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Murderers can attack prison officers with impunity as 'it won't affect their sentence', victim tells court
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 16 June 2022, convicted murderer Laurence Murphy, aged 44, was sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting prison officer Kieran Maher at Wheatfield Prison on 10 July 2019. Murphy had pleaded guilty to the offence. The court noted that Murphy had previously been convicted of murdering Thomas Brady, aged 22, in 2001, when he stabbed Brady with a butter knife in a shared cell. During the 2019 assault, Murphy head‑butted and repeatedly punched Officer Maher, causing injuries to the officer's nose, face, gums, teeth and back. Officer Maher reported flashbacks, ten months of work absence and breathing difficulties. The prosecution argued that prisoners serving life sentences can attack staff with impunity, as such attacks do not affect their sentences. Judge Melanie Greally reduced Murphy's original four‑year sentence to three years, taking his guilty plea into account. Murphy was present via video‑link from prison.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Murderers can attack prison officers with impunity as 'it won't affect their sentence', victim tells court. Charges or matters: the offence. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- July 10, 2019 Incident
- April 23, 2001 Incident
- 2022-06-16 Publication
Why: A prison officer who was "ferociously" assaulted while carrying out his duties has told a court that convicted murderers can attack prison staff with impunity because it won't affect their sentences. CNI source report
Case subjects
Background Person
Charges: the offence (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: First-time prisoner Brady, of Rowlagh Crescent, Neilstown, Dublin, had been jailed for stealing from his family. In Ireland, any subsequent sentence imposed on a prisoner cannot be made consecutive to a life sentence and must be served concurrently.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Central Criminal Court
- Wheatfield prison
- Mountjoy
- Mountjoy Prison
- Swilly Road
- Rowlagh Crescent
- Dublin
Topics
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