Luke Murphy to be sentenced for threatening to butcher ex-partner in prison phone calls
Luke Murphy, 38, pleaded guilty to harassment after calling his ex-partner from prison on September 30, October 1 and 2, 2019, threatening to butcher her, burn down her house and smash her head in. He was serving a five-year sentence, two years of it suspended, for previously threatening to kill the same woman, the mother of his two boys. Prison officers raised concerns about the calls in May 2020, and Murphy was originally charged with threats to kill before pleading to harassment, a reduction deemed acceptable by the DPP. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May 2025, Judge Elva Duffy described the calls as an appalling way to speak to any woman and adjourned sentencing until July for a probation report.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted2 May
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Murphy pleaded guilty to harassment for phone calls made on September 30, October 1 and 2, 2019, in which he threatened to butcher, burn and smash his ex-partner.
- Where
- The calls were made from prison and the case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
- When
- The calls were made in September and October 2019 and prison officers raised concerns about them on May 19, 2020.
- Cause
- Murphy was serving a five-year sentence, two years of it suspended, for previously threatening to kill the same woman.
- Investigation
- Detective Garda Harry Stephens played a phone call made on September 30, 2019 to the court.
- Charges
- Murphy was originally charged with threats to kill but pleaded to harassment, a reduction deemed acceptable by the DPP.
- In court
- Judge Elva Duffy adjourned sentencing until July 2025 for a probation report.
- Judge Duffy described the calls as an appalling way to speak to any woman.
- Other details
- The complainant did not make a statement and the prosecution was based on circumstantial evidence.
- Murphy and his former partner had two boys together.
- He has five previous convictions and was released after serving three years without breaching the suspended part of his sentence.
12 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMurphy pleaded guilty to harassment on September 30, October 1 and 2, 2019 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was previously sentenced to five years with two years suspended for threats to kill the same woman (irishmirror.ie)
- whenPrison officers raised concerns about the calls on May 19, 2020 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDetective Garda Harry Stephens played a phone call made on September 30, 2019 to the court (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe was originally charged with threats to kill but pleaded to harassment, deemed acceptable by the DPP (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Elva Duffy adjourned sentencing until July for a probation report (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Duffy described the calls as an appalling way to speak to any woman (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe complainant did not make a statement and the prosecution was based on circumstantial evidence (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMurphy and his former partner had two boys together (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe was released from prison having served three years and has not breached the suspended part of the sentence (irishmirror.ie)
- otherFive years have passed since he was released from prison (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe has five previous convictions (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 2 May2025Man to be sentenced for calling ex from prison and threatening to butcher her
First reporting of the sentencing hearing. Murphy was originally charged with threats to kill but pleaded to harassment, deemed acceptable by the DPP. Sentencing adjourned to July 2025 for a probation report. He was serving a five-year sentence (two years suspended) for threatening to kill the same woman when the calls were made.
convicted, Luke Murphy, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Luke Murphyvictim, female