Child rapist’s identity made public
Shortly after his release from prison in 2007, David Murray moved to Caerau, near Maesteg in Wales.
The now 63-year-old was sent to jail for 10 years in 1997 for what the judge described as a “Kafkaesque nightmare” of abuse while he was working as a childcare worker.
He originally faced a total of 271 charges of buggery, indecent assault and gross indecency but pleaded guilty at his trial to a total of 34 sample charges included 25 charges relating to offences between 1971 and 1976 on 10 residents of St Joseph’s Orphanage in Kilkenny run by the Sisters of Charity.
He left St Joseph’s after a boy said Murray had raped him. Despite authorities being made aware of this claim he was still given a reference by his former employer and went on to find work with children in Scoil Ard Mhuire at Oberstown, Co Dublin, where he remained for several years.
The Ryan report refers to the abuse perpetrated by Murray and another man in St Joseph’s when it says: “...two care workers who were sexually abusing boys were dismissed. Both men went on to abuse again after leaving St Joseph’s and the failure of the Congregation to deal decisively with these men was a factor in this”.
In Wales, media reported that Murray moved to a house on Caerau Road, near schools and a toddlers’ playgroup.
He appeared at Bridgend Magistrates Court because he had to keep authorities aware of his movements. South Wales Police requested the hearing be held in private so it couldn’t be reported on after Murray claimed his life would be in danger if his identity was revealed. However, district judge Richard Williams rejected the request, allowing Murray’s name and address to be reported.
