Rapist Murphy reveals address

RAPIST Larry Murphy has provided gardaí with an address at which he is residing following his release from Arbour Hill Prison, it has emerged.

It was confirmed last night that the 45-year-old from Wicklow formally registered his address with the Sex Offender Management and Intelligence Unit within the last seven days, as required by law.

A Garda source said: “The address has been supplied to the gardaí.”

Following a week in which the convicted sex offender was spotted travelling around the country, Murphy has agreed to be taken under the wing of the probation service.

Gardaí have also kept in contact with the convicted rapist through a mobile phone that Murphy is using.

The Garda source suggested that much of the hysteria and confusion that followed Murphy’s release came about because no support structure was in place as Murphy refused help that was offered.

“Then when he realised what a serious situation he was in, he suddenly turned and said ‘I want help now.’”

It has been suggested that after a period of therapy and supervision by the probation service, the sex offender may be housed in Ireland, or that he may take the option of leaving the country.

Gardaí are believed to have wound down their monitoring of Murphy’s movements since he was released last week after serving 10-and-a-half years for the brutal rape of a woman in the Wicklow mountains in 2001. A number of specialist gardaí are still keeping an eye on his movements, it was confirmed last night.

Earlier this week, probation officers warned that the number of frontline staff available to them was down by 20% because of the Government recruitment ban.