Courts / Dublin / Report
Rapist and child abductor claims State recorded his solicitors' telephone conversations
Summary
Michael Murray, 43, of Killiney Oaks, Dublin, was convicted in 2013 of rape, sexual assault, child abduction and other offences committed in February 2010. He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy. The Director of Public Prosecutions has appealed his sentence on grounds of undue leniency. During case‑management procedures in the Court of Appeal on 9 March 2015, Murray confirmed that no lawyers were acting for him and claimed that the State had recorded his solicitors' telephone conversations during his trial. He said the prison service admitted to accessing and recording those calls, a fact he believes will affect his conviction appeal. Murray has no objection to the DPP's undue‑leniency application and will not instruct a legal team on it, stating he considers it an abuse of process. The Court of Appeal has directed that the DPP's application proceed and that Murray's conviction appeal be postponed until the judicial review is resolved. Michael Murray pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Rapist and child abductor claims State recorded his solicitors' telephone conversations. Charges or matters: two counts of sexual assault, two counts of rape with a make-up pen, attempted vaginal and anal rape, oral rape and aggravated sexual assault between February 12 and 13, 2010. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- February 12 Incident
- October 22, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-03-09 Publication
Why: Murray said he had no issue with the undue leniency application and would not be instructing any legal team to make submissions on it because, he said, he thought it was an abuse of process. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: two counts of sexual assault, two counts of rape with a make-up pen, attempted vaginal and anal rape, oral rape and aggravated sexual assault between February 12 and 13, 2010 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Murray was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on October 22, 2013.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- High Court
- High Court. The prison
Topics
Sexual Offences Stage Appeal Violent Crime
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
Help us improve this report
Your request is saved for the newsroom's next review. It does not immediately change the published report.
Prefer email? Send a correction request.