by Andrew Carey
A PARAMEDIC who secretly video recorded a female colleague in a toilet escaped a criminal conviction when a judge took account of his traumatic life and the fact that he puts himself in danger as a member of the frontline emergency services.
Robert Murphy (51) of Lissanalta Grove, Dooradoyle, Limerick recorded a female co-worker in a unisex toilet at the Tyone ambulance base in Nenagh on May 5, 2012 after concealing an iPhone in a box of disposable gloves.
The father-of-three, who also has two grandchildren, told gardaí that he made the recording for “his own pleasure”.
In her judgement at Nenagh District Court last week, Judge Elizabeth McGrath said she had to take account of Mr Murphy’s previous history including his father’s conviction for the murder of his mother.
He was born in California and came to Ireland when he was eight years old after his mother’s murder for which his father was sentenced to ten years in prison.
Judge McGrath alluded to the serious illness of Mr Murphy’s wife and said that this would have a strain on anyone’s family life.
The injured party said that she hoped the issue of compensation would not influence the court’s decision on a suitable penalty and Judge McGrath said that she was conscious of this.
The case was adjourned last December for Mr Murphy to engage fully with the probation services and for €5,000 compensation to be paid to the injured party.
Defence solicitor Dan O’Gorman said that his client had done everything the court had asked and cooperated with the completion of two probation reports.
He had and “extraordinary history” but was very remorseful for what he had done.
“This man has saved lives and put himself in the line of danger so he is owed something by this country. He has stepped up to the mark and now I am asking the State to step up to the mark”, Mr O’Gorman said.
Mr Murphy had been subject of “public opprobrium” and there was no “good news” regarding the serious illness of the accused’s wife.
Mr O’Gorman said that if a conviction was recorded against his client, it would have “very serious consequences on his employment”.
“I don’t see how any service would be paid to the citizens of Ireland if a conviction was recorded against him”, said Mr O’Gorman who added that Mr Murphy has “pulled people from ditches at 3am and resuscitated them”.
This incident, he said, was a “once off” and, according to the Probation Service, he was a low risk of reoffending.
Judge McGrath said that Mr Murphy came before the court without any previous convictions and that she took into account the psychological stress and the concerns expressed for his own safety.
“I have to take into account his very traumatic life and that he puts himself forward to frontline services in what he provides in his job. He has gone as far as he can go in terms of making amends, therefore it is appropriate to apply the Probation Act”, she said.
