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Rapist and child abductor Murray found guilty of bomb threat against Helen McEntee's home

Summary

At the appeal stage, Michael Murray, a convicted rapist and child abductor, was found guilty by a jury of making a bomb threat against the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. Murray, who is serving a 19-year sentence in the Midlands Prison, had pleaded not guilty to 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. The jury returned the verdict after deliberating for five hours and 10 minutes. Murray made no reaction as the verdict was handed down in court. Judge Patricia Ryan thanked the jurors for their service and adjourned the matter for sentencing next Friday. She remanded Murray in continuing custody. During the trial, it was established that the call to the Samaritans was traced back to Murray's cell, and his unique identification number was used. Murray had previously been jailed in 2013 for 15 years for falsely imprisoning, raping, and sexually assaulting a woman, with his sentence later increased to 19 years by the Court of Appeal. He has 34 previous convictions, including for common assault, carrying firearms, robbery, and aggravated burglary. Murray was excluded from his July 2021 sentence hearing and moved to another courtroom after he threw a bible, narrowly missing Judge Karen O'Connor. She described his actions as 'a fundamental attack on our system of justice.' The matter was adjourned for sentencing next Friday.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Rapist and child abductor Murray found guilty of bomb threat against Helen McEntee's home. 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; all of these offences. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• March 7, 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
• February 2010 Incident
• November 2014 Incident
• January 2015 Incident
• February 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
• July 2021 Incident
• March 26, 2021 Incident
• August 9, 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2024-03-08 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

Places mentioned

Topics

Burglary Stage Appeal Theft Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report