Murderer John Crerar is "waiting for God to take him" as he struggles with ill health, The Irish Sunday Mirror has learned.
The former army sergeant is serving life for the brutal rape and murder of Phyllis Murphy who vanished on her way home from Christmas shopping on December 22, 1979. Crerar, 74, has served more than 20 years at Arbour Hill Prison for killing the 23-year-old he abducted after offering her a lift home at a bus stop.
A source said the evil killer, who has never shown any remorse for his crime, is now waiting to die as he succumbs to a serious lung disease. The source told The Irish Sunday Mirror: "He used to chat away to the other lifers and do a bit of work but he’s had to give it up.
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"He’s hardly able to move and has no energy. He’s an old man... he has said he is just waiting for God to take him now." Dad-of-five Crerar was nailed 20 years after the killing after advances in DNA testing put him at the scene of Phyllis’ murder.
Her naked and battered body was found in a remote area near the Wicklow Gap in January 1980. She had been beaten, raped and strangled.
Crerar, who lived just a few doors away from Phyllis’ family in Kildare town, had an alibi but this was withdrawn 18 years later. The source said: "He’s pure evil and honestly thought he would get away with the murder all those years ago.
"He has never shown any remorse or taken responsibility for what he did, so he is unlikely to be granted even temporary release.
"Like serial killer John Shaw, he will probably see out his days in prison."
A massive search was launched the day after Phyllis went missing with 3,000 volunteers, Civil Defence, army and gardai involved.
A note was made beside Crerar’s name during door-to-door inquiries by gardai recommending his story be checked as he was found to be "shifty" and "nervous".
The killer was given an alibi by his work colleague, who said he was at the security hut at the Black & Decker plant in Newbridge, Co Kildare on the night of the murder.
However, the breakthrough came in 1997 when Paddy Bolger told gardai Crerar had been late for work that night and had washed out the boot of his car on site.
Phyllis' inquest showed she had fought for her life and had suffered more than 30 injuries.
Last year Phyllis’ sister Barbara Turner said Crerar would be "very unwelcome" back in Kildare town if he is released.
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