In August of 2000, Gerry McGinley disappeared from his home near Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh. His wife Julie said he had packed up a plastic bag and had taken off.
The police investigation came up with numerous leads. Had Gerry fallen foul of the Real IRA? Or maybe he’d crossed drug dealers? Was his former lover – or indeed her husband – enraged enough to make him run, or worse? It also seemed likely Gerry had been blackmailing local men with videos they’d rather not exist…
Or perhaps the answer was much closer to home, and to be found in the newly re-decorated master bedroom of the McGinley’s bungalow…
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:
Michael Breslin, ‘Renewed search for missing man’, Fermanagh Herald, Sept 13th 2000
Martin Breen, ‘Reveal; our son’s secret grave’, Belfast Telegraph, Feb 26th 2001
Martin Breen, ‘Wife of missing man is arrested’, Belfast Telegraph, Mar 21st 2001
Martin Breen, ‘Missing man: trio quizzed’, Belfast Telegraph, Mar 23rd 2001
Martin Breen and Ciaran O Neill, ‘Lakes searched in hunt for body’ Belfast Telegraph, Mar 24th 2001
Martin Breen, ‘Wife and second man are quizzed by detectives’, Belfast Telegraph, Mar 24th 2001
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Martin Breen, ‘Murder rap in sex film, court told, Belfast Telegraph, Apr 6th 2001
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Eamon Ryan, ‘Wife denies destroying key evidence’, Evening Herald, Oct 29th 2002
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Marie Foy, ‘Lovers jailed for murder’, Belfast Telegraph, Feb 12th 2003
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Ashleigh Wallace, ‘Murder victim to finally get funeral, Belfast Telegraph, Mar 12th 2003
‘McGinley wants her say’, Fermanagh Herald, Apr 27th 2005
Ivan McMichael, ‘Judges rule on McGinley jail records’, Sept 22nd 2005
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Justine Murphy, ‘Black widow or victim of injustice?’, Sunday Tribune, Nov 11th 2007
Aileen Murphy, ‘McGinley will not pocket from husband’s death’, Fermanagh Herald, Jan 16th 2008
David Kiely, ‘Two women killers and their links to mystery hitman’, Belfast Telegraph, June 17th 2009
Ciaran Barnes, Black Widow Freed’, Sunday Life, Feb 1st 2015
Ciaran Barnes, ‘Black widow banned’, Sunday Life, Feb 8th 2015
Eamon Dillon, ‘Gardener of evil’, Sunday World, Oct 22nd 2017