Courts / Dublin / Report

Rapist & child abductor Murray fails in challenge to prison sanctions for throwing bible at judge

Date
2022-12-02

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Michael Murray, a convicted rapist and child abductor, lost a High Court challenge to a disciplinary sanction imposed by the Governor of the Midlands Prison after he threw a bible at Judge Karen O'Connor during a sentencing hearing in July 2021. The sanction, which removes ordinary privileges for 40 days, was applied following a complaint by prison officers who had attended the court. Murray had been sentenced to 16 years for threatening barristers and harassing others involved in his trial, and had previously been convicted of rape and child abduction. In his appeal, Murray argued that the Governor had no authority to impose the sanction while he was in court custody, but Mr Justice Charles Meenan ruled that the Governor was lawfully entitled to discipline him under the 2007 Prison Rules Act. The case will return for final orders later this month.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Rapist & child abductor Murray fails in challenge to prison sanctions for throwing bible at judge. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

July 2021 Incident
August 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
2022-12-02 Publication

Case subjects

Michael Murray

Defendant

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; At that hearing Murray, was given a 16-year prison sentence for making threats to the barristers who had prosecuted him and for harassing others involved in his trial, including his victim. Murray (51) formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney in Co Dublin, was being sentenced in July 2021 after he was earlier found guilty by a jury at the Circuit Criminal Court of threatening to kill barristers Dominic McGinn SC and Tony McGillicuddy SC.

Midlands Prison

Applicant