In March of 1999, Phillip Colgan and his wife Mary walked into Rathfarnham Garda Station and with a story to tell. It would be his first of many., and it would be up to a jury to decide which was true – and who killed Layla Brennan.
This episode was researched and written by Aileen Spearin.
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:
Missing, Presumed, book by Alan Bailey.
Tomas MacRuairi, “Chef jailed for eight years after knifepoint rape of widow”, Irish Press, June 20th 1992.
“Elderly woman subjected to degrading ordeal”, Irish Examiner, June 30th 1992.
Frank Courell, “Chef gets 8 years for vicious rape of widow”, Irish Independent, June 30th 1992.
“Man, 26, charged with Dublin Mountain murder”, Sunday Independent, March 7th 1999.
“Gardai appeal for help”, Evening Echo, March 6th 1999.
Sean McCarthaigh, “Man charged with woman’s murder”, Irish Examiner, March 8th 1999.
“Victim remembered as caring woman”, The Echo, March 11th 1999.
Yvonne Kinsella, “Grief as tragic victim is buried”, The Echo, March 11th 1999.
“Brennan murder accused appears in District Court”, April 6th 1999.
John Lee, “Victim’s family tell neighbours ‘thanks’”, The Echo, May 13th 1999.
“Prostitute’s body dumped in ditch after money row”, Evening Herald, October 24th 2000.
Suzanne Mac Manus, “Wife of murder suspect says he told her he strangled prostitute”, Irish Examiner, October 25th 2000.
Suzanne Mac Manus, “Husband told me about killing prostitute”, Irish Independent, October 25th 2000.
Suzanne Mac Manus, “Gay link to girl’s death”, Evening Herald, October 25th 2000.
Suzanne Mac Manus, “Accused told wife he was forced to kill prostitute”, Irish Examiner, October 26th 2000.
Suzanne Mac Manus, “Prostitute strangled, pathologist tells trial”, Irish Independent, October 27th 2000.
Suzanne Mac Manus, “Woman found naked in ditch died of strangulation”, Irish Examiner, October 27th 2000.
Suzanne Mac Manus, “Other man murdered prostitute, says accused”, Irish Independent, October 28th 2000.
Suzanne Mac Manus, “Murder victim who struggled till the end”, Sunday Independent, October 29th 2000.
“I can’t prove I didn’t kill her”, Irish Independent, Nov 1st 2000.
Suzanne Mac Manus, “Man says he cannot prove his innocence”, Irish Examiner, Nov 1st 2000.
Suzanne Mac Manus, “Prostitute suspect a clever liar”, Evening Herald, Nov 1st 2000.
Stephen Rae and Ann O’Loughlin, “Murderer married his prison therapist”, Evening Herald, Nov 2nd 2000.
Suzanne Mac Manus, “Double rapist gets life for murdering young prostitute”, Irish Examiner, Nov 2nd 2000.
Suzanne Mac Manus, “From a living on the streets to death in the mountains”, Sunday Independent, Nov 5th 2000.