Mother sentenced to life for murder of son (7)

A 42-year-old mother was sentenced to life imprisonment yesterday for the murder in June 2001 of her young son in Greystones, …

A 42-year-old mother was sentenced to life imprisonment yesterday for the murder in June 2001 of her young son in Greystones, Co Wicklow.

Ruth Murphy, of Alfac House, Newbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the murder of seven-year-old Karl Murphy.

The child's body was found at the north beach in Greystones on June 22nd, 2001, hours after his father, John, had reported him missing.

Det Sgt Malachy Crowley told the court that Ruth Murphy had a serious alcohol problem and was the subject of a barring order in 1998 in relation to the family home at Ashford, Co Wicklow. She was attending a psychiatric hospital.

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The couple had married in 1991 and ran a printing business for some years, but the marriage had run into difficulties.

The court heard that Ms Murphy had supervised access to Karl. On the day in question he was being cared for by Ted and Jacinta Walsh in Glenealy, Co Wicklow. She went to their home and when Mr Walsh was upstairs and Jacinta Walsh was outside, she took Karl from the house. Ms Murphy then drove to the beach with Karl and they drank Coke and had sandwiches. June 22nd was the warmest night of 2001.

Det Sgt Crowley told the court that Ms Murphy was spotted by various people on the cliffside between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.

At 10.40 p.m., a scout leader rang gardaí after he had seen a coloured item on the beach which had turned out to be the body of Karl Murphy.

Some time after 11 p.m., Ms Murphy was found in a cave near the body.

She was in an "incoherent state" and her clothes were wet.

Mr Paul O'Higgins SC, prosecuting, told the court that a post-mortem carried out by the State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, found the child had bruising on his back and shoulders, and six "finger-sized" bruises on his neck consistent with "forcible drowning".

The court heard that Ms Murphy had a high alcohol level in her blood and there were traces of Librium in her system.

During the subsequent investigation, she gave gardaí a number of explanations that were inconsistent with the pathological and physical evidence.

The detective sergeant said surveys of the scene and of tide and currents rendered these explanations "improbable".

Mr O'Higgins put it to Det Sgt Crowley that "Ruth Murphy was in a state of great upset and shock when gardaí came upon her, is that so?"

"That's correct," he replied. He also agreed that she "was going through a difficult time", and that she had never harmed her child before.

The court heard that she was under psychiatric care since the killing.

Mr Justice Carney sentenced Ms Murphy to the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment, dating from December 29th, 2003. The judge also directed that a transcript of the proceedings be put on file should the Parole Board require it.

Outside the court, Mr John Murphy thanked family and friends for their help and support, and the gardaí for their thorough investigation of his son's killing.

"This has been a tragic case. I'll always remember Karl and his friends. I'm glad this chapter is closed and I can move on from here," he said.