A killer with a history of violence against women has received death threats behind bars.
Evil Gavin Murphy was transferred from Mountjoy to the maximum security Portlaoise Prison a few months ago after he threatened the lives of prison officers and had attacked other inmates.
But Murphy, 31, who knifed his beautiful girlfriend Jennie Poole, 24, to death in a shocking crime is now as "quiet as a mouse" in his new environs.
Read more: Family of murdered Jennifer Poole say she 'lived in terror' of ex partner
It is understood he was warned by members of the Kinahan cartel and also republican prisoners in Portlaoise to behave himself or he would be killed.
A prison source said; "Gavin Murphy tried to be a hardman in Mountjoy and caused a lot of trouble for both the staff and other prisoners. He was despised there.
"However, since he went to Portlaoise there is hardly a word out of him. He is afraid of his life.
"There is a history of good relations between inmates in Portlaoise and the prison officers, with little or no hassle. and nobody wants to rock the boat.
"Murphy was told by the Kinahan gang members and the Republicans to behave or he would be killed. He has hardly opened his mouth since he got in here and is now behaving like a model prisoner."
In some parts of Portlaoise some inmates might only mix with two or three other prisoners a day for security reasons.
The security is far greater than Mountjoy and the army also helps guard many parts of the prison.
Traditionally anyone convicted by the three judge Special Criminal Court is detained there.
Former councillor Jonathan Dowdall who turned state witness against Gerry Hutch is being held there with his father in an underground bunker.
He received four years jail for facilitating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel attack and is now testifying against Hutch who is pleading not guilty to the murder.
Gavin Murphy had previously served three years jail for beating up his former girlfriend before he started dating mother of two Jennie, a care worker.
She had no idea of his violent background until he started beating her up at home. He brutally stabbed her several times and killed her.
He pleaded guilty to her murder at her Finglas flat in 2021 and received a life sentence in April last year.
Her heartbroken family say Murphy should never be freed and is a danger to women.
They recently met the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee calling for a new national Domestic Violence Register to be set up so the public can check if someone new they met has a history of violence.
They are convinced if Jenny had been aware of Murphy's violent history she would never have gone out with him and would be alive today.
It is understood Murphy is now likely to serve the rest of his life sentence in Portlaoise.
The Irish Prison Service said it could not comment on individual prisoners.
Read more:
- Man described as ‘worst of humanity’ jailed for life for Jennifer Poole murder
- Brother of murdered Jennifer Poole hits out at killer who threatened prison officers
- Jennie Poole remembered as 'mother like no other' and devoted to her kids
- Brother of murder victim Jennifer Poole says her children are living 'in fear for their lives'
- 'Jennie Poole was a doting mother tragically killed in the summer of her life'
