Ireland Man sentenced for false bomb threats from Midlands Prison
Michael Murray, 53, a man, is accused of making two false bomb threat calls from Midlands Prison in Portlaoise, Co Laois, to Government Buildings and the Oireachtas on 3 and 4 July 2023. He initially denied the allegations when charged but was sent for trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in August 2024. Murray subsequently pleaded guilty to two counts under Section 12(a) of the Criminal Law Act, 1976. In December 2024, the judge imposed a headline sentence of four and a half years, reduced to 18 months for his early plea, with a further consecutive 18-month sentence suspended in full for three years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court18 Jul
4 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced4 Dec
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Murray is accused of making two false bomb threat calls to Government Buildings and the Oireachtas from Midlands Prison.
- Where
- The alleged offences were committed at Midlands Prison in Portlaoise, Co Laois.
- When
- The alleged calls were made on 3 and 4 July 2023.
- Investigation
- The Special Detective Unit, a cordoning off unit, and dog units were deployed, and searches of government buildings found nothing of evidential value.
- Charges
- Murray faces two offences under Section 12(a) of the Criminal Law Act, 1976.
- In court
- The case was heard at Dublin District Court before being sent to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for trial.
- Sentence
- The judge imposed a headline sentence of four and a half years, reduced to 18 months for the early plea, with a consecutive 18-month sentence for the second offence suspended in full for three years.
- Other details
- The first call claimed an item was planted in the Oireachtas and the second claimed a bomb in a red car in Leinster House.
- Murray has 41 previous convictions and is serving sentences for which he was due for release in November 2037.
- When charged, Murray told gardaí he did not order any bomb attacks on Government Buildings or the Oireachtas on those dates.
58 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMurray is accused of making a false bomb threat call to Government Buildings and the Oireachtas. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA man has appeared in court after denying to gardaí that he made hoax bomb calls to Government Buildings. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused is accused of making a false bomb threat call from prison to Government Buildings and the Oireachtas. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMurray is accused of making a false bomb threat call from prison to Government buildings and the Oireachtas. (thejournal.ie)
- whatMurray will serve another 18 months in custody for hoax bomb threat phone calls directed at Government Buildings. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe alleged offences were committed at Midlands Prison in Portlaoise, Co Laois. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe alleged offences were committed in the Midlands Prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe alleged offences took place at Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, Co Laois. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe calls to the Samaritans were traced to Midlands Prison. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe calls were made from Midlands Prison in Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe alleged calls were made on 3 July 2023 and the following day. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe alleged calls were made on 3 and 4 July 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged calls were made on 3 July and the following day. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe first hoax call was made on 3 July 2023. (thejournal.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenA second call was received the following day. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe Special Detective Unit, a cordoning off unit and dog units were deployed to investigate the threats. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe Special Detective Unit, cordoning off unit and dog units were deployed to investigate the threats. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationSearches of government buildings found nothing of evidential value. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeMurray faces two charges under Section 12(a) of the Criminal Law Act, 1976. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeMurray is accused of making two false reports on July 3rd and 4th of last year. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeMichael Murray faces two offences under Section 12 (a) of the Criminal Law Act, 1976. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMurray faces two offences under Section 12 (a) of the Criminal Law Act, 1976. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeMurray pleaded guilty to two counts of making threats from Midlands Prison in Portlaoise. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeMurray pleaded guilty to two counts of making hoax bomb threats from Midlands Prison. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin District Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe detective said the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed trial on indictment. (thejournal.ie)
- courtMurray's solicitor said he would not be making a bail application. (thejournal.ie)
- courtMurray was remanded in custody to appear again the following Thursday. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe case is due to resume on 25 July. (thejournal.ie)
- courtMichael Murray, 53, appeared before Judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge consented to the matter being sent forward for trial. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMurray made no application for bail and was remanded into custody. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMurray is due to appear in court next week for the production of the book of evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMichael Murray appeared before Judge Michael Connellan at Dublin District Court and was served with a book of evidence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions directed trial on indictment at a higher level with broader sentencing powers. (irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie)
- courtJudge Connellan granted a return-for-trial order, sending Murray to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case will be listed for mention in October. (irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie)
- courtMurray denied the allegations and appeared before Judge Michael Connellan at Dublin District Court, where gardaí served him with a book of evidence. (thejournal.ie)
- courtJudge Connellan granted a return-for-trial order, sending Murray forward to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge said mitigating factors included his early plea, apology to society and members of the Gardaí. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge cited mitigating factors including Murray's early plea and his apology. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge cited aggravating factors including the cordoning off of areas and deployment of many Garda units. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a headline sentence of four and a half years, reduced to 18 months for the early plea. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceFor the second offence, a consecutive 18-month sentence was imposed but suspended in full for three years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of four and a half years and reduced it to 18 months for the early plea. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceA consecutive 18-month sentence for the second offence was suspended in full for three years. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherMurray told gardaí in response to his charges that he did not order bomb attacks on those dates. (thejournal.ie)
- otherLegal aid was granted to Murray. (thejournal.ie)
- otherMurray is from Dublin but has a current address at Midlands Prison. (thejournal.ie)
- otherMurray denies the allegations. (irishtimes.com)
- otherLegal aid was granted. (irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie)
- otherHis barrister said the accused had instructed him that he had nothing to do with the offences before the court. (irishtimes.com)
- otherWhen charged, Murray said he did not order any bomb attacks on Government buildings or the Oireachtas on those dates. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMurray did not apply for bail and must notify prosecutors if he intends to rely on alibi evidence. (thejournal.ie)
- otherMurray has 41 previous convictions for offences. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe first call claimed an item was planted in the Oireachtas. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe second call claimed there was a bomb in a red car in Leinster House. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Dec2024Rapist jailed in Portlaoise gets more time for bomb threats to centre of Ireland's government
Reports the guilty plea, the sentence imposed (18 months, plus a consecutive 18-month sentence suspended for three years), the judge's reasoning, and that the calls were made on 3 and 4 July 2023 from Midlands Prison.
convicted, Michael Murray, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murray - 4 Dec2024Rapist to serve 18 more months for hoax bomb threat phone calls directed at Government Buildings
Reports the guilty plea at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the sentence of 18 months and the suspended second sentence, and the garda evidence about the calls being traced to Midlands Prison.
convicted, Michael Murray, 53, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murray - 9 Aug2024Alleged hoaxer sent for trial over bomb threats to Government buildings and Oireachtas
Reports that Murray was sent forward for trial to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the case listed for mention in October. Adds that the DPP directed trial on indictment, that legal aid was granted, and that his barrister said he had nothing to do with the offences.
accused, Michael Murray, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murray - 9 Aug2024Man accused of making false bomb threats to Oireachtas and Government Buildings sent forward for trial
Reports the accused being sent forward to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for trial, with the DPP directing trial on indictment. The calls were made from prison, and the accused's address is Midlands Prison in Portlaoise. This is not the same incident as case 5259, which concerns a June 2024 hoax threat against Taoiseach Simon Harris.
accused, Michael Murray, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murray - 18 Jul2024Michael Murray appears in court after denying making hoax bomb calls
Court appearance in Dublin District Court. Murray denied the alleged false reports to gardaí, the matter was sent forward for trial, and he was remanded in custody without bail. These Government Buildings calls are a different incident from the June 2024 hoax threat against the Taoiseach in case 5259.
accused, Michael Murray, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murray - 18 Jul2024Man to go on trial accused of making false bomb threat to Government Buildings
Adds that the DPP has directed trial on indictment, that Murray was remanded in custody to appear again the following Thursday, that he told gardaí he did not order the bomb attacks, that he faces two charges under Section 12(a) of the Criminal Law Act 1976, and that legal aid was granted.
accused, Michael Murray, 53, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murray