In the middle of the night on the 13th May, 2000, a flat in Ballymun was set alight. Inside, the body of Derek Benson was found. But his cause of death had nothing to do with the inferno in his bedroom. He had been brutally killed with a blade.

The garda investigation into his murder would not only identify his killers, but a litany of abuse and violence that would continue long after the trial had concluded.

This episode was researched and written by Aileen Spearin.

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Theme Music:

Quinn’s Song: The Dance Begins Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Additional Music: Allemande (Sting) by Wahneta Meixsell. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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Sources:

“Revenge”, book by Ken Foxe

Barbara Clinton, “Gardai appeal for public help in murder probe”, Irish Examiner, May 15th 2000

“Ballymun killing a gangland message”, Evening Herald, May 15th 2000

Bernie O’Toole, “Copycat flat death man had horrific injuries”, Irish Independent, May 15th 2000

Caroline O’Doherty, “Plea for help in hunt for savage killer”, Irish Examiner, May 16th 2000

Caroline O’Doherty, “Witness to killing sought by gardai”, Irish Examiner, May 17th 2000

“Drugged, tortured and killed for £300”, Evening Herald, May 19th 2000

Caroline O’Doherty, “Man charged with murder of stabbed father”, Irish Examiner, May 19th 2000

Tom Brady, “Man charged after frenzied knife murder”, Irish Independent, May 19th 2000

“Woman brought in for questioning”, Irish Examiner, May 23rd 2000

Tim Healy, “Woman charged with flat murder”, Evening Herald, May 23rd 2000

Liz Walsh, “Hired sword death horror”, Jan 13th 2004

For a full list of sources, please see mensreapod.com

Kitty Carroll was killed by Michael Murphy in Drogheda in 1983 - he would go on to kill again.

This episode was originally posted to Patreon as a bonus episode in March 2022. Hang in there while I continue to try to get back on track with my work schedule.

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Music:

Kevin McLeod, Quinns Song : The Dance Begins. (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

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Sources:

“Woman is strangled by mugger” in The Evening Press (21 October 1983) p. 7.

“Remanded on death charge” in The Evening Herald (28 October 1983) p. 17.

“Murder case man remanded” in The Irish Press (29 October 1983) p. 6.

“Murder charge remand” in The Drogheda Independent (4 November 1983) p. 5.

“Murder charge man remanded” in The Irish Independent (19 November 1983) p. 7.

“Remanded on murder charge” in The Drogheda Independent (27 January 1984) p. 3.

“Murder charge concern” in The Drogheda Independent (17 February 1984) p. 5.

For a full list of sources please see mensreapod.com

In March of 2011, 19 year old David Byrne set out to meet someone near to his home in Drimnagh, Dublin City. Little did he know that he was walking into a trap. A panicked chase was caught on CCTV, but the final attack occurred in a dark corner out of sight of any cameras. Could his killer be identified from the footage?

This episode was researched and written by Aileen Spearin.

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With thanks to our supporters on Patreon! Donate today to get access to bonus and ad-free episodes!

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Theme Music:

Quinn’s Song: The Dance Begins Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Additional Music: Allemande (Sting) by Wahneta Meixsell. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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Sources:

DPP vs Marcus Kirwan appeal doc, available on Vlex

Ireland Young and Dumb Episode 3, TV3 documentary, available on YouTube

Tom Brady and Patricia McDonagh, “Teen chased down and stabbed to death by gang”, Irish Independent, March 21st 2011

Ann Murphy, “Manhunt for gang after Dublin teen is murdered”, Evening Echo, March 21st 2011

Tom Brady and Shane Hickey, “Murdered teen’s stabbing death is not linked to gangland feud”, Irish Independent, March 22nd 2011

Cormac Murphy, “Gardai prepare to arrest four teen knife killers”, Evening Herald, March 22nd 2011

Tom Brady, “Teens aged 13 held over fatal stabbing of young man”, Irish Independent, March 23rd 2011

Clodagh Sheehy, “Two 13 year olds held over fatal knife attack”, Evening Herald, March 23rd 2011

Cormac O’Keefe, “Seven teenagers held in murder hunt”, Irish Examiner, March 23rd 2011

Tom Brady, “Young man was murdered over €2000 owed to drug dealers”, Irish Independent, March 24th 2011

For a full list of sources, please see mensreapod.com

In August 2000, 21 year old Julie Tennant went missing from her home in Ballymena. Her parents searched desperately for her, while RUC officers began a search for her. They eventually identified a man she had last been seen with - but when he heard police were searching his home he went on the run.

This episode was researched and written by Aileen Spearin.

********

Find us on Facebook or Twitter!

With thanks to our supporters on Patreon! Donate today to get access to bonus and ad-free episodes!

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Theme Music:

Quinn’s Song: The Dance Begins Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Additional Music:   Allemande (Sting) by Wahneta Meixsell. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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Sources:

“RUC renews missing plea”, Belfast Newsletter, Aug 12th 2000

Maureen Coleman, “Parents in appeal for missing daughter”, Belfast Telegraph, Aug 15th 2000

Martin Breen “RUC seal house in hunt for lost Julie”, Belfast Telegraph, Aug 22nd 2000

Martin Breen, “Search for Julie, man is arrested”, Belfast Telegraph, Aug 24th 2000

“Missing Julie man quizzed”, Belfast Newsletter, Aug 24th 2000

Ciaran McGuigan “Agony for Julie family as body discovered”, Belfast Telegraph, Aug 25th 2000

For a full list of sources, please visit www.mensreapod.com

One of television's most popular true-crime series is now adapted for your ears with the “48 Hours” podcast. Every week, award-winning CBS News correspondents investigate the most intriguing crime and justice cases. Here’s a preview of a new “48 Hours” episode, “The Night of

the Idaho Student Murders”. "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant sits down with family members of Kaylee Goncalves and Xana Kernodle, two of the four University of Idaho students shockingly murdered the night of November 13, 2022. You can hear the rest of this episode on the “48 Hours” podcast from CBS News. For even more “48 Hours”, listen to the new “Post Mortem” series every Tuesday, where the correspondents and producers share their first hand experiences reporting on the compelling cases they cover.

Listen to 48 Hours ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts: Wondery.fm/48_MR

Just after 10am, on Wednesday the 29th July 2008, shots rang out on a busy residential road in Kilrush, Co Clare. Two men who lived on the street, Leslie Kenny and Brendan O'Sullivan, had exchanged words, and by the end of that interaction, one of them was lying dead in a front garden.

This episode was researched and written by Aileen Spearin.

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With thanks to our supporters on Patreon! Donate today to get access to bonus and ad-free episodes!

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Theme Music:

Quinn’s Song: The Dance Begins Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Additional Music:   Allemande (Sting) by Wahneta Meixsell. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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Sources:

DPP V Brendan O’Sullivan appeal document

“20 months in jail for heroin addict”, Irish Independent, Oct 4th 2003

Gordon Deegan, “Widespread heroin use may increase in Clare”, Clare Champion, Oct 10th 2003

Gordon Deegan, “Man faces charge over threatening behaviour in court case”, Irish Independent, Sep 29th 2005

Gordon Deegan, “Man charged after disturbance forced judge to suspend court”, Irish Examiner, Sep 29th 2005

For a full list of sources, please see mensreapod.com

If you have any information on the whereabouts of John Griffin, you can contact Gort Garda Station on (091) 636400, the Garda Confidential line at 1800 666 111 or your local law enforcement agency.

In 2005, a caravan caught fire in rural north Clare, Emer O'Loughlin's family were initially relieved to see that it wasn't the one she shared with her partner Shane. But when human remains were found inside the charred wreckage, and there was still no sign of the artistic Emer, hope that everything would be ok was quickly dashed.

In the years that followed, so would hope that Emer's killer might be brought to justice.

This episode was researched and written by Aileen Spearin.

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Find us on Facebook or Twitter!

With thanks to our supporters on Patreon! Donate today to get access to bonus and ad-free episodes!

Check out the Mens Rea Merch Store!

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Theme Music:

Quinn’s Song: The Dance Begins Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Additional Music:   Allemande (Sting) by Wahneta Meixsell. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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Sources:

Cracking Crime Emer O’Loughlin, RTE, available on YouTube

Marú Inár Measc Season 2 Ep 2, TG4, available on TG4 Player

John Fallon, “Gardai seek to identify woman killed in caravan fire”, Irish Examiner, Apr 11th 2005

Joe O Muircheartaigh, “Gardai’s open mind over fire”, Clare Champion, Apr 15th 2005

Stephen Glennon, “Appeal for witnesses in bid to solve mystery of body in burned caravan”, Connacht Tribune, Apr 15th 2005

Gordon Deegan, “Suspicion over death of woman in caravan blaze”, Irish Independent, Apr 16th 2005

Pat Flynn, “Probe after DNA helps identify woman in caravan inferno”, Sunday Independent, Apr 17th 2005

Pat Flynn, “Bizzare link probe to art student’s death in blaze”, Irish Independent, Apr 18th 2005

For a full list of sources, please see mensreapod.com

28 year old mother of one Norma Crotty appeared on her neighbours doorstep early on the morning of January 3rd, 1995. She was in a distressed state, and was holding a shotgun. It was smoking.

Norma told her neighbour that she had just shot her husband.

This episode was researched and written by Aileen Spearin.

********

Find us on Facebook or Twitter!

With thanks to our supporters on Patreon! Donate today to get access to bonus and ad-free episodes!

Check out the Mens Rea Merch Store!

*********

Theme Music:

Quinn’s Song: The Dance Begins Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Additional Music:   Allemande (Sting) by Wahneta Meixsell. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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Sources:

John Murphy, “Middleton man died from shot in the back”, Irish Examiner, Jan 4th 1995.

John Murphy, “Gardai release woman”, Evening Echo, Jan 4th 1995.

“Help sought in Midleton murder probe”, Evening Echo, Jan 5th 1995.

“Shot man removed”, Irish Examiner, Jan 6th 1995.

“Military funeral for shot soldier”, Irish Press, Jan 7th 1995.

“Sad silence over graveyard as shot soldier is laid to rest”, Irish Examiner, Jan 7th 1995.

John Murphy, “Definite line of inquiry in death of Midleton man”, Irish Examiner, Jan 9th 1995.

Ralph Riegel, “Murder charge expected”, Irish Examiner, Oct 9th 1995.

For a full list of sources, please see mensreapod.com