108 – Bonus: Rebecca French

A burning car was found in a country lane, just outside of Wexford Town in 2009. When emergency services examined it’s remaining shell, the body of a woman was found. It was local woman, 30 year old mother of two Rebecca French.

But would there be any justice for Rebecca?

Join me at CrimeCon UK on June 11-12 in London 2022! Head to crimecon.co.uk and use the code MENSREA for 10% off (and to let them know I sent you!)


With thanks to our sponsors for this episode:

Sign up for professional online counselling at betterhelp.com/mens and get 10% off your first month!

Sign up today for your trial of Noom – the habit changing app for a healthier you! Find it at noom.com/mensrea

Try the hidden-object mystery game JunesJourney today! Download for free by clicking here or find it on the Apple App Store or Google Play!


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!


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


Sources:

Brendan Furlong and Don Lavery, “Body in car boot was mum of two” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/body-in-car-boot-was-a-mum-of-two-26572850.html(11 October 2009)

“Four men charged with murder” in The New Ross Standardhttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/news/four-men-charged-two-with-murder-27491835.html(15 October 2009)

“Horror of killing at a family estate” in The New Ross Standardhttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/news/horror-of-killing-at-a-family-estate-27491754.html(15 October 2009)

Maria Pepper, “A death almost too terrible to picture” in The New Ross Standardhttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/news/a-death-almost-too-terrible-to-picture-27491795.html(15 October 2009)

“Innocent, who never saw the bad in anyone” in The New Ross Standardhttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/news/innocent-who-never-saw-bad-in-anyone-27491833.html(15 October 2009)

Conor Cullen and Maria Pepper, “Shock at brutal murder” in The New Ross Standardhttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/news/shock-at-brutal-murder-27491837.html(15 October 2009)

“Women could be charged” in The New Ross Standardhttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/women-could-be-charged-27708498.html(14 October 2009)

“Family criticise national press” in The New Ross Standardhttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/family-criticise-national-press-27708499.html(14 October 2009)

“Investigating Gardai urge witnesses to come forward” in The Wexford People https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/investigating-gardai-urge-witnesses-to-come-forward-27708500.html(14 October 2009)

“Upwards of 100 Gardai involved” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/upwards-of-100-gardai-involved-27708501.html(14 October 2009)

“Worried family were unable to reach Rebecca” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/worried-family-were-unable-to-reach-rebecca-27708507.html(14 October 2009)

Conor Cullen and Maria Pepper, “Savagery” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/savagery-27708617.html(14 Ocotober 2009)

“Burning car alert that became murder probe” in The Wexford People https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/burning-car-alert-that-became-murder-probe-27708618.html(14 October 2009)

“A Family’s worst nightmare” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/a-familys-worst-nightmare-27708619.html(14 October 2009)

“Angry crowd at Wexford court” in The Enniscorthy Guardianhttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/enniscorthyguardian/news/angry-crowd-at-wexford-court-27232082.html(15 October 2009)

“Four charged in murder case are remanded” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/four-charged-in-murder-case-are-remanded-27708660.html(21 October 2009)

Conor Cullen, “Ongoing investigation into Rebecca’s murder” in The Wexford People https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/ongoing-investigation-into-rebeccas-murder-27708651.html(21 October 2009)

Maria Pepper, “Church packed to overflowing for sad farewell” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/church-packed-to-overflowing-for-sad-farewell-27708837.html(21 October 2009)

“Gardai serve books of evidence in Rebecca French case” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/gardai-serve-books-of-evidence-in-rebecca-french-case-27709676.html(10 December 2009)

“Fifth person charged in Rebecca murder case” in The Wexford People https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/fifth-person-charged-in-rebecca-murder-case-27710644.html(20 January 2010)

“Bail denied for woman linked to murder case” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/bail-denied-for-woman-linked-to-murder-case-27710966.html(28 January 2010)

“Woman sent forward for trial for impeding murder investigation” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/woman-sent-forward-for-trial-for-impeding-murder-investigation-27712088.html(24 February 2010)

Maria Pepper, “Rebecca trial to begin on anniversary” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/rebecca-trial-to-begin-on-anniversary-27718389.html(6 October 2010)

“Victim was hit with golf club, court told” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/victim-was-hit-with-golf-club-court-told-1.660821(8 October 2010)

Nicola Anderson, “Mum was viciously beaten to death, trial told” in The Irish Independenthttps://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/mum-was-viciously-beaten-to-death-trial-told-26687862.html(8 October 2010)

“Victim died of head injuries, court told” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/victim-died-of-head-injuries-court-told-1.661363(9 October 2010)

“Horrific details of Rebecca’s death laid bare” in The Irish Independenthttps://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/horrific-details-of-rebeccas-death-laid-bare-26688404.html(10 October 2010)

“’Bloodstained’ golf clubs found at scene of killing” in The Irish Timeshttps://www.irishtimes.com/news/bloodstained-golf-clubs-found-at-scene-of-killing-1.662429(12 October 2010)

“Two enter not guilty pleas as trial begins” in The New Ross Standardhttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/news/two-enter-not-guilty-pleas-as-trial-begins-27501073.html(12 October 2010)

“Man pleads guilty to disposing of body of murdered woman” in The Irish Timeshttps://www.irishtimes.com/news/man-pleads-guilty-to-disposing-of-body-of-murdered-woman-1.663806(15 October 2010)

Abigail Rieley, “Mum’s tearful testimony at murder trial” in The Irish Independenthttps://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/mums-tearful-testimony-at-murder-trial-26690472.html(17 October 2010)

Abigail Rieley, “Mum’s tearful testimony at murder trial” in The Irish Independenthttps://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/mums-tearful-testimony-at-murder-trial-26690472.html(17 October 2010)

Natasha Reid, “Charges dropped in Rebecca French case” in The Irish Timeshttps://www.irishtimes.com/news/charges-dropped-in-rebecca-french-case-1.665494(19 October 2010)

Dearbhail McDonald and Eimear Ni Bhraonain, “Charges for woman’s murder dropped due to technicality” in The Irish Independenthttps://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/charges-for-womans-murder-dropped-due-to-technicality-26691155.html(19 October 2010)

“Family statement after sentencing” in The Gorey Guardianhttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/goreyguardian/news/family-statement-after-sentencing-27338532.html(19 October 2010)

“Bail was granted four days before Rebecca was killed” in The New Ross Standardhttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/news/bail-was-granted-four-days-before-rebecca-was-killed-27501420.html(26 October 2010)

“Mineikas given bail four days before killing” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/mineikas-given-bail-four-days-before-killing-27718870.html(27 October 2010)

Dearbhail McDonald, “Family hit out at lack of justice for mum” in The Irish Independenthttps://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/family-hit-out-at-lack-of-justice-for-mum-26704162.html(30 November 2010)

Dearbhail McDonald, “Family criticism threatens ‘body in boot sentencing’” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/family-criticism-threatens-body-in-boot-sentencing-26704673.html(1 October 2010)

“Justice sleeping while people die” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/justice-sleeping-while-people-die-27719570.html(1 December 2010)

“Nightmare goes on for French family” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/nightmare-goes-on-for-french-family-27719681.html(1 December 2010)

Conor Lally, “Four jailed for attempt to dispose of body” in The Irish Timeshttps://www.irishtimes.com/news/four-jailed-for-attempt-to-dispose-of-body-1.686571(11 December 2010)

Dearbhail McDonald and Natasha Reid, “Judge say body-in-boot men deserved to get 20 years in jail” in The Irish Independenthttps://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/judge-says-body-in-boot-men-deserved-to-get-20-years-in-jail-26605392.html(11 December 2010)

“Rebecca culprit due back in court” in The New Ross Standardhttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/localnotes/rebecca-culprit-due-back-in-court-27502524.html(14 December 2010)

‘I’d give them 20 years if I could, says judge” in The Gorey Guardianhttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/goreyguardian/news/id-give-them-20-years-if-i-could-says-judge-27340261.html(14 December 2010)

“’Body-in-boot’ man gets four months for burglary” in The Irish Independenthttps://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/body-in-boot-man-gets-four-months-for-burglary-26607200.html(17 December 2010)

“Man convicted in Rebecca French case admits burglary” in The Gorey Guardianhttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/goreyguardian/news/man-convicted-in-rebecca-french-case-admits-burglary-27340330.html(21 December 2010)

“Judge won’t move O’Connor Trial” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/judge-wont-move-oconnor-trial-27720896.html(27 January 2011)

“Another prison term for Rebecca French culprit” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/another-prison-term-for-rebecca-french-culprit-27721672.html(24 February 2011)

“’Blunt force trauma’ caused mum’s death” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/blunt-force-trauma-caused-mums-death-27724212.html(20 May 2011)

Eavan Murray, “Mother beaten to death by four men, court told” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/mother-beaten-to-death-by-four-men-court-told-26739159.html( 4 June 2011)

“Witness gives details of a savage beating” in The Enniscorthy Guardianhttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/enniscorthyguardian/news/witness-gives-details-of-a-savage-beating-27247623.html(7 June 2011)

‘No verdict in Rebecca French trial” in The Irish Timeshttps://www.irishtimes.com/news/no-verdict-in-rebecca-french-trial-1.877982(9 June 2011)

“No verdict reached in Rebecca French Criminal Court trial” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/no-verdict-reached-in-rebecca-french-criminal-court-trial-27724936.html(16 June 2011)

“Helen Connors retrial ordered” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/helen-connors-retrial-ordered-27725278.html(30 June 2011)

“Loses his appeal against sentence” in The Wexford Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/loses-his-appeal-against-sentence-27731303.html(29 February 2012)

Jessica Magee, “”Wexford woman accused of cleaning up murder scene” in The Irish Independenthttps://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/wexford-woman-accused-of-cleaning-up-murder-scene-26864393.html(13 June 2012)

Jessica Magee, “Woman cleared of destroying evidence at murder scene” in The Irish Independenthttps://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/woman-cleared-of-destroying-evidence-at-murder-scene-26865314.html(16 June 2012)

“Woman asked for witness protection after ‘bullet in the head’ fears” in The Gorey Guardian https://www.independent.ie/regionals/goreyguardian/news/woman-asked-for-witness-protection-after-bullet-in-the-head-fears-27354731.html(25 June 2012)