Courts / Dublin / Report
Bomb threat call against Minister's home traced back to accused's prisoner number, trial hears
Summary
During a trial, Michael Murray, 52, pleaded not guilty to a single count of knowingly making a false report that caused apprehension for the safety of another. The false report was a bomb threat to the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, allegedly made from the Samaritans. The State argued that the call was traced to the prisoner number of Murray, who was imprisoned at Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, on 7 March 2021. Evidence included a report from Noel Reilly, an IT officer at the Irish Prison Service, who showed that an outgoing call from the prison matched the duration and time of the bomb threat and used Murray's unique prisoner number. Reilly explained that prisoners must enter a number to access the phone system and that calls to the Samaritans are logged but not recorded.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Bomb threat call against Minister's home traced back to accused's prisoner number, trial hears. Charges or matters: one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else while he was imprisoned in the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise on March 7, 2021. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- March 7, 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 22, 2021 Incident
- 2024-02-29 Publication
Why: He explained that before a call can be made from within an Irish prison, prisoners must enter a number given to them to access the phone system. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else while he was imprisoned in the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise on March 7, 2021 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Applicant
Places mentioned
Topics
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