Nurse killer jail switch

MALCOLM McArthur, the aristocratic layabout murderer, had his hopes for a quiet release from prison dashed this week.

The academic McArthur shocked the nation 20 years ago after murdering nurse Bridie Gargan in the Phoenix Park and finally being arrested in the home of the then Attorney General, Paddy Connolly.

Recently he had to be moved from the training unit of Mountjoy Prison after allegations of child molestation were made against him.

Security sources say he is unlikely to be released soon because: "Most members of the public know he never stood trial for the second murder that took place 20 years ago."

That was the shooting of farmer Donal Dunne who McArthur said he had shot with his own shotgun after they had met to discuss the sale of the gun."

The allegations of paedophilia were made last April by Phil Hogan - Fine Gael TD for Carlow/Kilkenny.

He claimed that McArthur is a paedophile and was an associate of a "covert" paedophile, operating in a position of authority in the SE Health Board.

At the time, Education Minister Dr Michael Woods promised a full inquiry into allegations that a top department official responsible for investigating sex abuse was himself linked to a Dublin paedophile ring.

Dr Woods has admitted he was shocked by Hogan's allegations.

McArthur has claimed he was innocent and offered to cooperate with the Laffoy commission on child abuse. Despite his rejection of the allegations, he was still moved from Mountjoy to Arbour Hill Prison, home of some of the country's notorious sex offenders.

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