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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
John Kierans

Tragic Jennie Poole's brutal killer Gavin Murphy attacked prison officer in Mountjoy

Tragic Jennie Poole's brutal killer attacked a prison officer in Mountjoy Prison, we can reveal.

Evil Gavin Murphy was thrown in an isolated padded cell for three days as punishment after the attempted assault. It is understood the brave warder involved was not seriously hurt.

Murphy, 30, originally from Ballymun in Dublin, has a long history of violence and was previously in trouble while on remand while awaiting trial for Jenny’s murder in Cloverhill Prison.

Read More: Family of murdered Jennifer Poole say law must change on revealing history of domestic abuse

He was frequently disciplined for physically abusing other inmates, smashing up prison property and threatening prison officers.

A Mountjoy source said: "He tried to attack a prison officer when he wasn’t looking and punched him in the face. He was then thrown in the slammer for three days over it. He thinks he is a hard man, but he isn’t. He doesn’t seem to be too bothered and believes he will be out in 12 to 14 years."

The incident occurred in the last fortnight. Murphy was sentenced to life imprisonment several weeks ago after he pleaded guilty to murder. He was then moved to Mountjoy.

The court heard how he stabbed the mother of two seven times at her Finglas apartment in a frenzied attack and she died a short time afterwards. Witnesses told how he regularly beat her up and you could see the injuries on her.

Her family has called for the establishment of a public register for domestic violence offenders so women can find out about a man’s hidden past.

They are convinced Jenny, 24, would be alive today and her two kids would have a mother if she had known Murphy’s history of violence.

Jason Poole, brother of murdered Jennifer Poole, speaking to media outside the Central Criminal Court (Collins Courts)

He had previously served three years in jail for beating up his ex-girlfriend but never told Jenny. Instead, he claimed he was away working in Spain during the time he was in prison.

Her brother Jason has lobbied Justice Minister Helen McEntee about setting up the new register.

He said: "If the country had one it would definitely have saved my sister’s life."

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