130 – Drugs, Death and Butchery: The Deaths of Vincent Costello, Morgan Costello and Damien Monahan

On August 7, 2023August 7, 2023 By mensreapod@gmail.comIn Drug-related, Insanity Defence, Mental Health, murder, Organised Crime

In the early hours of 29th April, 2000, a fire was discovered in an upmarket flat in the seaside resort of Scheveningen, The Hague. Three occupants were found dead in the bathtub – young Irishmen Damien Monahan and Vincent and Morgan Costello.

Was the fire an accident, some sort of gangland hit, or something else altogether?

This episode was researched and written by Aileen Spearin.

Continue reading →

129 – A Battle for Justice: The murder of Brian Fitzgerald

On July 24, 2023July 24, 2023 By mensreapod@gmail.comIn Controversial Case, Drug-related, Irish Crime, Life Sentence, murder for profit, Organised Crime, unsolved

In the early hours of 29th November, 2002, 34 year old father of two arrived home from working his shift as the security manager at a popular nightclub in Limerick City.

He was shot to death in his driveway in a suspected gangland killing.

Would gardai be able to find enough evidence to bring members of one of Limerick’s most notorious gangs before a court?

This episode was researched and written by Aileen Spearin.

Continue reading →

126 – Sex, Lies and Videotape: the murder of Gerry McGinley

On June 22, 2023June 22, 2023 By mensreapod@gmail.comIn Black Widow, Domestic Violence, Drug-related, Intimate Partner Violence, IRA/Paramilitary links, Irish Crime, Life Sentence, love triangle, murder, murder for profit, Organised Crime, Women Who Kill

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.

Continue reading →

123 – Death in the Sun: Celine Conroy

On May 1, 2023May 1, 2023 By mensreapod@gmail.comIn Domestic Violence, Drug-related, Intimate Partner Violence, Irish Crime, murder

In the summer of 2005, Celine Conroy decided to pack up her three kids to spend the summer in Spain alongside her partner Paul Hickey. But rather than a relaxing escape from her life back in Dublin, the holiday ended in horror.

This episode was researched and written by Aileen Spearin.

Continue reading →

110 – Too little, Too late: The murder of Amanda Jenkins

On April 26, 2022April 26, 2022 By mensreapod@gmail.comIn Domestic Violence, Drug-related, Intimate Partner Violence, IRA/Paramilitary links, Irish Crime, Life Sentence, murder, Povocation

Amanda Jenkins was the sort of person who looked for the good in everyone. She was just 27 years old when she was found dead on her bedroom floor.

It had taken very little for the bad to emerge in someone Amanda had loved and trusted.

Continue reading →

89 – The Ordeal: Jennifer Guinness

On April 5, 2021April 5, 2021 By mensreapod@gmail.comIn Drug-related, Irish Crime, Kidnapping, Organised Crime

In April of 1986, three armed men burst into a lavish home in Howth. When they left, they brought with them Jennifer Guinness, mother of three and wife of the head of a merchant bank. A ransom was demanded for her return.

Despite the quick mobilisation of gardai all over Dublin, Jennifer’s captor would evade capture for over a week.

Continue reading →

79 – Savage: The murder of James Healy

On November 9, 2020November 9, 2020 By Hugh DevineIn Child Victim, Drug-related, Insanity Defence, Irish Crime, Life Sentence, Mental Health, murder, Organised Crime

In February of 1996, 16 year old James Healy was found brutally beaten in a field near his home in Tralee. It wouldn’t be long before gardai zeroed in on their prime suspect – a 25 year old man diagnosed with anti social personality disorder.

In fact, police feared that he would one day murder.

Continue reading →

76 – House of Horrors: Cork’s missing men

On September 29, 2020September 29, 2020 By mensreapod@gmail.comIn Cold Case, Controversial Case, Drug-related, Irish Crime, Mental Health, murder, Public Inquiry, Serial Killer, unsolved

Just before Christmas 1994, Patch O’Driscoll went missing from his bedsit in Cork City. When the garda investigation began into his missing persons case, it was discovered two other men had also disappeared from the very same house on Wellington Terrace. Though there was no evidence of a crime scene inside the large dilapidated building, the cause was certainly within.

But there would be few answers and no justice in the case.

Continue reading →

61 – Retrial: The murder of Jong Ok Shin

On February 16, 2020April 16, 2020 By mensreapod@gmail.comIn Controversial Case, Drug-related, Human Rights, Life Sentence, Mental Health, murder, Serial Killer, sex crimes, UK Crime, Wrongly Accused

On 12th July, 2002 Jong Ok Shin a Korean language student was brutally murdered while living in Bournemouth. A local drug addicted man, Omar Benguit was quickly identified as the prime suspect.

But shortly after, it would emerge that at the time of Ms Shin’s death, a man that had committed two murders, was living just streets away.

Continue reading →