Larry Murphy (criminal)

Larry Murphy
Born (1965-02-07) February 7, 1965 (age 59)
Baltinglass, County Wicklow, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Conviction(s)Rape, attempted murder
Criminal penalty15 years, served 10
Details
Victims1 confirmed, 8+ suspected

Larry Murphy is an Irish convicted felon. After his conviction for kidnapping, repeatedly raping, and attempted murder of a young Carlow woman on 11 February 2000, in the Wicklow Mountains, he was jailed in January 2001.[1] His release from prison less than 10 years later drew widespread criticism.

During the ordeal, Murphy kidnapped the woman and locked her in the boot of his Fiat Punto car. He then drove to Kilkea in County Kildare, where he repeatedly raped and beat her. She was then locked in the boot again while he drove to Spinans Cross in the Wicklow Mountains where he again raped her several times vaginally, anally and orally.[2] The woman began to fight back and Murphy produced a plastic bag, which he placed over her head in an attempt to suffocate her. He stopped his assault when two hunters came across the scene and recognised Murphy.[3] Murphy fled the area and returned to his home.[4]

The hunters then escorted the terrified woman to the police station in Baltinglass, where they identified Murphy as her attacker. Murphy was arrested the next morning when members of the Garda Síochána (the Irish police force) came to his home. He knew why they were there and admitted what he had done the previous day. Murphy was later tried and convicted of rape and attempted murder. He was released on 12 August 2010 after serving only ten years. His release caused a public outcry, particularly as he had refused treatment while in prison and never demonstrated any remorse. Murphy's suspected involvement in some of Ireland's most famous missing persons cases also contributed to the controversy.[5][6][7] His cousin is David Lawler, a convicted rapist and murderer who was the first person convicted using DNA testing in Ireland.[8]

During questioning about the woman's injuries, it was reported that Murphy commented "Well, she's alive isn't she?" and "She was lucky",[9] and showed no sign of remorse or guilt.[10] Even though a life sentence was available to the court and would mean Murphy could be held in custody indefinitely, Judge Carney sentenced Murphy to only fifteen years (taking into account Murphy's guilty plea which spared his victim having to testify in court and highlighting the fact that sentences by him had been overturned by the Criminal Court of Appeal) and he served less than ten. Murphy was sentenced before the Sex Offenders Act was introduced in 2001 so he is not subject to a post-release supervision order.

  1. ^ Convicted rapist Larry Murphy released from jail. The Irish Times (8 August 2010). Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  2. ^ Cormac Byrne (22 January 2010). "Soon back on our streets, the monster who said of his rape victim 'she was lucky'". Herald.ie. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  3. ^ "Notorious rapist Larry Murphy released from prison". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Larry Murphy released from prison". Raidió Teilifís Éireann (13 August 2010). Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  5. ^ "A litany of mysteries remain as the dark nights draw in". Independent.ie (15 August 2010). Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  6. ^ Marisa Mackle (13 August 2010). "Marisa Mackle: My fears after the release of Larry Murphy and my memories of my vanished friend Annie McCarrick". Herald.ie. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  7. ^ Barry O'Kelly (15 July 2001). "`4 killers' found in murder probe". tcm.ie
  8. ^ Michael, Neil (27 February 2020). "Women enduring hundreds of sexual abuse incidents before reporting it". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  9. ^ Cormac Byrne (22 January 2010). "Soon back on our streets, the monster who said of his rape victim 'she was lucky'". Herald.ie. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  10. ^ Jim Cusack (28 September 2008). "State to free rapist who is 'huge threat' to women". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 22 November 2012.