17 year old Siobhan Hynes went out with friends to the small village of an Cheathru Rua on the night of Sat 5th December 1998. She never made it home.
Siobhan’s body was found the following day, on the foreshore of a nearby beach.
How could something like this happen in such a small, isolated community?
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/
Sources:
Tocht na Máthar Episode 3, available on the TG4 player
Brian McDonald, “Schoolgirl attacked near remote beach say gardai”, Irish Independent, December 9th 1998
“Murder most foul and the finger of suspicion”, Irish Independent, December 12th 1998
“Questionnaire issued in bid to find killer”, Irish Examiner, December 12th 1998
Declan Varley, “Murder hunt for killer of Connemara teen”, Tuam Herald, December 12th 1998
Liz Allen, “The night a murderer stalked Siobhán”, Sunday Independent, December 13th 1998
Niall Murray, “Murdered schoolgirl’s watch found”, Irish Examiner, December 14th 1998
Declan Varley, “Car parts sent for forensic examination”, December 17th 1998
Francis Farragher, “Local witnesses who may have seen Siobhán get a lift could ‘crack’ this murder case”, Connacht Tribune, December 18th 1998
Ciaran Tierne, “Numbed family of murdered schoolgirl in plea for help to catch killer- and ease pain”, City Tribune, Friday December 25th 1998
“File for DPP after 3 questioned on killing”, Irish Times, January 14th 1999
“State seeks to revoke bail from murder case man”, Irish Times, Sept 7th 2000
Rita O Reilly, “Fibres off dead girl ‘found on accused’”, Irish Independent, May 10th 2001
Rita O Reilly, “Family give evidence as man goes on trial for girl’s murder”, Irish Examiner, May 10th 2001
Rita O Reilly, “Schoolgirl murder trial opens”, Connacht Tribune, May 11th 2001
Rita O Reilly, “Murder trial hears of teenage girl’s horrific death on lonely beach”, City Tribune, May 11th 2001
Rita O Reilly, “Tearful mother tells murder trial how her last words to schoolgirl were ‘be careful’”, Connacht Tribune, May 11th 2001
Rita O Reilly, “Rape murder accused spent a night of rows”, Irish Independent, May 12th 2001
Rita O’Reilly and Sean O’Driscoll, “Murder accused ‘had teeth marks on arm’”, Irish Independent, May 15th 2001
Rita O Reilly, “Murdered girl ‘told accused’ about fling with friend”, Irish Independent, May 16th 2001
Rita O Reilly, “Accused ‘went looking for man he fought’”, Irish Independent, May 18th 2001
“Trial of man on murder charge”, Connacht Tribune, May 18th 2001
Rita O Reilly, “Schoolgirl murder accused ‘blamed’ scratches on women”, Irish Independent, May 22nd 2001
Rita O Reilly, “Murder accused linked to victim by clothing fibre”, May 24th 2001
“Accused will contest answers alleged in interview, court told”, Connacht Tribune, June 8th 2001
Rita O Reilly, “Man denies murder and rape of schoolgirl”, Irish Independent, June 9th 2001
“Defendant denies murder and rape charges”, Connacht Tribune, June 15th
Rita O Reilly, “Beast who tried to cheat justice”, Evening Herald, June 18th 2001
Sean Mc Carthaigh, “We can only pray that she was unconscious during her last hours in this world”, Irish Examiner, June 18th 2001
Rita O Reilly, “McDonagh tried to choke prostitute claim”, Irish Examiner, June 18th 2001
Rita O Reilly, “Tried fight alibi, but fibre links and missing time vital”, City Tribune, June 22nd 2001
Declan Tierney, “Attack on life-term two days after his sentence”, Connacht Tribune, June 22nd 2001
Rita O Reilly, “Life sentence is imposed”, City Tribune, June 22nd 2001
Rita O Reilly, “The silence of the lambs in a tranquil Connemara village”, Sunday Independent, June 24th 2001
Catherine Shanahan, “Harrowing grief. Every day.”, Irish Examiner, December 6th 2003.
“Man appeals conviction for girls murder”, Irish Times, Feb 9 2007
“Court not allowed to grant access to forensic evidence, court rules”, Irish Times, June 20th 2015