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Ireland's most dangerous rapist is taking daytrips to one of the country's most popular family resorts.
Serial rapist Michael Murray (49) has been spotted by gardai in Bray, Co Wicklow, having travelled from his flat in Dublin's north inner city.
Officers are also investigating an unconfirmed report that Murray returned to his home area in Sallynoggin, south Dublin.
The Herald recently exposed Murray's early release from prison, after serving just 13 years for a spate of sex attacks, which saw him assault six women in as many days.
Officers
He has also been convicted of exposing himself to a three-year-old child.
Gardai have described Murray as "extremely dangerous" and members of the public who spot him acting suspiciously are advised to contact their local garda station.
On his last extended period of freedom, in 1995, Murray raped four women and sexually assaulted two others in less than one week. The attacks took place across Dublin's southside, including Dalkey and Rathmines. He has also attacked women in the Ballsbridge office belt, close to the Burlington Hotel.
Gardai spotted Murray close to Bray seafront last week, after he travelled there from the city centre by public transport. He was monitored by officers until he left the area.
The seafront is one of the most popular destinations on the east coast for families during the summer season.
The rapist then returned to his home, a State-funded 'halfway house' in the Bolton Street area of the north inner city. Local gardai have monitored him in that area since his release and have called to the property on a number of occasions, it is understood.
They are also investigating a sighting by a member of the public, who claimed to have seen Murray in Sallynoggin, south Dublin, where he has previous family connections. This report is unconfirmed at this point, but is being looked into, sources said.
The Herald understands that Murray told fellow inmates at Castlerea Prison that he intended "keeping his head down" on release to avoid coming to garda attention again.
Murray's crimes caused shock and revulsion when their full details were divulged during his 1996 trial.
The court heard how he carried out the attacks over five days in 1995, after he had been arrested on suspicion of one rape, but then released pending a decision on charges.
In the subsequent five day period that he was free, Murray raped three more woman, and sexually assaulted two others, in a rampage of violence across south Dublin.
In each of the cases he attempted to suffocate or strangle his victim, and he was convicted of assault in relation to these attacks, and 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.
Disfigure
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".
clooney@herald.ie
