In July of 1993, 17 year old Tracy Butler was set upon and stabbed to death while walking home in what appeared to be a random act of violence. But as gardai began investigating the case, they began unravelling a complicated web of relationships – ones which had turned sour.
(Please note: I misspoke in this episode a few times and said Ballynatty instead of Ballynanty. My Limerick-knowledge is severely lacking in general, and was definitely guilty of being a Dubliner making fun of Limerick. I’ve done my best here!)
With thanks to our sponsors for this episode:
Please listen to friends of the show and OGs of the True Crime podcasting world – Generation Why from Wondery! Find them here
Sign up for professional online counselling at betterhelp.com/mens and get 10% off your first month!
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/
Sources:
Noel Smith, “Gardai unravel tragic Tracy’s last movements” in The Irish Independent (15 July 1993) p. 4.
Noel Smith, “Tracy: gardai plea for ‘last hour’ details” in The Irish Independent (16 July 193) p. 3.
Noel Smith, “Knives found in Tracy murder probe” in The Irish Independent (17 July 1993) p. 3.“Four women arrested in hunt for girl’s killer” in The Evening Herald (17 July 1993) p. 4.
“Four women arrested” in The Sunday World (18 July 1993) p. 19.“Two charged with killing” in The Sunday Tribune (18 July 1993) p. 1.
Mary Carolan, “Women knifed girl (17) to death, court told” in The Irish Independent (2 March 1994) p. 6.
“Women killed teenager, court hears” in The Irish Times (2 March 1994) p. 4
“Stabbing ‘by person in black’” in The Irish Independent (2 March 1994) p. 6.“Badly-cut victim ‘fell into house’” in The Irish Independent (2 March 1994) p. 6.
Mary Carolan, “Stabbing victim had 49 injuries, jury told” in The Irish Independent (3 March 1994) p. 12“Girl’s lungs pierced in stabbing, court told” in The Irish Times (3 March 1994) p. 7.
“Murder trial arguments continue” in The Irish Times (4 March 1994) p. 6.
“Legal argument in murder trial” in The Irish Times (8 March 1994) p. 17.“Trial is delayed” in The Irish Independent (8 March 1994) p. 5.
“Jury to return” in The Irish Independent (6 March 1994) p. 6.
“Garda says woman claimed she planned killing” in The Irish Times (22 March 1994) p. 5.
Mary Carolan, “Murder accused blames victim for father’s death” in The Irish Independent (22 March 1994) p. 5.
“Medical evidence request disallowed in murder trial” in The Irish Times (23 March 194) p. 5.
Mary Carolan, “Judge rules out medical evidence at death trial” in The Irish Independent (23 March 1994) p. 4.
Mary Carolan, “Two get life for girl’s knife death” in The Irish Independent (24 March 1994) p. 1, 4.
“Three people sought after threats claim by convicted woman” in The Irish Times (25 March 1994) p. 7
Paul O’Neill, “Revenge killing marked climax of tangled events” in The Irish Times (25 March 1994) p. 7
“Two women jailed for life for knife murder of teenage girl in Limerick” in The Irish Times (24 March 1994) p 4.
Mary Carolan, “Warrants issued for dead girl’s relatives” in The Irish Independent (25 March 1994) p. 5.
Jerome Reilly, “Feud that led to Tracy’s violent death” in The Evening Herald (25 March 1994) p. 3.
“Murdered girl’s brother, sister bound to peace” in The Evening Herald (25 March 1994) p. 3.
Mary Carolan, “Warrants issued for dead girl’s relatives” in The Irish Independent (25 March 1994) p. 5
“3 pledge to keep peace following Limerick conviction” in The Irish Times (26 March 1994) p. 3.
Feargal Keane, “Vendetta at Ballynanty” in The Sunday Tribune (27 March 1994) p.p. 14-15
Brenda Power, “Pigs don’t get a death like they gave my daughter” in The Sunday Tribune (27 March 1994) p.p. 14-15
Liam Collins, “Court outbursts bolster Limerick’s Stab City fame” in The Sunday Independent (27 March 1994) p. 13.
“Judge jails two for part in fatal attack” in The Irish Independent (8 June 1994) p. 14.
“Limerick men jailed for assault” in The Irish Times(8 June 1994) p. 3“Women appeal murder verdict” in The Irish Independent (25 July 1995) p. 4.
“Appeal by women jailed for life for murder” in The Irish Times (25 July 1995) p. 10.
“Murder case appeals fail” in The Irish Independent (5 December 1995) p. 3.
Mike McNiffe and Joanne McElgunn, “Nevin and Felloni enjoy a ‘special’ friendship” in The Sunday World (11 June 2000) p. 2-3.
Niamh O’Connor, “Williams is the new queen of the Joy” in The Sunday World (23 November 2003) p. 25.
Paul Green, “Law Report: Failure to end interview within proscribed time does not render statement inadmissible” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/failure-to-end-interview-within-prescribed-time-does-not-render-statement-inadmissible-1.36316 (25 March 1996)
DPP v Reddan [1996] WJSC-CCA 879
Sarah Burns, “Article describing Limerick as ‘stab city’ did not meet standards, Forbes says” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/business/article-describing-limerick-as-stab-city-did-not-meet-standards-forbes-says-1.4534447 (11 April 2021)
Owen Bowcott, “Hard times in Stab City: how Limerick estate was taken over by drug gangs” in The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/feb/02/ukcrime.prisonsandprobation (2 February 2007)
Kathy Sheridan, “The true story of Limerick” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/the-true-story-of-limerick-1.580134 (23 March 2011)
Joanne McElgunn, “Exclusive: Mother hits out as murderers walk free from Mount Joy after 8yrs” in The Irish Mirror https://www.thefreelibrary.com/This+woman+killed+my+girl%2c+she%27s+just+like+Hindley.+I%27m+heartbroken…-a094559455 (23 Nov 2002)
Limerick Feud Wiki Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limerick_feud
Limerick City Wiki Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limerick#20th-century_history