Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Alison O'Reilly

Twisted paedophile foster dad jailed for raping daughter over 1,000 times texted her 'could we ever again'

A twisted paedophile jailed for raping his foster daughter more than 1,000 times tried to abuse her again after she fled his vile clutches.

Sicko Stephen Murray 56, from Humphreystown, Valleymount, Co Wicklow, texted her in 2019 telling her he missed her and asking if they could have sex again.

Murray was caged for 11 years after pleading guilty to 14 charges of rape, two of oral rape and one of sexual assault between 2009 and 2015.

Read More: Woman raped over 1,000 times by foster dad rejects Tusla apology saying it 'fixes nothing'

His brave former foster child, Kelly Kemmy, 24, waived her right to anonymity to speak out and said the Child and Family Agency Tusla had “destroyed her life”.

She was just 11 years old when her foster father began raping her – and after she escaped the horror ordeal he contacted her by text message.

Kelly told the Irish Sunday Mirror that after she left his home depraved Murray contacted her in 2019 asking for sex again.

Kelly Kemmy speaking to media (Collins Courts)

In the text Murray asked Kelly: “Stupid question, could we ever again, if not, no prob, just miss you.”

Kelly replied: “No sorry”. He texted back: “OK, had to know, just wishing”. He added: “Do you hate me for asking?”

Kelly did not reply and produced the texts as evidence when she reported him to gardai.

Now Kelly has told of her shock that Murray still had “the nerve” to try and abuse her again.

She said: “He got away with it for so long, he was an alcoholic and abusive, but on the outside we looked like we were well looked after”.

Tusla apologised to Kelly last week after she spoke out about the agency and how she felt “let down” by the system.

But Kelly told us the apology is “too late” and she believes it was only given because she went public with her story.

Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.