Courts / Dublin / Report

"Unjust" to increase killer's sentence after he threatened doc for reducing methadone

Date
2019-07-02

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Portmarnock

County
Dublin

Summary

Derek Murphy, 49, of Coolock, pleaded guilty to threatening a doctor with a gun gesture after she reduced his methadone dosage. The threat was made on 30 October 2013 while he was at a drug treatment centre. Murphy had been on bail for a 12‑year robbery and firearms conviction from 2015 and had 42 prior convictions, including manslaughter, robbery and a tiger kidnapping. In 2018 he was convicted of robbery again and received a nine‑year sentence, with a release date of 13 June 2025. The court found it "unjust" to extend his custody and sentenced him to one year imprisonment to run concurrently with his existing nine‑year term. No additional time was imposed. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Unjust" to increase killer's sentence after he threatened doc for reducing methadone. Charges or matters: making a threat to kill or cause serious harm at Pearse Street, Dublin on October 30, 2013; robbery in 2018 and received a further sentence of nine years imprisonment. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

October 30, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
November 16, 2012 Incident
June 13, 2025 Other
2019-07-02 Publication

Why: A convicted killer who threatened a doctor because she decided to reduce his methadone intake will not serve any extra time in jail after he received a one-year concurrent sentence. CNI source report

Case subjects

Derek Murphy

Defendant

Charges: making a threat to kill or cause serious harm at Pearse Street, Dublin on October 30, 2013; robbery in 2018 and received a further sentence of nine years imprisonment (Proven)

Plea: Guilty

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; He sentenced Murphy to one year imprisonment to run concurrently with his current nine year sentence.