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DOUBLE KILLER MALCOLM MacArthur, who was sentenced to life in prison in 1982 after killing two people, has been released from jail.
The Department of Justice confirmed that he was released from Shelton Abbey open prison in Wicklow on Monday morning.
MacArthur was released under reviewable temporary release conditions. He will be monitored by the Probation Service and could be returned to prison if he were to breach the guidelines for release.
MacArthur bludgeoned 27-year-old nurse Bridie Gargan to death as she was sunbathing in the Phoenix Park on 22 July 1982. Three days later, he shot dead farmer Donal Dunne on his own land.
In events described by then-Taoiseach Charles Haughey as ‘grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre and unprecedented’, Gardaí investigating the case found MacArthur hiding out in an apartment owned by the then attorney general.
MacArthur was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Bridie Gargan. The DPP did not take a case against him for the murder of Donal Dunne.
In a statement released to RTE One’s PrimeTime programme, the Department of Justice said that the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter had approved a structure programme of temporary release for MacArthur in 2011.
“The minister was at all times conscious of the dreadful events of 1982 and of their impact on family members,” the statement said.
The victims’ families were contacted and informed of MacArthur’s release.
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It’s just a shame that these days people who kill don’t serve 30 years.
Yes, it seems Catherine Nevin’s life sentence has lasted just 12 years!
‘a life sentence’ should mean a life sentence. The open prison in the Garden of Ireland sounds nice!
So he has served 30 years for killing the nurse,but not a day for killing the farmer?he should be tried again for the second murder.I wonder would mr shatter be so willing to set a double killer free if it were his own daughter or father.
If the minister was that “conscious of the grotesque events of 1982″ he would not have released him. What benefit does releasing him serve?
Eddie
Don’t be asking stupid questions.
It saves us about 150,000 Euro per annum. After that long sentence I think the prison authorities would know whether he’s likely to re-offend or not.
Saves us €150,000 per anum!?? Sure about those figures there Mick!?!
He wouldn’t be released if the were not sure he has been completely rehabilitated. 30 years is a very long time.
And of course Psychopaths are never known to hid and disguise their true feelings and behaviour.
@Mick
Your comment might just pick up the stupid insensitive comment of the morning Mick. I wonder if it was your mother /sister /daughter .father / brother, would you see it as “ah sure he has done his time, let him out, sure he is costing the state a fortune, and sure till be a saving in these recessionary times”
The government laments at the value of life these days in the eye of a criminal, however it is the ineptness of the department of justice, the legal system and the police force that has created that view. Criminals just don’t give a proverbial schit here anymore – sentencing will be light no matter what the crime.
When they locked him up they should have thrown away the key….
Alan shatters ineptitude knows no bounds.
Not charged with farmers murder…wtf why not,anything to do with him hiding in the then attorney generals place? I read a book on his killing spree and the feeling I got was he was a nasty f:::er I just hope he has changed
We need a reform of the justice system. If you take a life you should repay in being held in confinement for the rest of your life. (and in my opinion, in some extreme cases the death penalty should be used. just my personal opinion.) Some criminals laugh at the justice system in this country. If you enforce harder punishment, i think at least some would think twice about committing crimes and murders
“If you enforce harder punishment, i think at least some would think twice about committing crimes and murders”
Punishment should fit the crime – often people want to see people “rot in jail” for serious crime and say “if that was your sister”. Neither of which are objective points of view.
The problem with life sentences and death sentences is that someone who kills a person is more likely to keep going and try to kill any possible witnesses too. If it’s life for one person, there’s no point in leaving witnesses.
Not that I disagree with you that the justice system is laughable, just that in my opinion it’s very possible that this guy has served enough time. It’s not like the rest of his life is likely to be one we could regard as “normal”.
they should have hanged him
I see from the above comments that Democracy is alive and well in Ireland!
I would hope it is Colin. Who are we denying their democratic rights though, in your opinion, as I note the heady stench of sarcasm on your post? Murderers do not respect democracy, it’s lost on them.
Indeed Albert, however if this man was deemed sane and has served the sentence imposed on him by the Irish judicial system then to hold him any longer would be unlawful and against his democratic rights as an Irish citizen, regardless of his crime. Anything else would be deemed internment!
That’s not a picture of mount joy prison!
Hi Christina, that was a minor glitch in the system when the story was published. The correct image should be showing up now.
Mmmmmmmm a glitch. . . You didn’t just pick the wrong image then, the computer glitched :) they don’t teach us that in IT anymore :))))
He may have been convicted and jailed for the brutal murder of Bridie Gargan but where is the justice for Donal Dunne and his family???
A case that definitely proves the need for transparency in DPP decisions not to prosecute. There was incontrovertible, overwhelming evidence to prove that he murdered Dermot Dunne. Yet he wasn’t prosecuted. The decision not to prosecute, though there was more than a prima facia case was fishy to say the least and at its worst unconstitutional and, some would say, criminally negligent or corrupt. One of many legal scandals never properly investigated. As for McArthur… Hell isn’t hot enough for him…
On another point: why was a double murderer in an open prison?
I though the social bargain when we abolished the death penalty was that a “life” sentence would mean life for those who take the life of another. And in this case, where he killed 2 people this should especially be enforced. The decision to release him is a disgrace. And he should be charged with the murder of that poor farmer.
He one of Ireland’s longest serving prisoners . Life in Ireland is usually 12 years
Democracy in Ireland. Whats that?
I think there was a problem with forensic proceedures in the Dunne case and the DPP knew it wouldnt win the case for that reason. On a previous point I think it costs the tax payer approx 90,000 euros per year per prisoner.
First I heard of a forensic problem, though I followed the case closely. If this was the case it actually strengthens my case for transparency in DPP decisions not to prosecute. If errors in forensic evidence gathering are being made to such an extent that murderers can escape prosecution, surely this is a matter for public concern…. But only of course if the public are aware of it…
GUBU I tell you! GUBU!
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