Man, 19, jailed for manslaughter after dispute over noise

A 19-year-old former youth rugby player has received a five-year prison sentence for the manslaughter of Ryan Weir Gibbons, 29. The fatal incident stemmed from a dispute over noise levels on a bus, which tragically escalated into a physical confrontation.

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Every birthday, Christmas, family gathering and milestone will forever be overshadowed by his absence.

Ryan Murphy, the convicted youth, punched Mr. Weir Gibbons after an earlier verbal altercation on the bus. Mr. Weir Gibbons exited the bus at an earlier stop, but a comment he made seemed to further agitate Murphy. The two encountered each other again later, leading to a physical fight where Murphy's blow caused Mr. Weir Gibbons to fall and hit his head on the ground. He later died in hospital from his injuries.

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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.

The family of Ryan Weir Gibbons described their profound grief, stating that words cannot fully capture the pain of his absence. They remembered him for his infectious smile, vibrant personality, and his desire to make people laugh. His family emphasized that he lived his life helping others, not hurting them.

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Ryan did not spend his life hurting people. He spent his life helping them.

During the sentencing, Judge Elma Duffy acknowledged the distress the family experienced viewing footage of the assault, filmed on a mobile phone. The judge noted that the footage clearly showed the events and Murphy's agitated state. She observed Mr. Weir Gibbons attempting to calm Murphy before a punch was thrown, which missed, followed by Murphy's decisive blow.

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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.