This episode was initially released as a Patreon exclusive on 8th Sept 2019
In November of 1997, Eileen O’Shaughnessy went to work as normal. She drove a taxi in Galway City, and was one of the few women drivers in the country
But on the night of the 30th of that month, Eileen’s car was found abandoned in the city with blood all over the drivers seat. Her body was found the next day.
The case remains unsolved.
Continue reading “Bonus – Eileen Costello O’Shaughnessy”This episode was first released as a Patreon exclusive on 7th October 2018
This is the story of the shocking killing of Tom O’Gorman by his lodger, Sevario Bellante, who suffered from schizophrenia. Bellante had recently been weaned off his medication under medical supervision, and on medical advice to do so, but this would have tragic results.
Theme Music:
Quinn’s Song: First Dance by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Sources:
Christina Finn, “Man admits to killing landlord Tom O’Gorman before removing organs” in TheJournal.ie http://www.thejournal.ie/tom-ogorman-saverio-bellante-murder-trial-2243523-Jul2015/ 30 July 2015
“Tom O’Gorman’s death has yet to be ‘fully ventilated’, inquest hears” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/tom-o-gorman-s-death-has-yet-to-be-fully-ventilated-inquest-hears-1.2541271 (19 February 2016)
Alison O’Riordan, “Tom O’Gorman murder trial:Saverio Bellante found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/tom-ogorman-murder-trial-saverio-bellante-found-not-guilty-of-murder-by-reason-of-insanity-31418066.html (31 July 2015)
Ryan Nugent, “Family of ‘cannibal’ murder victim Thomas O’Gorman wants inquest reoperned” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/family-of-cannibal-murder-victim-thomas-ogorman-wants-inquest-reopened-34470029.html (20 February 2016)
Donal Lynch, “The Bellante case: Bizarre fixation led to cannibal chess slaying” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/the-bellante-case-bizarre-fixation-led-to-cannibal-chess-slaying-31421145.html (2 August 2015)
Allison Bray, “Coroner says Tom O’Gorman inquest ‘ should be re-opened” The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/coroner-says-tom-ogorman-inquest-should-be-reopened-34511538.html (4 March 2016)
Allison O’Riordan, “Man who admitted killing journalist Tom O’Gorman and consuming organ stopped medication after attending Dublin clinic, court told” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/man-who-admitted-killing-journalist-tom-ogorman-and-consuming-organ-stopped-medication-after-attending-dublin-clinic-court-told-31416232.html 30 July 2015
Stephen Breen, “Cannibal killer who ate part of slain Irish housemate’s lung ‘to be free in two years’ in The Irish Sun https://www.thesun.ie/archives/irish-news/237715/cannibal-killer-who-ate-part-of-slain-irish-housemates-lung-to-be-free-in-two-years/ 27 October 2016
Mary Carolan, “Medical negligence actin by man who killed landlord may not go ahead” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/medical-negligence-action-by-man-who-killed-landlord-may-not-go-ahead-1.3135815 27 June 2017
Natasha Reid, “O’Goran family to get trascript of murder trial due to HSE worries” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/criminal-court/o-gorman-family-to-get-transcript-of-murder-trial-due-to-hse-worries-1.3398066 19 February 2018
Aodhan O’Faolain, “Judge rules against medical negligence claim for man who alledgedly killed landlord and ate his lung” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/judge-rules-against-medical-negligence-claim-for-man-who-allegedly-killed-landlord-and-ate-his-lung-35871644.html 27 June 2017
Stephanie Grogan “Coronor Court Refused Medical records of Saverio Ballante” from 98fm.com https://www.98fm.com/Coroner-Court-Refused-Medical-Records-of-Saverio-Bellante 2 February 2017
“Tom O’Gorman faced ‘appaling violence’, says sister” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/criminal-court/tom-o-gorman-faced-appalling-violence-says-sister-1.2314713 12 August 2015
This Bonus episode was first published as a “Guilt Trip” episode on Patreon on 7th April 2019.
Dolores McCrea married the man that she had met and fallen for while in Secondary School in Donegal. But her husband, Gary, was a controlling man and became abusive.
Soon the violence became too much for Dolores and she left Gary, bringing along their four daughters. But often the time after a person leaves their abuser is the most dangerous. And this was the case for Dolores.
Gary McCrea had plans for Dolores once she left him which would lead him to standing in the dock in the Four Courts just over a year later.
Continue reading “Bonus: Dolores McCrea”
In 1981, Nora Sheehan went missing from Ballyphehane, Co Cork. She was found dead a week later, and gardai soon had a prime suspect for her murder while investigating another crime.
But a series of setbacks meant no trial was held in the case until 2023.
This episode was researched and written by Aileen Spearin.
Continue reading “138 – The Longest Wait for Justice: Nora Sheehan”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.
Continue reading “137 – A Legacy of Violence: Derek Benson”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.
Kitty Carroll was killed by Michael Murphy in Drogheda in 1983 – he would go on to kill again.
Continue reading “Bonus: GT – Kitty Carroll”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.
Continue reading “136 – David Byrne: Murder in a Dark Corner”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.
Continue reading “135 – The Superglue killer: The murder of Julie Tennant”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.
Continue reading “134 – A Question of Self Defence: The murder of Leslie Kenny”
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.
Continue reading “133 – Killer on the Run: The murder of Emer O’Loughlin”