Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 2470Murder, rape · Co. Kildare

Convicted murderer John Crerar dies in hospital

John Crerar, 75, a former army sergeant serving a life sentence for the abduction, rape and murder of Phyllis Murphy in December 1979, died in hospital on 25 January 2025 after being transferred from Arbour Hill Prison due to ill health.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatJohn Crerar died in hospital on 25 January 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe was a former army sergeant aged 75 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe died while still serving a life sentence (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe was convicted of abducting, raping and murdering Phyllis Murphy in December 1979 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatPhyllis Murphy had been beaten, raped and strangled (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatPhyllis Murphy's inquest showed she had suffered more than 30 injuries (irishmirror.ie)
  • wherePhyllis Murphy's body was found in a remote area near the Wicklow Gap in January 1980 (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeHe succumbed to a serious lung disease (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationHis alibi was withdrawn 18 years after the murder (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA massive search involved 3,000 volunteers, Civil Defence, army and gardai (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationIn 1997 Paddy Bolger told gardai Crerar had been late for work and had washed out the boot of his car on site (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHe had never shown any remorse for his crime (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHe was a father of five (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHe said he was waiting for God to take him (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Jan2025
    Otheririshmirror.ie, follow-up
    Evil murderer and rapist dies after long health battle in hospital

    Reports the death of convicted murderer John Crerar in hospital on 25 January 2025, with background on the 1979 murder of Phyllis Murphy, the 20-year investigation involving DNA testing, and his final months in custody.

    victim, Phyllis Murphy, female, Irish, irishPhyllis Murphyconvicted, John Crerar, 75, male, Irish, named, irishJohn Crerar