Man charged in relation to death of Irish dancer Adrian Murphy

A man has been charged in relation to the death of Adrian Murphy, an Irish Dancing champion who was a native of Kilkenny.

Man charged Adrian Murphy

A man has been charged in relation to the death of Adrian Murphy in June of this year.

Adrian Murphy, who was originally from Kilkenny, was found dead at a block of flats in Battersea, south-west London, on June 4.

Officers leading the investigation suspected he was lured to the location through chatting with a user on Grindr. Items were reported as having been stolen, including mobile phones and cash.

A 24 year-old was arrested on suspicion of rape, murder, and theft. They were released on bail but placed under investigation. A 17 year-old girl was also arrested on June 12; she was also released under investigation.

The Independent reports that Joel Osei, 24, has now been charged with the poisoning of two people including Adrian Murphy.

Osei appeared at a London Court on Saturday, October 26, and was charged with two counts of poisoning or administering a substance to endanger life, two counts of theft, and six counts of fraud by false representation.

The 24 year-old is accused of administering scopolamine, a motion sickness drug also known as hyoscine, to Adrian Murphy on June 1.

The drug can cause side effects such as sleepiness and blurred vision in regular doses.

Osei is accused of administering the same drug to another man on May 30 who he also allegedly met on Grindr.

Mr Murphy was a seven-time All-Ireland Irish dancing champion and produced and choreographed shows like ‘Celtic Dance Force’, ‘Feet of Fire’ and ‘FireDance The Show’.

He was buried next to his parents in his native Kilkenny in July of this year.

After the death of Mr Murphy in June, police at the time warned that there might be further victims and asked that people be vigilant on social media.

Detective Chief Inspector Rob Pack, from the London Metropolitan Police’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “We have linked these two incidents through our suspects, and our inquiries continue to establish the exact circumstances.

“We know the victim in the Walthamstow incident met the male suspect through a social networking site, and we are investigating whether there is a similar connection in Mr Murphy’s death.

“Both incidents happened over a short period of time, and thorough inquiries have led us to make these prompt arrests. However, there is a possibility other offences may have been committed before May 30.”

“Two of the matters with which you are charged can only be tried in the Crown Court, and accordingly, I surrender you to the Crown Court,” Osei was told by the judge.

“The other matters are linked, and accordingly I send them with the indictable matter.”

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