Freed rapist forced to deal with probation service
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern sped up the process of bringing the country’s most notorious sex offender in from the cold after he directed senior probation officers to re-offer the services which he had snubbed while in prison.
The 45-year-old Co Wicklow man had refused to take part in the voluntary sex offenders programme which uses therapy and counselling in jail to help sex offenders bring their behaviour under control.
As he was sentenced before the introduction of post-release supervision orders, he also could not be forced to engage with any support or rehabilitative services which have the dual effect of helping an offender keep their behaviour in check and keep track of their movements once they are out of prison.
But Murphy has been under siege by media attention and public anger since his release from Arbour Hill last Thursday after serving 10 and a half years of a 15-year sentence for abduction, rape and attempted murder and he has had to seek Garda protection at night after failing to find accommodation.
With the strain beginning to wear him down, and gardaí under pressure to prevent the daily tracking of his movements turning into a circus, Mr Ahern urged an all-out effort to get Murphy into negotiations. He is now engaging with the probation services in a limited manner, accepting help to try and find a secure place to stay in return for keeping in touch with them and considering using the other support services available.
Murphy is under intense pressure to find accommodation as, by law, he must formally inform gardaí of his address by this Thursday, or put up with officers following him around indefinitely.
His contact with the probation service is still voluntary, however, and with his record of volatility, there is no guarantee that he will form any continuing relationship with staff.
Meanwhile, women working in prostitution are being warned to be on their guard when the spotlight over Murphy dims and he ceases to attract daily tracking. It is thought the rapist will seek out women for paid sex once the commotion around him settles.
However, Gerardine Rowley of the support group, Ruhama, which works with women affected by prostitution, said such concerns were always on the minds of the women in the sex industry. “Women in prostitution are at risk every single day – not just when a known sex offender is out of prison. There are a lot of dangerous men out there and there is a huge level of violence, but it goes unreported most of the time.”
She added that if a particular risk arose, the word would be quick to spread. “The women are also very good about keeping each other informed.”
