Death of Brian Murphy

Death of Brian Murphy

The Burlington Hotel, outside which Murphy was killed, pictured in 2008.
Date	31 August 2000 (2000-08-31)
Location	Sussex Road, Dublin 2, Ireland
Coordinates	53°19′48″N 6°14′58″W / 53.329936°N 6.249325°W / 53.329936; -6.249325Coordinates: 53°19′48″N 6°14′58″W / 53.329936°N 6.249325°W / 53.329936; -6.249325
Also known as	Club Anabel case
Inquest	Unlawful killing
Coroner	Brian Farrell
Accused	Dermot Laide Sean Mackey Desmond Ryan Andrew Frame
Charges	Manslaughter, violent disorder
Convictions	Laide: manslaughter (overturned on appeal), violent disorder Mackey: violent disorder Ryan: violent disorder (overturned on appeal)

In the early hours of 31 August 2000, Brian Murphy, an 18-year-old student, was attacked by a large group of young men outside the Club Anabel nightclub at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin, Ireland. He died shortly after the attack. The subsequent investigations drew great media interest, with the incident commonly referred to as the Club Anabel case.

Four men were charged with manslaughter and violent disorder regarding the death, which went to criminal trial in 2004: one was found not guilty on all charges; two were found guilty of violent disorder (although one of the two convictions was subsequently overturned on appeal); and one was found guilty of manslaughter and violent disorder, with the manslaughter conviction subsequently being overturned on appeal in 2005. No other individuals were ever charged. A coroner's court inquest returned a verdict of unlawful killing in 2007.

Brian Murphy was born in Dublin, Ireland, to Denis and Mary Murphy and lived in Clonskeagh. In the summer of 2000 he had finished a Post Leaving Certificate course and had a part-time job at the Brown Thomas department store; he had previously attended St Conleth's College, Gonzaga College and Bruce College (a grinds school).

On 30 August 2000, Murphy visited The Sports Bar at University College, Dublin (UCD), with a friend, Matthew Moran, before they both travelled by bus to Leeson Street to spend the evening at Club Anabel in the nearby Burlington Hotel, where a friend who worked as a barman had promised them swift entry. A "students' night" was in progress with special drinks promotions. During the evening, Murphy mentioned to a female friend that he expected to be beaten up that night by "some boys" he had seen earlier, due to a row over an ex-girlfriend. As the club was closing, Murphy left the premises in the early hours of the next morning with a group of friends by the side entrance onto Sussex Road. The group smoked outside for some time and engaged in acts of horseplay, including stealing the shoes of a girl who was seated at the kerbside, and grabbing a carton of milk from a passing milk float.