Fugitive child sex offender faces extradition charges
John Richard Murrell, 39, was arrested in Kildare last Friday after seven years on the run.
He had served a prison sentence for indecently assaulting a child but failed to register with the authorities after his release in 2000.
Yesterday the gardaí confirmed Murrell had been arrested and was being held under the term of a European arrest warrant.
The British police are asking for him to be sent directly to a court in Worcester, England.
Murrell already appeared in the High Court immediately after his arrest and will return before the extradition court later today.
A statement from the gardaí said the man was arrested on Friday in Kildare and is being held in custody until his case is finalised.
British police said the breakthrough in the case came after he appeared on the website of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.
The government-funded centre’s chief executive Jim Gamble said Murrell’s capture will be a lesson to other sex offenders who do not fulfil obligations to inform police about their whereabouts and think they can disappear in other jurisdictions. “Murrell learned the hard way that failing to comply with notification requirements is not an option,” said Mr Gamble.
“This result is a credit to everyone who reported sightings and came forward with information. Offenders who believe they can evade punishment by travelling abroad underestimate our determination to bring them to justice.”
In 1999 Murrell was convicted on three counts of indecently assaulting a nine-year-old girl.
He served half his two-year prison sentence and was told he could only have contact with children under supervision.
He was supposed to register with police and notify them of all his movements.
However, he immediately disappeared and was believed to be travelling with his wife and three children.
Murrell’s re-arrest happened after co-operation between the gardaí and the West Mercia police in Worcester.
The head of West Mercia public protection unit, Detective superintendent Martin Lakeman, welcomed his capture. “It was a significant move for the force to ask the public for help in locating him and we are grateful to all those who came forward and provided information to assist the investigation team,” he said.
Two years ago Murrell was featured on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme and adverts were placed in British newspapers however there was no significant developments until now.
The sex offenders website has already led to the capture of nine people in Britain and lists more fugitives on www.ceop.gov.uk.
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