Ireland Case No. 6297False report (false bomb threat) · Co. Laois
Man sentenced for false bomb threat from Portlaoise prison
On 7 March 2021, an anonymous caller phoned the Samaritans from Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, claiming to be from the INLA and saying explosives had been planted at the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, a woman. No explosives were found after gardaí searched the property. Michael Murray, a man aged 52 (reported as 54 in some accounts) formerly of Killiney, Dublin, was arrested and charged with knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else. A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty in March 2024, and Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to two years in prison to run consecutively to his current sentence on 19 March 2024.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court27 Feb
3 reports - Convicted8 Mar
4 reports - Sentenced19 Mar
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- An anonymous caller phoned the Samaritans claiming to be from the INLA and said explosives had been planted at the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee.
- Where
- The call was made from Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, where Murray was the sole occupant of his cell on the night.
- When
- The call was made at around 8.30pm on 7 March 2021.
- Cause
- The caller claimed to be from the National Liberation Army.
- Investigation
- The call was traced to Murray's cell using his unique identification number, and gardaí searched McEntee's home but found no explosives.
- Murray was arrested and interviewed by gardaí on 26 March 2021, where he denied making the threat but accepted links to the INLA.
- Charges
- Murray was charged with one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else.
- In court
- An eight-day trial before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court opened on 27 February 2024.
- The jury found Murray guilty on 8 March 2024 after five hours and 10 minutes of deliberation.
- Sentence
- Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced Murray to two years in prison to run consecutively to his current sentence on 19 March 2024.
- Other details
- Murray has 40 previous convictions including rape, sexual assault, and child abduction, and has been in custody since 2010.
- Murray rejected the verdict and his counsel sought a mistrial, which the judge said she had no jurisdiction to declare.
99 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)
- whatMichael Murray is 52 and formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney, Dublin (rte.ie)
- whatAn anonymous caller claiming to be from the INLA rang the Samaritans saying explosives had been planted at McEntee's home (rte.ie)
- whatNo explosives were found (rte.ie)
- whatThe call was traced to Midlands Prison (rte.ie)
- whatThe person who made the call used a unique identification number registered to Murray (rte.ie)
- whatMurray was alone in his prison cell with access to a telephone on the night (rte.ie)
- whatIn a gardaí interview after his arrest, Murray denied making the phone call but accepted he had links with the paramilitary group named in the threat (rte.ie)
- whatMurray said a group named the Criminal Revenge Group (CRG) were making credible and immediate threats to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and other civil servants (rte.ie)
- whatMurray said the allegations were ludicrous (rte.ie)
- whatMurray said he had made a phone call to the Samaritans on the night of 7 March 2021 but it had absolutely nothing to do with McEntee (rte.ie)
- whatMurray said it did not make sense to isolate himself in his cell at 8.30 at night to threaten the highest ranking member of the Department of Justice (rte.ie)
- whatMurray said it did not make sense to do it on his own line that was already being monitored on his request (rte.ie)
- whatMurray said his gripe with the Department of Justice was with the policies of the DPP's office (rte.ie)
- whatMurray said Helen McEntee is not a target of his but policies implemented underneath her are (rte.ie)
- whatMurray said the only independent witness was the Samaritan who received the anonymous call (rte.ie)
- whatMurray said his voice does not match the description of the caller (rte.ie)
- whatMurray said there was no technical evidence showing the call from his cell reached the Samaritans branch that received the bomb threat (rte.ie)
- whatIn cross-examination, Murray agreed he was alone in his cell on the night of 7 March 2021 and did not leave until the following morning (rte.ie)
- whatAn anonymous caller rang the Samaritans and claimed explosives had been planted at the Justice Minister's home. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe caller claimed to be from the INLA. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatMichael Murray was found guilty of knowingly making a false report giving rise to apprehension for the safety of someone. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAn anonymous caller phoned the Samaritans claiming to be from the INLA and said explosives had been planted at the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMichael Murray was found guilty by a jury of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAn anonymous caller phoned the Samaritans claiming to be from the INLA and said explosives had been planted at the home of Justice Minister Helen McEntee. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA jury found Michael Murray guilty of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatAn anonymous caller phoned the Samaritans claiming to be from the INLA and said explosives had been planted at the home of the Minister for Justice. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatMurray was convicted by a jury of phoning a false bomb threat from prison to the Samaritans. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe threat claimed a bomb had been planted at Helen McEntee's home in March 2021. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe caller claimed explosives had been planted at the home of the Minister of Justice and her family. (thejournal.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe false report was made while Murray was imprisoned in Midlands Prison, Portlaoise. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe call was made while Murray was imprisoned in Midlands Prison, Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whereMurray was imprisoned in the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise at the time. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe call was made from Midlands Prison in Portlaoise. (irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie)
- whereThe call was traced to Murray's cell in Midlands Prison. (dublinlive.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe call was made on 7 March 2021. (irishmirror.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe call came in at around 8.30pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe alleged offence took place while he was imprisoned in Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, on 7 March 2021 (rte.ie)
- whenThe offence took place on March 7th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offence is alleged to have occurred on March 7, 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe call was made on March 7, 2021. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe threat call was made on 7 March 2021. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe threat call was made to the Samaritans on 7 March 2021. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- causeThe caller claimed to be from the Irish National Liberation Army. (dublinlive.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)
- investigationThe prosecution said the call was made on the extension in Murray's cell, using his identification number. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationA Samaritans supervisor contacted gardaí in Navan, where McEntee lived at the time. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí from Navan were sent to the Minister's house to search for suspicious devices. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí also examined the Department of Justice and found nothing untoward. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationMurray was arrested and interviewed by gardaí on March 26th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe call was traced to the extension in Murray's cell, using his unique identification number. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe court heard the call to the Samaritans was traced to the extension within Murray's cell. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationNo explosives were found after gardaí searched Ms McEntee's home. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí went to the Minister's home but found no evidence of explosives. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe call was traced to Murray's prison cell, where he was the only occupant. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí found no evidence of any explosives at the minister's home. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationMurray was arrested and questioned and admitted making a call to the Samaritans but denied making the threat. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded not guilty to one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else (rte.ie)
- chargeMurray has pleaded not guilty to one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeMurray had pleaded not guilty to one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to apprehension for the safety of someone. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMurray was found guilty of one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else. (thejournal.ie, leinsterexpress.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)
- courtThe trial lasted eight days. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe defence said the evidence was a million miles from where the jury needed it to be. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe jury had deliberated for two hours and 32 minutes and was told to return the next day. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe jury returned its guilty verdict on a Friday after five hours and 10 minutes of deliberation. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Patricia Ryan adjourned the matter for sentencing to the following Friday and remanded Murray in continuing custody. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury returned its verdict after five hours and 10 minutes of deliberation. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe judge adjourned the matter for sentencing the following Friday. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe judge remanded Murray in continuing custody. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtMurray rejected the jury's verdict. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe offence of submitting a false report carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe conviction followed a trial earlier in March 2024. (thejournal.ie)
- courtSentence was imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial took place earlier in March 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe sentencing took place on a Tuesday at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceSentencing was adjourned to the following Friday, and Murray was remanded in continuing custody. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge adjourned the matter to Tuesday for sentence. (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceJudge Patricia Ryan imposed a two-year prison sentence to run consecutively to the sentence Murray is currently serving. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceJudge Patricia Ryan gave Murray a two-year prison sentence to run consecutively to the one he is currently serving. (leinsterexpress.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)
- otherMurray told the court he had absolutely nothing to do with the threat against Helen McEntee. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherIn interview, Murray agreed he had well-known links to the paramilitary group named in the threat. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMurray denied the allegations against him. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMurray gave evidence at the trial and said the allegation was ludicrous and did not make sense. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherMurray has previous convictions for rape, false imprisonment, sexual assault, child abduction, threats to kill, harassment, theft and armed robbery. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherMurray is due to finish a 19-year sentence for rape and abduction before starting a consecutive 16-year sentence for threats to kill. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherMurray told gardaí that a group called the Criminal Revenge Group was behind the threat. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherMurray has 40 previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
- otherNo victim impact statement was handed in to the court. (thejournal.ie)
- otherMurray has been in custody since 2010, with an earliest possible release date of May 2036. (thejournal.ie)
- otherMurray's counsel asked the court to declare a mistrial, and the judge said she did not have jurisdiction to do so at that stage. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherMurray maintained that he was innocent and rejected the jury's verdict. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Mar2024Man convicted of hoax bomb threat from Portlaoise Prison given two year sentence
Adds the sentence: Judge Patricia Ryan imposed two years to run consecutively to Murray's current sentence, after his conviction by a jury in March 2024. Murray's counsel sought a mistrial, which the judge said she had no jurisdiction to declare.
convicted, Michael Murray, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murrayvictim, Helen McEntee, irish (judged from name)Helen McEntee - 19 Mar2024Rapist who made hoax bomb threat to Minister for Justice from prison given two year sentence
Reports the sentence imposed after the jury verdict: a two-year consecutive term at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Murray told the court he rejects the verdict and gave no mitigation.
convicted, Michael Murray, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murrayvictim, Helen McEntee, irish (judged from name)Helen McEntee - 16 Mar2024Rapist found guilty of McEntee bomb threat faces up to five more years in prison
Reports the jury conviction, the maximum five-year penalty, the adjournment for sentence, and Murray's statements in court and to gardaí.
convicted, Michael Murray, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murray - 8 Mar2024Rapist Michael Murray guilty of bomb threat to Minister Helen McEntee's house
Reports the jury verdict at the trial of Michael Murray. Sentencing was adjourned to the following Friday, and he was remanded in continuing custody.
convicted, Michael Murray, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murray - 8 Mar2024Convicted rapist guilty of phoning bomb threat to Justice Minister's house
Reports the jury verdict of guilty after an eight-day trial and that sentencing was adjourned to the following Friday, with Murray remanded in continuing custody.
convicted, Michael Murray, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murray - 8 Mar2024Man accused of hoax bomb threat against Helen McEntee found guilty
Jury verdict after an eight-day trial. Murray is remanded in custody and sentencing is adjourned to the following Friday. Video of his 2021 arrest and garda interview was played to the jury.
convicted, Michael Murray, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murrayvictim, Helen McEntee, female, irish (judged from name)Helen McEntee - 7 Mar2024Jury in trial of man accused of phoning in bomb threat from Portlaoise prison to continue deliberations tomorrow
Reports the eight-day trial and closing speeches, with the jury still deliberating and no verdict yet. Murray pleaded not guilty.
accused, Michael Murray, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murrayvictim, Helen McEntee, female, irish (judged from name)Helen McEntee - 6 Mar2024McEntee bomb threat is 'ludicrous', accused tells court
Murray gave evidence at trial, denying he made the bomb threat call and calling the allegation ludicrous; he said his gripe was with DPP office policies, not McEntee personally. Trial continues.
accused, Michael Murray, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murrayvictim, Helen McEntee, female, irish (judged from name)Helen McEntee - 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