Dublin's most dangerous rapist walked free from jail today -- sparking a major security alert in the capital.

Michael Murray (49), who was released from Castlerea Prison this morning, has been described by senior gardai as "extremely dangerous".

The last time he was a free man, in 1995, he raped four women in just six days in Dublin, and sexually assaulted two others.

ATTACKS

The attacks took place in Dalkey, Killiney, Monkstown and Rathmines. He also attempted to strangle some of his victims as he assaulted them.

A bulletin has been sent from Garda HQ to all city stations warning of Murray's expected presence in the capital, and of the ongoing threat he poses. He has served less than 13 years of the 18-year sentence.

Sources told the Herald that the rapist, who also has convictions for exposing himself to a three-year-old child, is expected to reside in the Smithfield area of the north inner city.

It's feared that he could return to his former stalking grounds of Dalkey and Dun Laoghaire in the coming days.Gardai at a number of city stations have been placed on high alert this evening ahead of Murray’s expected arrival back in the capital.

A source told the Herald: “This man poses a most serious risk to the safety of women and children. During the rapes he attempted to choke some of his victims and in the months before, he was caught by a passing garda as he exposed himself to two small children in Dun Laoghaire.

“He received remission for good behaviour but the gardai wanted him detained for as long as possible. It’s hard to think of a man who poses a more severe threat to society.”

The Herald understands that a directive has been issued that Murray be closely monitored.

The kitchen worker, originally from Patrick Street but with an address in Sallynoggin, was jailed for 18 years in October 1996 for his crimes.

The details shocked the country when they were revealed in the Central Criminal Court.

The court heard how he carried out the attacks over six days between September 18 and 23 1995, after he had been arrested on suspicion of one rape but then released pending a DPP decision on charges.

FREE

In the subsequent five-day period that he was free, Murray raped three more woman and sexually assaulted two others across south Dublin.

In each of the cases he attempted to suffocate or strangle his victim. He was convicted of assault in relation to these attacks and for cutting one of his victims with a knife.

At his trial two of Murray’s victims told the court they felt they could have died during the attacks.

One woman said she felt she had only 30 seconds to live after Murray attacked her close to the Burlington Hotel and tried to choke her.

Eighteen months before his rape conviction, Murray received a four-month sentence for indecently exposing himself to a five-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy.

In 1989 he was jailed for eight and a half years for an attack in the UK.

Sentencing Murray to 18 years imprisonment for rape, aggravated sexual assault, assault, malicious wounding and wounding with intent to disfigure, Judge Vivian Lavan described his crimes as “horrific”.

“Reading the statements of the six victims would render one speechless at the indignity, horror and terror they had been subjected to,” he said.

He was given 10 concurrent terms of 18 years and three concurrent terms of three years.

- Cormac Looney