Dr Denis Murphy

Formerly Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist at Lambeth Hospital (Ward in the Community and Hopton Road), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, UK

Denis Murphy, who died in 2010 aged 60, was a man of strong convictions and broad interests who was intrigued by what made people tick, especially those most damaged and marginalised in society.

He was born in 1950 in Dublin, Ireland, the younger son of a neurologist. He was educated at first by the Jesuits and then at University College Medical School, Dublin. He began his career in psychiatry on the training programme in 1977 at St Guy's Hospital in London, UK. On completion of training he worked for 2 years as a Research Fellow in Psychopharmacology at Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, beginning in 1981. He returned to London to the Institute of Psychiatry to specialise further in forensic psychiatry, including work at Broadmoor Hospital.

He was appointed consultant at the Special Assessment and Supervision Forensic Service, Cane Hill Hospital in 1989. Ten years later he joined the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust as consultant to the Forensic Rehabilitation Service based at Lambeth Hospital (Ward in the Community) and at Hopton Road where he remained until his death. Denis played a major role in the establishment and development of this innovative service, combining elements of individual and group psychotherapy treatments as well as therapeutic community approaches.

He had an abiding interest in psychoanalysis, and trained to become a member of the Institute of Group Analysis in 1997, followed by active membership of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy, and an MA in Clinical Psychoanalysis in 2003. He was in analytic treatment with Earl Hopper. This additional experience informed Denis’ assessment and treatment skills with forensic patients, and also equipped him to work in group therapy at St Thomas’ Hospital Psychotherapy Department and at Wandsworth Prison.

He was also active in the Doctors’ Support Group, providing confidential assessment and psychological support to doctors in personal and professional relationship difficulties.

Denis produced several academic papers reflecting his wide interests in biological psychiatry, psychoanalytic understanding, group process and professional teamwork.

He was a devoted family man who loved socialising, talking, debating, walking, food, reading, rugby, gardening, cycling and tennis. He was both gregarious and introspective and remains a lasting inspiration and a deep loss. He is sorely missed by his patients, colleagues, friends and family, and is survived by his mother Kathleen, wife Eva, daughters Genny and Miranda, and stepsons Crispin and Sebastian.