way of lighting up every room he walked into… loved making people laugh,” reports RTE.
The family added: “Ryan Weir Gibbons will always be deeply loved, forever missed and never forgotten.”
The father of Mr Weir Gibbons said the five-year sentence was “unduly lenient” and said it amplifies the family’s grief, reports RTE.
“This is our life sentence,” Edward Gibbons told reporters after the sentence.
Becoming emotional, he said “this is going to crush us,” reports RTE.
Nicole Weir Gibbons said friends and supporters were wearing T-shirts bearing her brother’s photograph to remind people he was a real person who was loved by so many.
Alice Lynch, Mr Weir Gibbons’ grandaunt, said “his smile will lift me forever and forever breaks all our hearts, where is the justice in this country,” reports RTE.
She said “if he was killed in a road accident you’d accept it, where is the justice in this world.”
Murphy had been travelling home on a bus with friends after a night out and Mr Weir Gibbons asked them to be quieter, reports RTE.
The court heard there was a verbal altercation between both men and Murphy grabbed Mr Weir Gibbons’ hoodie, causing the bus driver and other passengers to intervene.
Mr Weir Gibbons got off at an earlier stop than Murphy but made a comment which, the judge said, seemed to aggravate him, reports RTE.
Murphy got off the bus a short time later and the judge said she felt Murphy was “up for a fight.”
They encountered each other again at 3.07am and Detective Sergeant Dunne said there was a physical altercation in which a blow knocked Mr Weir Gibbons to the ground, reports RTE.
Mr Weir Gibbons’ family said he will be remembered for how he lived, not for the violence that took his life.
“Ryan did not spend his life hurting people. He spent his life helping them,” reports RTE.
The family said they have 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 the recordings of Ryan’s assault and his final moments, captured on the mobile phone of a member of the group who was present,” reports RTE.
Sentencing Murphy, Judge Elma Duffy said she was aware the family of Ryan Weir Gibbons found it very distressing to see footage of the assault filmed on a mobile phone by a member of the group.
But she said it showed clearly what happened that night and said she did not believe the person who filmed it did so without realising what was about to happen, reports RTE.
She said Murphy was very agitated and Mr Weir Gibbons could be seen trying to calm him down.
Judge Duffy said after failing to calm him, Ryan Weir Gibbons swung a punch which did not connect, reports RTE.
Murphy then punched the 29-year-old, causing him to fall to the ground and strike his head, an injury which caused his death.
Judge Duffy said she was taking into account his early guilty plea, his genuine remorse, a letter of apology to the Weir Gibbons family and Murphy’s young age, reports RTE.
She also said it was not a simple case of a drunken row where a punch was thrown — in this instance Murphy had gone back looking for Mr Weir Gibbons.
She sentenced him to five years in prison, reports RTE.
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