23-Year-Old Sentenced To Life For Murder Of "Kind" Newbridge Resident Peter Kennedy

Monday, 19 May 2025 11:48

By Martin Osborne

Brian Ibe, formerly of Moore Park in Newbridge, was found guilty of murdering Peter Kennedy, who had taken Ibe’s mother into his home after learning she was sleeping in her car.

A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a 65-year-old man in Newbridge who had offered help to his mother.

Brian Ibe, of no fixed abode but formerly of Moore Park in Newbridge, was found guilty of murdering Peter Kennedy, who had taken Ibe’s mother into his home after learning she was sleeping in her car.

In 2019, Mr Kennedy also allowed Ibe to stay, but later asked him to leave after he became aggressive.

Ibe then moved to a homeless shelter in Dublin.

On April 28th, 2020, Ibe returned to Mr Kennedy’s home, broke in through a window, and assaulted him.

Peter Kennedy died from his injuries in hospital two weeks later.

Ibe pleaded not guilty to murder and to assaulting a garda, claiming he was suffering from a mental illness.

His defence argued he was experiencing a schizophrenic psychosis.

However, a prosecution psychiatrist said he had a dissocial personality disorder and did not meet the criteria for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.

The jury found Ibe guilty on both counts.

He was sentenced to 12 months for the assault on Garda Brendan O'Donnell at Newbridge Garda Station and received the mandatory life sentence for murder.

Tributes were paid to Peter Kennedy, described as a kind and generous man deeply involved in his local community.

The judge noted Ibe's troubled background and lack of remorse for his actions.