Michael Murray trial hears barrister’s evidence of threats and harassment

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

Michael Murray (50), formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney, Co Dublin, was on trial at the Circuit Criminal Court in Dublin before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury. The proceedings were reported on 18 June 2021.

He has pleaded not guilty to making death threats against Dominic McGinn SC and Tony McGillicuddy BL, who prosecuted him for rape in 2013. He also denies harassment charges concerning Mr McGinn, his own former defence solicitor and the woman he was convicted of raping, including falsely advertising all three online as prostitutes.

On 18 June 2021, the judge told jurors that Murray had chosen to represent himself and was no longer accompanied by his legal representatives.

Giving evidence that day, Mr McGinn said a blocked-number call woke him in the early hours of 16 November 2014. A male voice said “bang bang” and he hung up. His wife answered another anonymous call minutes later, but the caller said nothing. The report also described an anonymous call to the Garda control room that night saying he would be “shot dead”.

Mr McGinn said calls and messages continued into January 2015. On 24 January, a caller mentioned an online advert. Searching his name and telephone number, he found prostitution adverts on BackPage.com. He said he was still being contacted when he made a statement midway through the following month, and described the threats and harassment as “devastating”.

On 17 June 2021, jurors watched a recording of a garda interview in which Murray said he was planning to have Mr McGinn shot that night. In cross-examination, Murray asked whether the phone seized from him in the Midlands Prison was connected to the calls. Mr McGinn said he had no idea, explaining that his role as a witness was to relate what had happened.

The report said the trial was to continue on Monday.