Teen Caught Red-Handed in Fatal Kildare Town Assault Connection
A teenager has been denied bail in connection with the fatal assault of Ryan Weir Gibbons in Kildare Town. Ryan Murphy, aged 18, was arrested on suspicion of murder and appeared in a special sitting of Naas District Court. The serious nature of the charges played a significant role in the decision to refuse bail.
Incident Overview
The alleged crime took place in the early hours of November 26, 2025. CCTV footage reportedly captured the moments leading up to the incident. Both Ryan Murphy and Ryan Weir Gibbons were on a bus traveling from Newbridge to Kildare Town after a night out.
According to evidence presented in court, Mr. Murphy and his friends were being loud, prompting Mr. Weir to ask them to quiet down. This led to minor grappling between the two groups. After the bus ride, they exited at different stops. Notably, Mr. Weir appeared to be alone when he was attacked.
Details of the Assault
CCTV images show Mr. Murphy and Mr. Weir together around 3:07 AM. Evidence suggests that Mr. Murphy launched an unprovoked attack, throwing punches that resulted in severe injuries to Mr. Weir. Tragically, Mr. Weir succumbed to his injuries on October 30, 2025.
Detective Sergeant Patrick Dunne testified that while Mr. Murphy claimed to have acted in self-defense, the gardaí rejected this assertion. They argued that Mr. Weir did not engage in any physical confrontation and that Mr. Murphy was solely responsible for the assault.
Legal Proceedings
Following the attack, Mr. Murphy voluntarily went to Kildare Town Garda Station, admitting to being responsible for the incident on three separate occasions. Additionally, three friends of Mr. Murphy provided statements that supported his version of events.
On November 3, Mr. Murphy was arrested on suspicion of murder. If convicted, he could face a life sentence.
Bail Hearing and Decision
During the bail hearing, Mr. Murphy’s solicitor, David Powderly, argued for his client’s release. He noted that Mr. Murphy has no prior convictions and had not interfered with witnesses. Mr. Powderly emphasized that Mr. Murphy comes from a stable background and had been a model citizen prior to this incident.
The defence proposed strict bail conditions, including daily check-ins at the local garda station and curfews. Mr. Murphy’s father pledged €10,000 as surety to ensure compliance. However, Judge Zaidan ultimately denied the bail application, reasoning that the seriousness of the charges warranted detention.
Next Steps
Mr. Murphy is scheduled to reappear before Naas District Court on November 26 via video link for further directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The court was sympathetic to the family of Ryan Weir, who were present throughout the proceedings.
