The junior Fine Gael minister called for Gardai’s help when his chauffered car broke down at around 3am on a motorway just outside Mitchelstown, in Co. Cork.
He was then driven for 200km by two on-duty Gardai all the way to Dublin Airport to catch an early morning flight to Brussels, where the minister was due to attend some meetings.
It later emerged that the minister had no meetings scheduled for that particular date, September 13.
Mr. Murphy has said “sorry” to those who believe he wasted Garda resources, but has refused to accept that it was a mistake.