Sex offenders' prison challenges adjourned

The High Court today adjourned two separate challenges by sex offenders who claim their imprisonments were unlawful after the Supreme Court struck out the law they were tried under.

Wexford publican Simon Murphy, who had served four years in jail for abusing young girls including his sister, applied to be set free.

A second man, aged 19, who cannot be named and is four months into an 11-month prison term for the statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl, also applied for release.

They insist they should be set free after a 41-year-old man, known as Mr A, was released on the grounds that his detention was unlawful.