132 – Nagged to Kill: The death of Gary Cotter

28 year old mother of one Norma Crotty appeared on her neighbours doorstep early on the morning of January 3rd, 1995. She was in a distressed state, and was holding a shotgun. It was smoking.

Norma told her neighbour that she had just shot her husband.

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:

John Murphy, “Middleton man died from shot in the back”, Irish Examiner, Jan 4th 1995.

John Murphy, “Gardai release woman”, Evening Echo, Jan 4th 1995.

“Help sought in Midleton murder probe”, Evening Echo, Jan 5th 1995.

“Shot man removed”, Irish Examiner, Jan 6th 1995.

“Military funeral for shot soldier”, Irish Press, Jan 7th 1995.

“Sad silence over graveyard as shot soldier is laid to rest”, Irish Examiner, Jan 7th 1995.

John Murphy, “Definite line of inquiry in death of Midleton man”, Irish Examiner, Jan 9th 1995.

Ralph Riegel, “Murder charge expected”, Irish Examiner, Oct 9th 1995.

“Remanded on charge of murder”, Southern Star, Nov 4th 1995.

Diarmaid MacDermott, “I just ran then when I saw the blood. I didn’t mean it”, Irish Examiner, Oct 22nd 1996.

Diarmaid MacDermott, “Wife told gardai she shot spouse for nagging”, Irish Independent, Oct 22nd 1996.

Brian Winders, “Shotgun was victim’s gift”, Oct 22nd 1996.

Mary Carolan, “Accused had bruises on her body at interview”, Irish Examiner, Oct 23rd 1996.

“Murder trial told wife had bruises due to pushing”, Irish Independent, Oct 23rd 1996.

“Accused breaks down in tears”, Evening Echo, Oct 23rd 1996.

Mary Carolan, “Jury still out in trial of wife for murder”, Irish Examiner, Oct 24th 1996.

Mary Carolan, “Jury set to give verdict on shooting of soldier”, Irish Independent, Oct 24th 1996.

“Woman sobs as she gets life”, Irish Independent, Oct 25th 1996.

Means McSweeney and T.P. O’Mahoney, “A killer wife who hid her violent temper”, Evening Echo, Oct 25th 1996.

Mary Carolan, “Woman gets life for murder of husband”, Irish Examiner, Oct 25th 1996.

Mary Carolan, “Life sentence for wife who killed husband”, Irish Independent, Oct 25th 1996.

Áilín Quinlan, “Family of murdered army man say they bear no malice toward convicted wife or her family”, Irish Examiner, Oct 26th 1996.

John Maddock, “Wife’s appeal on conviction for murder”, Irish Independent, April 20th 1999.

John Maddock, “Judge wrong in murder trial address to jury”, Irish Independent, June 29th 1999.

“Wife changes plea and admits to killing soldier”, Irish Independent, Dec 10th 2003.

Rick Wallace, “Woman who shot husband dead walks free”, Irish Examiner, Dec 16th 2003.

“Woman who killed her husband is freed”, Irish Times, Dec 16th 2003.

Ann Mooney, “Family’s rage at wife who shot dead her husband”, Irish Mirror, Dec 19th 2003.