Convicted rapist found guilty of making hoax bomb threat to Helen McEntee appeals conviction

Michael Murray, 52 years, formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney in Co Dublin, pictured at court previously.

The convicted rapist who was sentenced to two additional years in prison for making a hoax bomb threat to Minister Helen McEntee’s home has lodged an appeal against the conviction.

Michael Murray, 54, formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney, Dublin, was found guilty of one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else while he was imprisoned in the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise on March 7, 2021, following a trial last month.

On March 19, he was given a two-year sentence for the conviction. In 2013, he was sentenced to 19 years in prison for abduction of a woman and her young child, and the rape of the woman.

He was also given a further 16 years in prison for harassment and death threats directed at his victim and the prosecuting lawyers in that trial.

During his sentencing hearing on March 19, the presiding judge noted that his earliest possible release date will be in May 2036.

Murray lodged his application to appeal the conviction a day after the sentencing hearing.

He was found guilty of making the threat after an eight-day trial. The jury deliberated for over five hours before reaching a verdict.

Prior to his sentencing, Dublin Circuit Court was told that a call was received by the Samaritans from an anonymous male caller who claimed to be from the Irish National Liberation Army. He told the Samaritans that explosives had been placed at the home of the Minister for Justice. He continued: “The password is Red October. This is to do with a court case happening in Dublin tomorrow.” No explosives were found at the home following a search by gardaí. A search was also carried out at the Department of Justice for any suspect device. Again, nothing was found.

The court heard that Minister McEntee was pregnant at the time of the threat.

Evidence was heard that the call to the Samaritans was traced to the extension within Murray's cell, that his unique identification number was used and he was alone inside his cell overnight.

Murray admitted making a call to the Samaritans, but denied making the threat regarding Minister McEntee’s home.

He accepted in an interview with gardaí that he had previously been aligned with the INLA and that he had a “gripe” with Fine Gael and the Minister for Justice, the court heard.

However, in a hearing prior to his sentencing, Murray rejected the verdict of the jury and branded the Direct of Public Prosecutions as “absolutely disgraceful”.

Murray has previous convictions for rape, false imprisonment, sexual assault, child abduction, threats to kill, harassment, theft and armed robbery.