Sex offender Larry Murphy will finally leave Ireland this week when he takes delivery of a new passport.

Police sources in Dublin have confirmed to the Sunday Independent that the convicted murderer and rapist – a suspect in the Annie McCarrick disappearance – is to return to Spain by next weekend.

The 46-year-old was released from an Irish prison earlier this year after he had served 10 years of a 15 year sentence for a brutal attack on a woman in the Dublin mountains.

During his time in jail, he repeatedly refused to help police with their investigations into the disappearance of New Yorker McCarrick almost 18 years ago.

Murphy fled to the continent after his recent release and had settled in Spain after time in Holland.

He was forced to return to Ireland when his passport was robbed with one paper claiming it was stolen by a prostitute.

Spanish police were unaware he was in their jurisdiction until he reported his passport missing.

Under constant police surveillance, Murphy has moved between a number of hotels and guesthouses in Dublin as he awaits a return to Spain.

His passport is due to be replaced early this week, and he is expected to return to Spain where police were apparently unaware of his identity and background until he reported his passport stolen.

Spanish police have now entered his name into an Interpol database which has flagged Murphy as a dangerous person.  

Fr Ciaran Enright, chaplain of Arbour Hill Prison where Murphy served his 10-year term, met Murphy at Dublin Airport last month.