Rapist spends first night as free man following release
Convicted rapist Larry Murphy is tonight spending his first night as a free man after his controversial release from prison.
The notorious criminal casually walked to a waiting taxi after serving 10 years of a 15-year sentence for a brutal sex attack on a woman in the Wicklow Mountains.
Murphy, 45, who kidnapped his terrified victim in Carlow before repeatedly raping her and leaving her for dead, was also a suspect in the disappearance of several young women in the 1990s.
Fears have been growing around Murphy’s hometown of Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, that the sex attacker will return to the area.
His brother Tom stressed he has not been in contact with Murphy and does not know where he intends to live.
He said he hopes no other woman suffers at the hands of his violent brother.
“All I can say is I will not be having him here. Under no circumstances will Larry be coming to me,” added Mr Murphy.
A garda management plan has been put in place to monitor Murphy’s movements and his whereabouts and he must formally register an address with them within seven days.
As a high-risk offender, he will also be visited by a member of the force at least once a month.
A handful of angry spectators were gathered outside Arbour Hill prison in Dublin as he emerged at about 10.15am wearing a black hooded top, baseball cap and sunglasses.
Some shouted “rapist”, “beast” and “f****** bastard” as the sex attacker got in to a cab without making comment.
“I can’t believe how cool and casual he was as he walked out,” said one woman.
“I didn’t think they’d let him out like that and just get in a car.
“I just hope they throw him in the Liffey.”
Murphy’s car was followed by three photographers on high-powered motorbikes and Garda officers in unmarked cars, with the Garda helicopter following their movements from overhead.
The convoy later stopped outside Coolock Garda Station where Murphy went inside to talk to gardaí.
He did not make any complaint against the following media.
The Government has been criticised for not being able to stop Murphy’s early release as he was entitled to 25% remission for good behaviour behind bars.
Labour Women called for new measures to improve the safety of all citizens when sex offenders are released into the community.
Katherine Dunne, chair, said: “The state has a duty to protect all the citizens, and when a person who has chosen to commit the grave crime of sex offending is released, it is the state who we look to to protect us.”
Murphy pleaded guilty to rape and attempted murder of a young woman in February 2000 after she survived a vicious sex attack.
He repeatedly raped her before putting a shopping bag over her head in the boot of his car in a secluded spot in the mountains.
His victim was saved when two late-night hunters stumbled across the scene and recognised Murphy, who fled and was arrested the following morning at his home.
Murphy was later investigated as part of Operation Trace, a garda inquiry into the disappearance of several women in Leinster including Annie McCarrick, 26, Jo Jo Dullard, 22, and teenager Deirdre Jacob.
Fine Gael’s Charlie Flanagan said the case exposed serious flaws in the Government’s management of Ireland’s criminal justice system and demanded the electronic tagging of serious offenders.
“While there is no law that allows a convicted sex offender to be electronically tagged, the simple point is there should be,” he added.
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said its national helpline was open on 1 800 77 88 88 for victims of rape or sexual abuse affected by the coverage of the case.
