Ireland Man on trial over false report of explosives at Justice Minister's home
On 7 March 2021, at around 8.30pm, a caller claiming to be from the National Liberation Organisation told a female Samaritans volunteer that explosives had been planted at the home of the Minister for Justice and her family. The minister's home was searched and no explosives or anything untoward was recovered, and the prosecution says the call was traced to the cell of Michael Murray, 52, who was imprisoned in Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, at the time. Murray was arrested and questioned, and has pleaded not guilty to one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else. His trial before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury opened on 27 February 2024 and is expected to last a week.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court27 Feb
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Michael Murray, 52, has pleaded not guilty to one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else.
- The caller said explosives had been planted at the home of the Minister for Justice and her family.
- Where
- The false report was made while Murray was imprisoned in Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, County Laois.
- When
- The call was made on 7 March 2021 at around 8.30pm.
- Other details
- The caller claimed to be from the National Liberation Organisation.
- A Samaritans volunteer, a woman, took the call and told the court she was shaken by it.
- Murray was the sole occupant of that prison cell on the night in question.
- Investigation
- The minister's home was searched and no explosives or anything untoward was recovered.
- The call was traced back to Midlands Prison.
- Further analysis of the prison phone systems traced the call to Murray's cell.
- Murray was arrested and questioned.
- Charges
- Murray faces one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else.
- In court
- The trial opened on 27 February 2024 before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury and is expected to last a week.
- Sentence
- No sentence has been reported, as the trial is ongoing.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMichael Murray has pleaded not guilty to one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe caller said explosives had been planted at the home of the Minister for Justice and her family. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe false report was made while Murray was imprisoned in Midlands Prison, Portlaoise. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe call was made on 7 March 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe call came in at around 8.30pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe minister's home was searched but no explosives or anything untoward was recovered. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe call was traced back to Midlands Prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationFurther analysis of the prison phone systems traced the call to Murray's cell. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationMurray was arrested and questioned. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial opened and is expected to last a week. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial is before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe caller claimed to be from the Irish National Liberation Organisation. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMurray was the sole occupant of that prison cell on the night in question. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Feb2024Man on trial accused of false report of explosives at Justice Minister's house
Trial coverage. Opening day of the trial, with testimony from a Samaritans volunteer who took the call and the prosecution's account of how the call was traced to Murray's prison cell. Murray has pleaded not guilty.
accused, Michael Murray, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murrayvictim, female