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Irish presenter will allow interview rapist Larry Murphy on top TV chat show

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Larry Murphy exits Arbour Hill prison, Dublin on Thursday

Presenter of the most popular Irish chat show, "The Late Late Show", Ryan Tubridy, has refused to rule out interviewing freed kidnapper and rapist, Larry Murphy.

Tubridy said that while it is not his responsibility to choose the guests who appear on his Friday night chat show he would not shy away from interviewing Larry Murphy. He said although he was not aware of any plans to have Murphy interviewed on the show he would not rule the idea out.

He said "It's not up to me if Larry Murphy comes on the show.

"However, if he's put before me on the show, will I interview him? Of course I will -- and I'll give him a very thorough interview.

"But will I enjoy the experience? That's highly unlikely. The Late Late Show has been known for its controversy and I don't know who might turn up," said Tubridy, speaking to the Evening Herald.

On his radio show on Tuesday morning he added "I think it's pretty safe to say he won't be a guest on the Late Late show and I'd be shocked if he was."

The RTE, Ireland's national broadcaster, spokesperson said that she would not speculated on "The Late Late Show" scheduled guests. Similarly Tubridy would not comment on whether the show had approached Murphy for an interview or whether he viewed Murphy as an appropriate guest for the chat show viewed by 500,000 Irish viewers every Friday evening.

Charlie Flanagan, the justice spokesman for the Fine Gael party said it would be a disgrace if Murphy was allowed to appear on the national broadcaster.

He said "It would be very much against the public interest to have a criminal like Larry Murphy given the status of going on a nationwide chat show.

"Murphy should engage with the treatment services and probation and welfare services instead of engaging with Ryan Tubridy. There is something insidious in affording criminals, ex-cons, or high risk individuals the chance to speak to the nation."

Similarly the Rape Crisis Centre criticized the idea. They said it would be highly inappropriate and urged the producers to consider the victims of his crimes.

CEO of the Rape Crisis Centre, Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop said "This particular case is much too sensitive at the moment," she said. "I suppose the Late Late Show has always been a show that has helped inform society. A serial pedophile was interviewed on the show before.

"But I think those kinds of interviews must be considered very carefully…We have to be mindful of the victims. I do think we need to be terribly respectful around the area of interviewing rapists or pedophiles. We absolutely have to keep our minds and focused on the victims."

Larry Murphy was released less than two weeks ago from the Arbour Hill prison in Dublin. He has served 10 years of a 15-year sentence for the kidnapping, repeated rape and attempted murder of a Carlow business woman.

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