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Severed arm of missing rapist washes up on Dublin beach

Police search site where he was likely tortured and killed

KATE HICKEY,

IrishCentral.com Editor

Published Wednesday, March 30, 2011, 1:08 PM

Updated Friday, April 1, 2011, 12:56 PM

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Dollymount Strand where the convicted rapist's arm washed ashore

The arm of a convicted rapist was found on Dollymount Strand, in North Dublin, having been dumped at sea. Irish police are now searching for the site where the career criminal and sex offender James Nolan (46) was tortured and murdered.

Nolan's arm was found on the beach in February, where it washed ashore, but has just been identified. A source told the Evening Herald "Someone had it in for Nolan. It looks like he suffered a horrendous death…His arm was hacked off at the shoulder and his fingertips cut off to hamper identification."

Nolan had not been seen by his family since his release from prison in 2005.

A police spokesperson confirmed that Nolan's arm was identified using DNA analysis, with the cooperation of Interpol.

Nolan was released from prison in July 2005 having served three years for a burglary in Booterstown, South Dublin. The police caught him using a finger print which they had on file after he was detained for rape 19 years earlier. He also held convictions for larceny and road traffic offences.

In 1988 Nolan had been convicted of rape and the false imprisonment of a woman in 1986. He served 14 years in prison.

Nolan had not been listed as a missing person. His parents have died and his family from Fairlawn Road, Finglas, in west Dublin, declined to comment about the discovery.

Previously Judge Katherine Delahunt had noted in a probation report that Nolan showed a high risk of re-offending due to his alcohol and drug problem. Back then she suspended the final 18 months on his jail sentence for burglary and ordered that he receive alcohol and drug treatment.

Nster.com

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36 Comments

15 - 36 | See all comments

GeorgeDillon | Apr 01, 2011, 01:22 PM EDT

sham1977aka sirpeter: I note you have no rejoinder to my analysis of your silly postings. Get off this site now--you have nothing to offer save garbage.

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GeorgeDillon | Apr 01, 2011, 01:16 PM EDT

mamaginnty: Aren't you married to the comedian Noel Ginnity? Isn't it enough to have one clown in the family?

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mamaginnty | Apr 01, 2011, 12:28 PM EDT

Gorgieboy off again, as soon as he sees the word Irish or Ireland he goes wonky, running Ireland and the irish to pieces. These comments were supposed to be about the rapist, but it was on an irish beach, oh dear, I have said "irish" thats like the red flag to a bull, the bull here of course is...... Redhand the person or persons who did this are probably feeling at peace now. Has anyone here had a child tortured and raped....I have, and I do not want your pity.

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moleary1182 | Apr 01, 2011, 11:40 AM EDT

My garda friend found that bad boy, he taut it was from a pig

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msbpodcaat | Apr 01, 2011, 03:39 AM EDT

I will not weep for him. Oh how I weep for the killer who must bear shame on his heart until he dies himself.

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redhand32 | Mar 31, 2011, 11:16 PM EDT

It is within our power to choose the law of the jungle as beasts, predators. Alternately, we can limit our primal urge to strike out at another, himself/herself a beast, choosing instead the rule of law, as imperfect as it sometimes is. Whether as a species, or as children of the living God, we must get on with it, and choose one or the other for all time.

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Newrone | Mar 31, 2011, 08:39 PM EDT

I would worry for the state of the world if the kind of justice that 90% of posters below support could have their way with it. It's like we're still in the Middle Ages.

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dublinguy | Mar 31, 2011, 08:08 PM EDT

haha..I love it i hope they cut off his fingertips while he was alive, followed by his arm, and i pray that lowlife murphy gets his next.

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GeorgeDillon | Mar 31, 2011, 06:35 PM EDT

sham1977aka sirpeter: You're an abusive fool. You have no ideas or thoughts of your own, just ignorant abuse. I won't bother replying to you again, and I certainly won't be intimidated by a nut like you from telling the truth about Ireland as I see it. For now just take it to the bank: you're a stupid clown.

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breffnyblue | Mar 31, 2011, 05:30 PM EDT

I am glad to see that modern day Ireland has'nt forgot how to dispense just and effective 'treatment' for these animals. Back there 50 years ago some were for 'hanging' them while the soft hearted said 'castration'. I voted for both--at the same time!! just whatever ensures 'no repeat offenders.

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srdools | Mar 31, 2011, 04:35 PM EDT

News flash! IRISH BEACHES HEAVILY ARMED!

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Irishviking | Mar 31, 2011, 03:45 PM EDT

good rid of scum !!!

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sham1977 | Mar 31, 2011, 03:32 PM EDT

Messy business indeed!! Alot of people won't feel sorry for him, however, very few people deserve a death like that!! Back to our lighthearted and very humerous friend "Georgy Porgy" aka GeorgeDillon, well the Irish are filthy, we are stupid, and ignorant, any other enlightened comments about us you would like to make???? In spite of all our "faults" I can guarantee you most of us have way more fun and craic than you do!! You are a sad, negative man - sad, cos you like to pick fights and insult people!! Get out of your house once in a while, get laid sometime soon too - even you could afford $50!!!

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GeorgeDillon | Mar 31, 2011, 03:30 PM EDT

like2tweet: I guess it's 2 or 3 years since I was on Dollymount Beach. It's a wonderful beach. But the day I was there it was filthy, as I described. You want me to lie, so as to boost Irish tourism? Don't be crazy. I also didn't like the way Dublin City or whoever has authority over it has cut it up into small pieces (I'm talking about the beach). On my first visit there more than 20 years ago I ran about 6 miles unhindered from one end to the other. It was very special. Couldn't do that now, because the authorities have messed it up, like everything else in Ireland. Next I guess they'll be putting an Interpretation Center, so as to tell us what fish are.

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PaddyMacOReilly | Mar 31, 2011, 03:02 PM EDT

Case closed! The Garda Síochána na hÉireanni need not look further unless the Garda intend to award Murphy's killer(s) with a citizen of the year award. The world is a whole lot safer today. What was Judge Katherine Delahunt thinking when she suspended Murphy's final 18 month jail sentence?

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