Judge adjourns release bid by notorious child rapist ‘in the interests of justice’

THE High Court has postponed hearing an application made by a notorious sex offender seeking his release from prison as a result of last week’s controversial Supreme Court ruling, which struck down the offence of statutory rape.

Mr Justice John Quirke yesterday ruled that he would adjourn a hearing in the case by a Wexford publican and shopkeeper that his continuing detention in prison is unlawful because of the Supreme Court ruling.

Simon Murphy, aged 53, from The Hollow, Ramsgrange, New Ross, was sentenced to eight years in prison in June 2002 for sexually abusing his sister and three other young girls.