John Murphy's rape sentence appeal rejected

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

John Murphy's appeal against his 18-year sentence for rape and other sexual offences was rejected by the Court of Appeal on 27 June 2022. He had been sentenced to consecutive terms totalling 18 years by Mr Justice Michael White at the Central Criminal Court in July 2018.

John Murphy pleaded guilty to numerous counts of rape, indecent and sexual assault against Sophia Murphy between 1988 and 2001, and to one count of sexual assault carried out in 2010. The sources do not give the exact plea date.

Brendan Grehan SC argued that admissions and an early plea had received insufficient weight. Patrick Reynolds BL said the sentence reflected the seriousness and prolonged period of the offending. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, found no error in principle.