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Rapist serving global 35-year sentence further jailed for Helen McEntee bomb threat

Date
2024-03-19
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

At the appeal stage of the case, Michael Murray, a convicted rapist and child abductor serving a combined 35-year sentence in the Midlands Prison, was found guilty of 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. Murray had pleaded not guilty to the charge, but was convicted by a jury in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following an eight-day trial. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a two-year prison sentence to run consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving. The court heard that an anonymous caller phoned the Samaritans claiming to be from the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) and said explosives had been planted at the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. The call was traced back to Murray's cell in the Midlands Prison. Murray admitted making a call to the Samaritans but denied making the threat. He also stated that he had a 'gripe' with Fine Gael and the Minister for Justice. The matter was adjourned for further proceedings.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Rapist serving global 35-year sentence further jailed for Helen McEntee bomb threat. 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. Findings: Convicted

When:

Case subjects

Helen McEntee

Convicted Person

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; all of these offences (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted

Michael Murray

Convicted Person

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; all of these offences (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Photo: Collins) Convicted rapist and child abductor Michael Murray, who is serving combined sentences of 35 years in the Midlands Prison, has been jailed for an additional two years for phoning in a bomb threat against the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. In sentencing Murray today at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a two-year prison sentence to run consecutively to one he is currently serving.

Places mentioned

Facility
  • Midlands Prison
  • Minister's house
Residence
Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Topics

Stage Appeal

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