Judge who jailed rapist Larry Murphy dies after illness

The veteran judge who jailed rapist Larry Murphy has died after a short illness. Mr Justice Paul Carney (72) was the country’s top criminal judge until his retirement earlier this year. Carney, who presided over 100 murder and rape trials, sentenced Murphy to 15 years in jail in 2001 for the abduction, rape and attempted murder of a young Co Carlow businesswoman. The carpenter (48) repeatedly beat and raped his terrified victim (28) in a lay-by at Kilkea near Castledermot in February 2000 before driving to the Wicklow mountains where she was rescued by hunters and Murphy was later arrested. Murphy, who has fled abroad, has also been quizzed by gardai probing the disappearance of several missing women in the Leinster area include student Deirdre Jacob (18) who vanished near her home in Newbridge in 1998 and Jo Jo Dollard (21) who was last seen in Moone near Castledermot. Earlier this month, a UK crime expert told KildareNow.com that Murphy may be compelled to visit the scene of his crimes in Co Kildare.