Serial Killer John Shaw Faces Uncertain Future Amid Renewed Calls for Justice

Dublin, February 9, 2025 – The renewed scrutiny surrounding the brutal 1976 murder of Elizabeth Plunkett has left convicted serial killer John Shaw increasingly anxious, as concerns mount over his limited temporary release privileges. Shaw, now 77 and serving a life sentence at Dublin’s Arbour Hill Prison for the murder of Mary Duffy, is reportedly fearful that the Parole Board may reconsider his supervised outings following recent media coverage.

Despite Shaw’s previous confessions to the murder of Elizabeth Plunkett, alongside his now-deceased accomplice Geoffrey Evans, Ms. Plunkett’s family has publicly questioned why he was never formally convicted of her killing. Their concerns were reignited following an inquest jury’s January 23 verdict of unlawful killing, which has since prompted calls for the case to be reopened.

Shaw’s Reaction to Renewed Media Attention

A prison source disclosed that Shaw has become a “recluse”, avoiding other inmates and ceasing his usual prison activities since the case resurfaced in headlines. “He normally goes over to the workshops, makes tea for other inmates, and engages in light duties, but ever since Elizabeth Plunkett’s case has been back in the news, he has retreated into himself,” the source revealed.

Shaw has been receiving three to four days of supervised temporary release per year, during which he is escorted by two prison officers for a brief outing in Dublin. However, the source noted that he is now deeply concerned that the Garda Commissioner’s potential decision to reopen the case could jeopardize these outings.

“He knows he will likely never be fully released, so he clings to these brief moments of freedom. But with renewed public attention and the possibility of further legal action, he is on edge,” the source added.

Elizabeth Plunkett’s Family Seeks Justice

Ms. Plunkett, a 23-year-old woman from Ringsend, Dublin, was raped, strangled, and tied to a lawnmower before being rowed out to sea at Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow. Her remains washed ashore on Duncormick Beach, Co Wexford, four weeks later.

Following the recent inquest, her family issued a statement through their solicitor, James MacGuill, urging the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to finally prosecute Shaw for his role in her killing.

“Elizabeth was hunted down and savagely killed by two men who, less than a month later, murdered Mary Duffy. Despite confessing to both murders, only Mary’s case led to a conviction. With this new development, we urge Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to reopen the case and submit a fresh file to the DPP,” MacGuill stated outside Gorey Courthouse.

Shaw’s Past Temporary Release Raises Outrage

Shaw, who has been behind bars since September 1976, was previously granted two days of supervised release per year. In May 2022, he was photographed in Dublin city centre, appearing relaxed as he walked freely for the first time in 46 years. His day out, which included strolling through the city and stopping for coffee, sparked widespread public outrage, particularly among victims’ families.

At the time, a source revealed, “People sitting across from him in a café would have assumed he was just an old man out with his grandsons. Little did they know they were looking at one of Ireland’s most dangerous rapists and killers.”

A History of Horror: Shaw & Evans’ Reign of Terror

Shaw and Evans, both career criminals from Lancashire, England, met in prison and later traveled to Ireland in 1976, where they carried out a premeditated killing spree, vowing to abduct, torture, and murder one woman per week.

Their reign of terror ended with the brutal killings of Elizabeth Plunkett and Mary Duffy, 24, in Co Mayo. Both men were convicted of Duffy’s murder in February 1978 and sentenced to life imprisonment. Evans, who spent nearly four years in a coma, died in 2012 from sepsis.

Shaw, reportedly a grumpy and withdrawn inmate, spends most of his time in his cell with his pet budgie, named Geoffrey after his late accomplice. He previously worked in prison recycling computer parts but has increasingly withdrawn from any social interactions since the renewed media attention on Ms. Plunkett’s case.

The Path Forward

The prospect of reopening the case against John Shaw now lies with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and the Director of Public Prosecutions. As public and legal pressure mounts, Shaw’s past crimes and continued incarceration remain at the center of a decades-long fight for justice.

With Ms. Plunkett’s family calling for accountability and the potential for new legal proceedings, Shaw’s temporary release privileges—and any hope for future clemency—now appear uncertain at best.