Larry Murphy (criminal)

Larry Murphy is an Irish convicted criminal. After his conviction for kidnapping, repeated rape, and attempted murder of a young Carlow woman on 11 February 2000, in the Wicklow Mountains, he was jailed in January 2001. His release from prison less than 10 years later drew widespread criticism.

During the ordeal, which lasted for a number of hours, Murphy kidnapped the woman and locked her in the boot of his Fiat Punto car. He then drove to Kilkea in County Kildare, where he repeatedly raped and beat her. She was then locked in the boot again while he drove to Spinans Cross in the Wicklow Mountains where he again raped her several times vaginally, anally and orally. The woman began to fight back and Murphy produced a plastic bag, which he placed over her head in an attempt to suffocate her. He stopped his assault when two hunters came across the scene and recognised Murphy. Murphy fled the area and returned to his home. The hunters then escorted the terrified woman to the police station in Baltinglass, where they identified Murphy as her attacker.

Murphy was arrested the next morning when members of the Garda Síochána (the Irish police force) came to his home. He knew why they were there and admitted what he had done the previous day, commenting to his wife as he left with gardaí, "I raped a girl last night". It was reported that during questioning about the woman's injuries, Murphy commented "Well, she's alive isn't she?" and "She was lucky", and showed no sign of remorse or guilt.

Murphy pleaded guilty to four charges of rape, one charge of false detention, one charge of attempted murder, one charge of assault causing harm, and one charge of robbery. In May 2001, he was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to 15 years' imprisonment on each of the rape, false detention and attempted murder charges. He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for the assault charge and three years' imprisonment on the robbery charge. The eight sentences were all to run concurrently, and the final year of each sentence was suspended on the basis of his early guilty plea.

Murphy was released on 12 August 2010 after serving only ten years. His release caused a public outcry, particularly as he had refused treatment while in prison and never demonstrated any remorse. Murphy's suspected involvement in some of Ireland's most famous missing persons cases also contributed to the controversy. His cousin is David Lawler, a convicted rapist and murderer who was the first person convicted using DNA testing in Ireland.

Murphy was sentenced before the Sex Offenders Act, 2001 came into force, so he is not subject to a post-release supervision order.