He was born at
Kilfinane,
County Limerick, the fifth son of Jeremiah Murphy. He matriculated at
Trinity College Dublin in 1842 and took his bachelor's degree there in 1849. He made his reputation as counsel for the prosecution in the
Phoenix Park murders trials in 1883, and later that year was duly rewarded for the successful outcome of the trials (from the Crown's point of view) by appointment to the
High Court. He sat first in the Common Pleas Division before being transferred to the King's Bench Division. He then transferred to the Exchequer Division, before finally returning to the King's Bench. He was appointed to the
Privy Council of Ireland in 1890. As a judge he was noted for dignity and efficiency rather than for profound legal learning. His judgments were generally considered to be right, and were rarely overturned on appeal, but very few of them were deemed worth reporting for their legal principles. It was in private life that Murphy shone most brightly: he was noted for his "warm-hearted hospitality", and his guests were charmed by his lively conversation and erudition.
Glencairn House, his home at
Leopardstown,
County Dublin, was one of the centres of Dublin social life. Ownership of Glencairn passed after his death to the notorious
Tammany Hall politician
Richard Croker ("Boss" Croker), and it is now the official residence of the
British Ambassador to Ireland. == Family ==