A convicted murderer who assaulted a Wheatfield Prison officer and stabbed a rapist in Mountjoy Prison has been given a further six-year sentence by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Larry Murphy (28), Swilly Road, Cabra, is serving a life sentence for murdering his cell mate, Thomas "Tomo" Brady (22), Rowlagh Crescent, Neilstown, on Easter Sunday, April 23rd, 2000.
Murphy assaulted the Wheatfield prison officer on January 29th, 2003, because he mistakenly thought he was looking at his girlfriend's back when she leaned over to kiss him during a visit.
He assaulted the rapist, serving 12 years in Mountjoy, because he mistakenly thought the man was going to send "dirty letters" to his partner's young daughter.
Murphy himself had given the victim a picture of the girl to make an illustration, but only realised later that the illustrator was a rapist.
Garda Michelle Wallace told Ms Mary Rose Gearty BL, prosecuting, that Murphy, as the murderer of his former cell-mate, was being held in solitary confinement, but was allowed visits from his girlfriend twice a week.
Garda Wallace said the officer supervising the visit on January 29th, 2003, thought he saw that she had a bottle with her and was keeping a careful eye on her. Murphy became angry at the officer's presence and his close scrutiny of his girlfriend.
As the visit drew to a close and she leaned over the counter to "kiss and cuddle" him before she left, Murphy came to the conclusion that the prison officer was leering at her back. He then jumped over the counter and began to punch him. He also cut the officer's forehead in the assault before others restrained him.
Garda Adrian Murray told prosecuting counsel, Mr Bernard Condon BL, that Murphy was transferred to Mountjoy and on February 16th, 2002, assaulted the man there.
The rapist, who is serving three concurrent 12-year sentences for raping his infant daughter in Kerry and Dublin on dates between 1992 and 1997, was held in the B-base of Mountjoy where sex offenders are kept and had not come into any direct contact with Murphy before the attack.
"You won't send my kids dirty letters!" Murphy shouted at the man before stabbing him about 10 times on the back and shoulders with a pair of nail scissors.
Garda Murray agreed with Murphy's counsel, Mr Erwan Mill-Arden SC, that Murphy had learned that the man he later attacked was very good at drawing. He wanted a drawing of his partner's young daughter.
Mr Mill-Arden told Judge Desmond Hogan that Murphy, who is held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day and is only allowed to leave his cell for an hour a day to exercise, lost all privileges after both attacks.
Judge Hogan sentenced Murphy to three years for each assault. The sentences are consecutive to each other, but concurrent with the life sentence.