84 – Dark Saga: The Murder of Philomena Gillane

In May of 1994, Philomena Gillane was 7 months pregnant. On the morning of Wednesday the 11th, she left her home early to head to work. But she never arrived. She was found dead in the boot of her own car 25 miles away, at Athlone Train station.

Her family would spend the next 3 years in and out of courts dealing with the fallout from her brutal murder, and in a search for justice that was never fully achieved.

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Sources:


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Paul O’Neill, “Murdered woman was stabbed, shot in the back” in The Irish Times (19 May 1994) p. 1.

Edward O’Loughlin, “Staff at Loughlinstown Hosital to hold special Mass for dead colleague” in The Irish Times (19 May 1994) p. 7

Paul O’Neill, “Woman’s body lies in car as life goes on at busy station” in The Irish Times (19 May 1994) p. 7.

Michael Finlan, “Latest violent death further blow to tranquility of Galway villages” in The Irish Times (19 May 1994) p. 7.

Fergus Black, “Cheery victim ‘was the careful type’” in Irish Independent (19 May 1994) p. 7.

Brian McDonald, “Cars fan spotted neatly parked Kadett” in The Irish Independent (19 May 1994) p. 7

Don Lavery, “Gone five when reported missing” in The Irish Independent (19 May 1994) p. 6.

Paul O’Neill, “Victim may have been fleeing” in The Irish Times (20 May 1994) p. 1.

Annamaria McAnearney and Brian McDonald, “Murder: photo-fits of two suspects” in The Evening Herald (20 May 1994) p. 4.

Paul O’Neill, “Community left seeking some rationale for recent events” in The Irish Times (20 May 1994) p. 6.

Annemarie McEnearney, “Husband left behind to move into ‘dream home’” in The Irish Independent (20 May 1994) p. 9

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Joanne McElgunn, “Who’s sentence an unborn baby to death” in The Sunday World (24 July 1994) p. 10-11.

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Veronica Guerin, “How my lover told me he was a killer” in The Sunday Independent (25 September 1994) p. 4.

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Audrey Magee, “Gardai say inquiry into Gillane murder continues” in The Irish Times (27 March 1995) p. 7.

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Meave Sheehan, “Exclusive: Contract killer claim in Gillane murder case” in The Sunday Tribune (18 June 1995) p. 1.

Micahel Finlan, “Gardai hold four men in Gillane killing investigation” in The Irish Times (1 July 1996) p. 1.

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Brian MacDonald, “Man at risk if Gillane brother gets bail, court told” in The Irish Independent (4 July 1995) p. 1.

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“Further remand in Gort assault case” in The Irish Times (23 November 1995) p. 4.

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“Gillane denies assaulting garda” in The Irish Times (15 February 1996) p. 6.

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Tom Brady, “Murder victim’s husband sent for trial” in The Irish Independent (21 May 1996) p. 5.

Brian MacDonald, “Philomena’s brother tells of ‘slash attack’” in The Irish Independent (19 June 1996) p. 3.

“Trial told how killing led to dispute” in The Irish Times (19 June 1996) p. 6.

“Gillane not guilty of wounding in farm fight” in The Irish Times (21 June 1996) p. 7.

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Brian MacDonald, “Philomena’s ghost hangs over two families at war” in The Sunday Independent (23 June 1996) p. 6.

Ken O’Shea, “Gillane murder cops’ shotgun find in river” in The Sunday World (30 June 1996) p. 19.

“Gillane assault charges deferred” in The Irish Times (23 July 1996) p. 4.

Uinsionn Mac Dubhghaill, “Mother of murder victim dies after collapsing” in The Irish Times (25 September 1996) p. 1.

“Court death of victim’s mother halts trial” in The Irish Times(25 September 1996) p. 4.

Uinsionn Mac Dubhghaill, “Murderer woman’s mother buried in Caltra” in The Irish Times (27 September 1996) p. 2.

Brain MacDonald, “Broken hearted grandmother is laid to rest” in The Irish Times (27 September 1996) p. 8.

“Publicity cited for Gillane trial move to Dublin courts” in The Irish Times (2 October 1996) p. 4.

“Trial in Gillane death is moved to Dublin” in The Irish Times (20 December 1996) p. 4.

“Assault charges against brothers of murder victim are dismissed” in The Irish Times (25 February 1997) p. 7.

“Man’s bowel cut open in slash hook attack” in The Irish Independent (25 February 1997) p. 6.

“Gillane case delayed until end of year” in The Irish Times (19 June 1997) p. 5.

“Patrick Gillane denies claims by two men that he solicited them to kill his wife” in The Irish Times (2 December 1997) p. 5.

Catherine Cleary, “Gillane sits calmly as trial gets under way” in The Irish Times (2 December 1997) p. 5

Tomas Mac Ruari, “Gillane jury hears how pair cheated on murder victim” in The Irish Independent (3 December 1997) p. 8.

“Gillane witness: I don’t recall meetings” in The Evening Herald(3 December 1997) p. 1.

“Sister – in – law tells trial of affair with Gillane before and after his marriage” in The Irish Times (3 December 1997) p. 3.

Catherine Cleary, “Averted eyes and reluctant answers on a sex question” in The Irish Times (3 December 1997) p. 3.

Tomas Mac Ruairi, “Court hears of attack, threats on sister affair” in The Irish Independent (5 December 1997) p. 6.

“Mrs Gillane assaulted her husband, trial is told” in The Irish Times (5 December 1997) p. 4.

Catherine Cleary, “Calm testimony by lone witness for the defence” in The Irish Times (6 December 1997) p. 5

Chris Macey, “Deadly tales of lust and deceit” in The Sunday Independent (7 December 1997) p. 6.

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“Accused man tells trial his sister-in-law kept ‘shoving herself’ at him” in The Irish Times (6 December 1997) p. 5.

Catherine Cleary, “Gillane is found guilty of soliciting two men to murder wife” in The Irish Times (9 December 1997) p. 1.

“Gillane is found guilty after six day trial of soliciting two men to murder his wife” in The Irish Times (9 December 1997) p. 4.

“Jury heard of request by man for murder” in The Irish Times (9 December 1997) p. 4.

“Jury heard of request by man for murder” in The Irish Times (9 December 1997) p. 4.

“Gillane is found guilty after six-day trial of soliciting two men to murder his wife” in The Irish Times (9 December 1997) p. 4.

Brian MacDonald, “Gillane attempted to murder his wife on several occasion: Phil’s marriage of terror” in The Evening Herald (9 December 1997) p. 5.

Michael McNiffe, “His four attempts to kill her” in The Sunday World (14 December 1997) p. 12.

Stephen Rae, “Pathetic at the end” in The Evening Herald (15 December 1997) p. 4.

“Weeping Gillane sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment” in The Irish Times (16 December 1997) p. 9

Catherine Cleary, “The journey from seaside romance to car boot murder” in The Irish Times (16 December 1997) p. 9

“Husnand stopped two strangers and asked them to kill his wife” in The Irish Times (16 December 1997) p. 9.

Roddy O’Sullivan. “Sentence too short, says victim’s sister” in The Irish Times (19 December 1997) p. 9.

Lorna Siggins “Gillane’s brother fined £700 on assault charges” in The Irish Times (23 April 1998) p. 4.

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John Maddock, “Ruling reserved in Gillane appeal plea” in The Irish Independent (24 November 1998) p. 6.

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Brian MacDonald, “Mum’s body in car park, inquest told” in The Irish Independent (25 June 1998) p. 6.

“Appeal by Gillane against severity of his sentence lost” in The Irish Times (22 December 1998) p. 3.

“Gardai launch new probe into Phil murder” in The Sunday World (02 May 1999) p. 30

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“Murder plot man is let free to work” in The Evening Herald (07 June 2003) p. 4.

Niamh O’Connor, “Gillane’s holiday with son” in The Sunday World (14 December 2003) p. 12.

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Declan Tierney, “Galways sister demands justice for Philomena Gillane – 20 years on” in The Connacht Tribune https://connachttribune.ie/galway-sister-demands-justice-philomena-gillane-20-years/(22 May 2014)

Gary Meneely, “New blow to thug” in The Irish Sun https://www.thesun.ie/news/3834395/evil-trucker-have-wife-murdered-owe-e443000-taxes/(7 March 2019)

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