Ireland Case No. 23770Prison discipline (High Court challenge to sanction) · Co. Laois
Michael Murray loses High Court challenge to prison discipline sanction
Michael Murray, a 51-year-old convicted rapist at Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, lost his High Court challenge against a 40-day loss of ordinary privileges imposed by the prison Governor after he threw a bible at Judge Karen O'Connor during his July 2021 sentencing hearing. Mr Justice Charles Meenan ruled the Governor was lawfully entitled to discipline Murray under the 2007 Prison Rules.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court1 Dec
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports29 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMurray is 51 years old (irishtimes.com)
- whatMurray threw a bible at a judge during a sentencing hearing at the Criminal Courts of Justice in July 2021 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe sanction involved removal of ordinary privileges for 40 days for throwing a bible at a judge during a sentencing hearing in late July 2021. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatMurray threw a bible, narrowly missing Judge Karen O'Connor, and was excluded from the sentencing hearing and moved to another courtroom. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe sanction included restrictions on recreation time and limiting visits and phone calls to one per week for 40 days. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereMurray is incarcerated at Midlands Prison (irishtimes.com)
- whereMurray is formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney, Co Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whenMurray made the threats between late 2014 and early 2015 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe threats were made between late 2014 and early 2015 while Murray was serving a 19-year sentence for rape. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationA complaint about Murray's conduct was made to the governor by prison officers who had attended court (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMurray was found guilty by Circuit Criminal Court jury of threatening to kill barristers Dominic McGinn SC and Tony McGillicuddy SC (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMurray was convicted of harassing Mr McGinn, his victim and his former solicitor by advertising them online as prostitutes (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMurray was convicted in 2013 of the rape and sexual assault of a woman whose child he abducted (irishtimes.com, leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeMurray was found guilty by a jury at the Circuit Criminal Court of threatening to kill barristers Dominic McGinn SC and Tony McGillicuddy SC. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeMurray was also convicted of harassing Mr McGinn, his victim, and his former solicitor by advertising them online as prostitutes. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe Irish Prison Service, Minister for Justice, Ireland and the Attorney General were notice parties in the High Court action (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Meenan ruled Murray was in lawful custody outside of the prison and within the legal definition of a prisoner under the 2007 rules (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case will return before the court for final orders later in December 2022 (irishtimes.com)
- courtMurray lost his High Court challenge against a disciplinary sanction imposed by the prison authorities. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtMr Justice Charles Meenan dismissed Murray's action, ruling the Governor was lawfully entitled to discipline and sanction Murray. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe case will return before the court for final orders later in the month. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe sanction involves removal of ordinary privileges for 40 days (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMurray was given a 16-year sentence for making threats to barristers who prosecuted him and harassing others involved in his trial (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMurray was serving a 19-year sentence for rape when he made the threats (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe sanction reduced recreation time and limited visitors and phone calls to one per week for 40 days (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMurray was given a 16-year prison sentence for making threats to the barristers who prosecuted him and harassing others involved in his trial. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherMurray denied the charges (irishtimes.com)
- otherMurray claimed the governor was not entitled to impose the sanction as the misconduct was committed while in custody of the court (irishtimes.com)
- otherMurray is 51 years old and formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney, Co Dublin. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Dec2022Laois jail inmate and convicted rapist fails in court challenge to prison discipline
Reports the High Court decision dismissing Murray's challenge to the prison disciplinary sanction, including background on his 16-year sentence for threatening barristers and his 2013 rape conviction.
convicted, Michael Murray, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murray - 1 Dec2022Convicted rapist loses challenge to disciplinary sanction imposed by prison authorities
Provides full details of the High Court judgment: Murray's 16-year sentence for threatening to kill barristers Dominic McGinn SC and Tony McGillicuddy SC and harassing them, his victim and his former solicitor by advertising them as prostitutes; his 2013 rape conviction; the specific terms of the 40-day sanction; and Mr Justice Meenan's reasoning that Murray was in lawful custody under the 2007 Prison Rules Act. Case to return for final orders later in December 2022.
convicted, Michael Murray, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murray