68 - Mountain Mysteries: The murder of Phyllis Murphy

Just before Christmas 1979, 23 year old Phyllis Murphy disappeared while waiting on a bus in Newbridge, Co Kildare. Her body was found in an isolated spot 25 miles away at Turlough Hill, Co Wicklow a month later. 

After a huge search and investigation, the gardai had no leads as to who was responsible for her death.But in 1998, DNA in Phyllis' case was tested as part of Operation Trace. As a result of that, 53 year old John Crerar - a neighbour of Phyllis' remaining family - stood trial at the Dublin Central Criminal Court.

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Sources: 

“Missing girl search” in The Irish Times (29 December 1979) p 5. 

“Search for woman to continue today” in The Irish Times (31 December 1979) p. 5. 

"Murder theory in search for woman” in The Irish Times (1 January 1980) p. 5. 

“No progress in hunt for missing girl” in The Irish Times (3 January 1980) p. 6. Willy Clingan, 

“Hopes fade for missing woman” in The Irish Times (7 January 1980) p. 11. 

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“Gardai intensify Kildare search” in The Irish Times (10 January 1980) p. 6. 

“Body of missing woman found” in The Irish Times (19 January 1980) p. 1. 

“Woman found in mountains” in The Belfast Telegraph (18 January 1980) p. 4. 

“2000 at Kildare girl's funeral” in The Irish Times (21 January 1980) p. 11 

“Gardai in murder hunt investigate complaint” in The Irish Times (22 January 1980) p. 6. 

“Murder inquiry: gardai seek car” in The Irish Times (28 January 1980) p. 6. 

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“Kildare murder progress” in The Irish Times (8 January 1981) p. 7. 

Stephen Rae and Micahel Lavery, “What Phyllis first victim?” in The Evening Herald (24 September 1998) p.p. 1,6. 

Jim Cusack, “File on missing women are reopened” in The Irish Times (23 September 1998) p. x. 

Senan Moloney, “Fear Stalks” in The Evening Herald (25 September 1998) p. 4. 

George Jacob, “Warm welcome greets formation of new Garda investigation team” in The Bray People (8 October 1998) p. 13. 

Stephen Rae, “Gardai begin probe into women 'serial killer' link” in The Irish Independent (31 October 1998) p.10 

Jim Cusack and Roisin Ingle, “ Ex-soldier charged with murder” in The Irish Times (14 July 1999) p. 1. 

Roisin Ingle, “Man to appear in Naas court today on murder charge” in The Irish Times (14 July 1999) p. 3. 

Jim Cusack, “Phyllis Murphy last seen waiting to catch a bus” in The Irish Times (14 July 1999) p. 3. 

Colman Cassidy, “Family relieved at news of arrest” in The Irish Times (14 July 1999) p. 3. 

Nuala Haughey, “Man on murder charge due in court again today” in The Irish Times (15 July 1999) p. 3. 

“Man on trial for murder of woman 22 years ago” in The Irish Times (9 October 2002) p. 4. 

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“Injuries consistent with rape, murder trial is told” in The Irish Times (11 October 2002) p. 4. 

“Blood samples 'held for 17 years'” in The Irish Times (18 October 2002) p. 4. 

“Murder trial told DNA tests carried out 20 years after death” in The Irish Times (19 October 2002) p. 4. 

“Murder trial told DNA sample matched accused” in The Irish Times (22 October 2002) p. 4. 

“Security guard admits he lied about alibi for murder accused” in The Irish Times (24 October 2002) p. 4. 

“Murder trial told accused washed out boot of car” in The Irish Times (25 October 2002) p. 4. 

“DNA match impossible says murder case accused” in The Irish Times (30 November 2002) p. 4. 

“Jury in Crerar murder trial resumes its deliberations today” in The Irish Times (31 October 2002) p. 4. 

“Former soldier sentenced to life for murder of Kildare woman” in The Irish Times (1 November 2002) p. 4. 

Alison Healey, “Death of a Christmas shopper in the woods” in The Irish Times (1 November 2002) p. 4. 

Stephen Rae, “Breakthrough” in The Evening Herald (13 July 1999) p. 1, 3. 

Michael Mulqueen, “Murder accused weeps in court” in The Evening Herald (14 July 1999) p.1, 3. 

Tom Brady, “Murder suspect heckled outside court” in The Irish Independent (15 July 1999) p. 3. 

“Accused also claiming deafness compensation” in The Irish Independent (15 July 1999) p. 3. 

Paul Williams, “My 20-year hell as Phyllis suspect” in The Sunday World (18 July 1999) p. 8

Geraldine Niland, “Nightmare of not knowing” in The Sunday Independent (18 July 1999) p. 11. 

“Army claim adjourned” in The Irish Independent (20 July 1999) p. 4. 

“Murphy murder accused gets bail” in The Irish Independent (27 July 1999) p. 4. 

Rita O'Reilly, “After 22 years, ex soldier goes on trial for murder” in The Irish Independent (9 October 2002) p.4 

Kathy Donaghy, “Slightly built father-of-five barely audible as he enters innocent plea” in The Irish Independent (9 October 2002) p.4 

Rita O'Reilly, “I was looking into the trees when I saw a body, retired garda tells court,” in The Irish Independent (9 October 2002) p.4 

“The last time I saw Phyllis” in The Evening Herald (9 October 2002) p.p. 1, 18. 

Charles Mallow, “Phyllis fought to the death” in The Evening Herald (10 October 2002) p.p. 1,6. 

Rita O'Reilly, “DNA was not mine says man in 1979 murder trial” in The Irish Independent (30 October 2002) p. 8. 

Helen Bruce, “'Reluctant' Crerar gives barely audible defence” in The Irish Independent (30 October 2002) p. 8. 

Rita O'Reilly, “23 years on, Phyllis's killer is guilty” in The Irish Independent (1 November 2002) p. 9. 

Kathy Donaghy, “How Christmas shopping trip ended in horror” in The Irish Independent (1 November 2002) p. 9. 

Charlie Mallon “Man who would not let the case die” in The Evening Herald (1 November 2002) p. 4.

Rita O'Reilly, “The master of concealment ran out of places to hide” in The Sunday Independent (3 November 2002) p. 9. 

Stephen Rae, “Crerar: more sex attacks are revealed” in The Evening Herald (4 November 2002) p. 1. 

Melanie Finn, “Crerar trial anguish of murder victim's family” in The Evening Herald (5 November 2002) p. 11. 

Rita O'Reilly, “Phyllis Murphy killer accused of child sex abuse” in The Sunday Independent (10 November 2002) p. 6. 

Stephen McNeice, “We're not going to let bitterness get us” - sister of murdered Phyllis Murphy” from Newstalk.com https://www.newstalk.com/news/not-going-let-bitterness-get-us-sister-murdered-phyllis-murphy-2-941861 (22 December 2019)