GARDAÍ HAVE moved to address concerns over the release of convicted rapist Larry Murphy yesterday, saying that the “safety of the community” was their highest priority in the manner in which they dealt with sex offenders.
In a statement to the media yesterday gardaí reiterated their policies on monitoring sex offenders.
“An Garda Síochána’s . . . policy is directed towards maximising our ability to protect the community effectively.
“The national Sex Offender Management and Intelligence Unit working with other agencies has developed significant experience and expertise in the effective management of sex offenders and works with gardaí around the country to fulfil its role and responsibilities on a daily basis. This work receives the highest priority within An Garda Síochána,” it said.
The statement followed protests outside a residential unit for former prisoners in Dublin on Thursday night, which were sparked by rumours that Murphy was inside.
A crowd of about 200 people assembled outside Priorswood House in Coolock after rumours spread that Murphy was staying in the centre.
Lisa Cuthbert, director with Prisoner Aid through Community Effort (PACE) which runs the centre, said she told the crowd Murphy was not there but the numbers of people kept growing anyway.
“The difficulty that we had was that we were working against Facebook and mobile phones which was leading to more people gathering outside.
“We asked the guards to come because we had concerns that this was a situation where the two of us staff members could manage but that it might get out of hand,” said Ms Cuthbert, speaking on RTÉ radio.
Murphy was freed on Thursday morning after spending 10½ years in prison.
Murphy (45), from Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, was sentenced to 15 years for the abduction, rape and attempted murder of a woman in 2000.
Thursday’s release was the focus of intense media scrutiny with Murphy being followed through the traffic by photographers on motorcycles as the Garda helicopter monitored the pursuit.
It is understood gardaí were fearful that if Murphy was followed and pictured at a particular address, he might be attacked there by members of the public.
The intense media focus on Murphy’s whereabouts continued yesterday with TV3 reporting on him taking a train to Cork, and subsequently returning to Dublin.
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said there was a spike in calls to its helpline on Thursday following RTÉ’s Prime Time programme on Murphy’s release from prison.