The Release of Rapist Highlights Violence Against Women Working in Prostitution

One might agree or disagree with the media coverage of the release of rapist Larry Murphy, but one thing is for sure: it has stirred up some needed debate and highlighted some dark sides of Irish society.

One aspect of the debate is the major contradiction of Murphy refusing therapy in jail vs. Murphy being released early for good behaviour. Second, there is the official labeling of Murphy as a ‘high-risk offender’ vs. Murphy being released at all.

Is the Irish penal system working? Is it reasonable that high-risk offenders who have not undertaken any form of treatment programmes while in prison are released rather than forced into some form of treatment to reduce the risk of re-offending?

One of the other discussions that has been prevalent in the media lately, is the protection of privacy vs. the public interest regarding sex offenders. Ireland is quite high up there on the list of European countries forgiving of name-and-shame media approaches. The view that offenders like Murphy has given up their right to privacy by committing horrific acts is widespread amongst the Irish media. The recent high court decision where serial rapist Michael Murray’s privacy claims were outweighed by the public interest in knowing his whereabouts, however makes it seem unlikely that Murphy will be spared publicity on human rights grounds.

It is clear that Murphy’s release and the media storm around it has sparked public concern. Two days ago, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre reported an increase in calls to their Helpline after RTÉ’s Prime Time programme Thursday.

Today, yet another aspect of the debate emerged. Women working in prostitution are being warned to be on guard as it is thought that Murphy will seek to pay for sex once he is not longer under daily tracking. Commenting on this, Geraldine Rowley from Ruhama said:

Women in prostitution are at risk every single day – not just when a known sex offender is out of prison. There are a lot of dangerous men out there and there is a huge level of violence, but it goes unreported most of the time.

Rowley added that these concerns are always on the minds of women in the sex industry.

It is a distressing fact that these women, in addition to all the other risks involved in prostitution, are faced with the chance of running into convicted high-risk sex offenders; and that if they do, the likelihood that any authorities will care, is very small.