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Combined sentences of 35 years imposed on notorious rapist were justified, Court of Appeal rules

Summary

The Court of Appeal has ruled that the combined sentences of 35 years imposed on a notorious rapist were justified, as the offences are at 'the highest level of gravity.' Michael Murray, who was found guilty in 2021 of making death threats against his lawyers and harassing his victim, had appealed the severity of his 16-year sentence. The court dismissed the appeal, stating that there were no mitigating factors and that the sentences were justified given Murray's re-victimisation of his rape victim, the attack on the lawyers involved, and his 'appalling criminal record.' Murray, who has 34 previous convictions, including those for common assault, carrying firearms, robbery, and aggravated burglary, was sentenced to nine years for the threat to one lawyer and seven years for the threat to another. The judge ordered that these sentences be served consecutively to each other, for an effective operative sentence of 16 years. The court emphasized that the sentences were necessary to ensure that the punishment was 'condign but proportionate' and that the totality principle was correctly applied. Michael Murray pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Combined sentences of 35 years imposed on notorious rapist were justified, Court of Appeal rules. Charges or matters: all of these offences; raping "in the context of re-victimising [her] after such serious and violent offending." Judge O'Connor ordered that the nine-year sentence for the threat to Mr McGinn and seven-year term for harassing his victim be served consecutively to each other, for an effective operative sentence of 16 years' imprisonment. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

• November 2014 Other
• January 2015 Other
• February 2015 Other
• February 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
• July 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2025-12-15 Publication

Why: Noting that the reason for the existence of the totality principle is to ensure that sentences are proportionate, Mr Justice McCarthy ruled that there had been no failure by the sentencing judge to apply this principle correctly. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Burglary Stage Appeal Theft Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report