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Sgt Sheelagh Murphy! |
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Sergeant Sheelagh Murphy first appeared on our screens on the 12th of February 2003, during the crisis with Joanna Sharpe's disappearence. It wasn't actually her official first day, but she thought she could be useful, so turned up early. The first thing she did was guide Eva Sharpe into the station through the hoards of press hounds.
At the age of 41, Sheelagh is around two years younger than Bernie herself, and the character has lived in Ireland longer than the actress. Sheelagh's mother died in 1975, when she was only 13, and she was left to bring up her 5 siblings, because her father ran the pub. |
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At the same time, she was trying to attend the Convent school and gain an education. However, her Nun teachers did realise that she had difficulties at home, and they would turn a blind eye now and again. Things wern't quite so bad though, in that she was quick witted, and a hard worker. Sheelagh is a natural communicator (she's Irish after all!), and a good listener too.
Eventually, the time came when Sheelagh could leave home, and her family, and she soon married Patrick, a cabbie. Within a few years, children followed (Fintan, Siobhan, and Declan) and Sheelagh had herself a second family to care for. However, she's not one to stay at home, and when the children could be packed off to school, Sheelagh became a nurse. This was quite a good career for her, in that she is a very caring person, however, talking to Police Officers in and out of the hospital made her consider a change... |
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Needless to say Sheelagh was a success as a PC, however, given her character, she was the perfect candidate for Sergeant-hood... and that's when she appears on our screens, fresh from passing her Sgts exams. Would you notice it if you wern't told? No, she has a natural authority, even if she is slightly daunted at first. While it's easy to see that Sheelagh is a caring person, who looks out for her relief, she is soon seen |
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to be someone with a decent sense of humour, and an slightly sexy (but mature) attitude that shines through. The one to really notice this, is of course, PC Des Taviner... and the pair have more than one romantic liason; for all Sheelagh protests to herself and Des, that adultery is a sin, and "I can't! I'm a married woman!" In fact, whether "debriefing" in the Sgt room, or arguing with each other on duty, these two are one of the best character pairings in The Bill... |
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Just because she's so caring does not meen Sheelagh is a fool however, oh no. Her temper can snap, and woe betide the person who thinks they can get round her. She will spot the needs of her relief, and help them, but if they fool her around, or let her down (like Nick Klein did with his drug habit), she will lose her temper, well and truely!
Most of the time, watching Sheelagh's facial expressions, you can tell that hidden deep is a resentment of her natural caring ways...nobody has ever thought to look after her. Mind you...with Des, she does seem to lose that, sometimes! Another thing to be learnt from the relationship with Des is that Sheelagh has an inbred sense of religious morality, and there is a fight within her, as to whether she will disobey that sense of right and wrnog, to please herself, just for once.
Sheelagh is a keen football supporter, and quotes loads of info off to Des in an episode soon after her kidnap ordeal. She is very family orientated in a way, basically because that is inbred in her too, and she is, by all accounts, a very good mother, who is dearly fond of her children - and we love her too! |
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Do you think I've missed a part of Sheelagh's character? please email me, or leave a note on the tagboard, that can be found on the index page.
Bernie Nolan Info Return to Index |
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