Background
He was born in Donnycarney, County Dublin and was educated at Scoil Mhuire, Marino.
He was born in Donnycarney, County Dublin and was educated at Scoil Mhuire, Marino.
Murray worked in Birmingham as a labourer at a forgings and press factory, while living in Watt Road, Erdington. Murray"s involvement in the 21 November 1974 bombing of the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town included choosing the targets and making the bombs. He transported the bombs to Birmingham city centre before handing them to the planters.
He made the telephone warning using the codename Double X. The two bombings resulted in the deaths of 21 people - mostly young.
A total of 182 were injured, many seriously. Murray would later tell Paddy Hill and Johnny Walker that the phone boxes to be used had been vandalised requiring the finding of another, some distance away.
He was charged with explosives offenses jointly with Michael Sheehan and James Kelly (Woods). All three were tried as part of the same trial that convicted the Birmingham Six.
Murray remained silent throughout the trial, refusing to plead or acknowledge the proceedings.
He was sentenced to 12 years. The trial judge, The Honorary Mr Justice Bridge, described Murray as having all the demeanour of a soldier and commended him for his manner.
In prison he was active in the Blanket protest campaign.
On release he was excluded from England and worked as a driver for An Phoblacht while resuming Ireland Republican Army activities. He stayed loyal to the Provisionals following the Real Ireland Republican Army secession, but remained a hardliner within the organisation, strongly opposing decommissioning.
Following his death in 1999, his body was buried in Clonmellon, County Westmeath.
Provisional Irish Republican Army.