Mens Rea: A true crime podcast

In January of 2016, people started to find body parts wrapped in shopping bags on a stretch of the Grand Canal in Co. Kildare. To gardai, this looked like a gangland hit. But when the remains were identified as 33 year old Kenneth O'Brien, it was quickly determined that he was not known to be involved in anything illegal. Why was Kenneth O'Brien killed? 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/ ******** Music: Kevin McLeod, Quinns Song : The Dance Begins. (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ********* Sources: Deirdre Reynolds, “Mystery grows over canal suitcase body as gardai reveal body on recently placed in water”, Irish Independent, (January 17th 2016) Conor Lally, “Head and hands cut from torso found in Co Kildare”, The Irish Times, (January 18th 2016) “Butchered by violent gang”, The Herald (January 18th 2016) Tom Brady, “Dismembered body in canal is man in 20s”, Irish Independent (January 18th 2016) Cormac O’Keefe, “Garda appeal in bid to find murder scene”, Irish Examiner (January 19th 2016) “Headless victim in suitcase ‘may have been killed at party’, Irish Independent (January 19th 2016) “Kenneth’s family ‘in shock’ at murder after his body is taken from suitcase in canal”, The Herald, (January 20th2016) “Gardai believe ‘body in bag’ victim killed over grudge”, Irish Independent, (January 20th 2016) “Gardai appeal to public about ‘suitcase’ death”, The Echo, (January 21st 2016) Ken Foy, “Text probe in canal murder”, The Herald, (January 21st 2016) Ken Foy, “Last 24 hours of body in suitcase victim still a mystery to gardai”, The Herald, (January 22nd 2016) “Criminal linked to dad’s killing”, The Herald, (January 22nd 2016) Ken Foy, “Grisly canal murder is now considered gang hit as gardai investigate missing cash link”, The Herald, (January 23rd 2016) Caroline O’Doherty, “Canal murder hunt continues today”, Irish Examiner, (January 25th 2016) “Gardai find body parts in suitcase murder probe”, The Herald, (January 25th 2016) “Suitcase victim ‘killed in row over funding of drug-dealing network’”, The Herald, (January 25th 2016) “Tools found in hunt for Kenneth’s body parts”, The Herald, (January 26th 2016) Lynda Doyle, “Body parts found in canal at Sallins”, The Kildare Nationalist, (January 26th 2016) Ken Foy, “Butchered dad shot once in head before body was cut up”, The Herald, (January 27th 2016) Ken Foy, “Canal murder case gardai may go to Australia in hunt for more clues”, The Herald, (January 28th2016) Tom Brady, “Mystery of body in suitcase sends gardai to ends of the earth”, Irish Independent, (January 30th2016) Conor Feehan, “Funeral of butchered body-in-bag to be held on Wednesday”, The Herald, (February 1st2016) Martin Grant, “Father’s sad farewell as ‘handsome, loving’ Kenneth is laid to rest”, The Herald, (February 4th2016) “Burial of murdered man takes place amid deep sorrow”, The Echo, (February 4th 2016) Laura Larkin, “Search for gun as gardai quiz two men in canal body probe”, The Herald, (February 8th 2016) Tom Tuite, “Man charged in court with murder of Kenneth O’Brien”, The Irish Times, (February 12th 2016) Tom Tuite, “Judge asks DPP to make progress in Kenneth O’Brien case”, The Irish Times, (May 25th 2016) For a full list of sources, please visit mensreapod.com

In June of 1991, 21 year old newly-wed Alison Shaughnessy was found lying in a pool of blood at the entrance to her flat in London by her husband John. After a stalled police investigation, two women were arrested and tried for Alison's murder. But is it possible that what was presented to the court as motive for her murder, gleaned from a 21 year old woman's diary, had pointed police in the wrong direction? Who killed Alison Shaughnessy? ******** 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/ ******** Music: Kevin McLeod, Quinns Song : The Dance Begins. (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ********* Sources: “Irish girl murdered in London” in The Evening Herald(5 June 1991) p. 57 Aidan Hennigan, “Murder to be reconstructed”, in The Evening Press (5 June 1991) p. 5 Bernard Purcell, “Knife killer ‘was waiting for Alison’” in The Evening Herald (5 June 1991) p. 10 “Young wife slain in flat” in The Irish Independent(5 June 1991) p. 1 “Killer’s face ‘scratched’” in The Evening Herald (6 June 1991) p. 2. “London murder shock” in The Munster Express (7 June 1991) p. 13 ‘Late Mrs A Shaughnessy” in The Roscommon Herald (21 June 191) p. 10 Feargal Keane, “Alison a serial killing?” in The Evening Press (24 June 1991) p. 1 “Alison: £25,000 reward” in The Irish Independent (30 July 1991) p. 3 “Alison breakthrough” in The Evening Herald (8 August 1991) p. 19 “Sisters charged with girl’s murder” in The Kilkenny People (16 August 1991) p. 1. “Sisters remanded for murder” in The Irish Independent(10 august 1991) p 3 “Refused Bail” in The Munster Express (13 September 1991) p. 12 ‘Alison killing: man bailed” in The Irish Independent(8 November 1991) p. 24 “Sisters charged with bank clerk’s murder” in The Munster Express (13 December 1991) p. 1. “Sisters ‘cut throat’ of lover’s Irish wife” in The Irish Independent (28 January 1992) p. 43. For a full list of sources, please see www.mensreapod.com

Mary Boyle disappeared from a swampy field next her grandparents home in an isolated part of Donegal in 1977. She disappeared without a trace, and her case has become the longest running missing child case in Ireland. In forty years, the case has seen only one arrest and also has been linked with notorious Scottish child-killer Robert Black, and has drawn the attention of controversial media figures. But, through all that, Mary is still missing, and her mother still prays daily to know what happened to her. ******** 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/ ******** Music: Kevin McLeod, Quinns Song : The Dance Begins. (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ********* Sources: Barry Cummins, Missing: The unsolved cases of Ireland's vanished women and children (Dublin: Gill Books, 2019) ch. 9. Mary Boyle: The Untold Story. Written and Directed by Gemma O'Doherty. Brighid McLaughlin, “ Mary Boyle – a stolen child” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mary-boyle-a-stolen-child-26259379.html (16 May 1999) Anita Guidera, “Gardai probe 26-year missing child link to UK killer” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/gardai-probe-26year-missing-child-link-to-uk-killer-25922663.html (18 November 2003) Anita Gudera and Martha Kerns, “Missing girl's father one of three tragic drownings in five hours” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/missing-girls-father-one-of-three-tragic-drownings-in-five-hours-25976360.html (20 July 2005) Anita Guidera, “Mum still searches for her girl, 30 years on” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mum-still-searches-for-her-girl-30-years-on-26270736.html (15 March 2007) Anita Guidera, “34- year search for girl resumes” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/34year-search-for-girl-resumes-26612529.html (10 January 2011) Mark Hilliard, Greg Harkin and David Young, “Paedophile faces questions in missing teen's cold case” in the Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/paedophile-faces-questions-in-missing-teens-cold-case-26786394.html (28 October 2011) Anita Guidera, “Search to resume for body of girl missing since 1977” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/search-to-resume-for-body-of-girl-missing-since-1977-30681599.html (19 March 2012) Greg Harkin, “Cold case report on missing Mary (6) due shortly” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/cold-case-report-on-missing-mary-6-due-shortly-30681588.html (21 March 2012) For a full list of sources, please see mensreapod.com

On the night of the 3rd of September 1999, Raonaid Murray was walking home through Dun Laoghaire and Glenageary in South Dublin. As she took a short cut through a quiet laneway, she was attacked. Her murder has never been solved. Research Assistance for this episode by Eileen MacFarlene ********* 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! ********* With thanks to our sponsors for this episode: Sign up for professional online counselling at betterhelp.com/mens and get 10% off your first month! ********* 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: Rainy in Glenageary Dir. Graham Jones (2019) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2kjsm11_t4&t=1282s "Is this the man who stabbed teenager Raonaid to death?; Photofit clue in hunt for murderer.." The Free Library. 1999 MGN LTD 12 Nov. 2020 https://www.thefreelibrary.com/IS+THIS+THE+MAN+WHO+STABBED+TEENAGER+RAONAID+TO+DEATH%3f%3b+Photofit+clue...-a060407424 Paul Williams, “Dwyer not involved in Raonaid's murder” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/dwyer-not-involved-in-raonaids-murder-31101257.html(28 March 2015) Mick McCaffrey, “Litany of mistakes made in Raonaid Murray case” in The Sunday Tribune http://www.tribune.ie/news/article/2009/aug/09/litany-of-mistakes-made-in-raonaid-murray-case/ (9 August 2009) Jack Quann, “Raonaid Murray's family appeal for information on 21st anniversary of her murder” from Newstalk.ie https://www.newstalk.com/news/raonaid-murrays-family-appeal-information-21st-anniversary-murder-1071012(4 September 2020) Emma McMenamy, “Former detective 'convinced' Raonaid Murray knew her killer and t may have been a female” from DublinLive.ie https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/former-detective-convinced-raonaid-murray-18850967(30 August 2020) Ronan McGreevy, “Gardai renew appeal to find killer of Dublin teenager Raonaid Murray” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/garda%C3%AD-renew-appeal-to-find-killer-of-dublin-teenager-raonaid-murray-1.4346174 (3 September 2020) “Inquest: Raonaid fatal wounds” in The Evening Herald(3 November 1999) p. 7. “Inquest is adjourned” in The Evening Herald (2 November 2000) p. 20 Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Raonaid_Murray With thanks to Eileen MacFarlene from Crimelapse for research assistance for this episode! Sources – Raonaid Murray: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2kjsm11_t4 - Rainy in Glenageary https://twitter.com/rtenews/status/772512693588819971 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBDXVTNJ4ek https://www.todayfm.com/news/gardai-renew-appeal-information-murder-raonaid-murray-20th-anniversary-900893?fbclid=IwAR3Ep5def4gHCGxuJgWRNJSKSZnoMCM1JKwi8lBYUmVK_Mjgh1fLcNJ_DPQ Irish Times Newspaper articles https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/garda%C3%AD-renew-appeal-to-find-killer-of-dublin-teenager-raonaid-murray-1.4346174 https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/20-years-on-parents-of-raonaid-murray-appeal-for-help-to-catch-her-killer-1.4007558 https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/come-out-from-the-shadows-raonaid-murray-family-addresses-killer-20-years-after-murder-1.4007415 https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/the-last-hours-of-jastine-valdez-and-her-killer-mark-hennessy-1.3508349 https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/garda%C3%AD-appeal-for-information-on-raonaid-murray-murder-1.2778668 https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/dwyer-case-garda%C3%AD-may-question-killer-on-serious-crimes-1.2157835 https://www.irishtimes.com/news/inquest-finds-teenager-unlawfully-killed-1.1251501 https://www.irishtimes.com/news/teen-murder-in-1999-still-being-investigated-inquest-told-1.669695 https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/letter-from-raonaid-suspect-yields-crucial-break-26225070.html https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/brutal-murder-has-mystified-gardai-and-terrified-people-in-seaside-town-1.226249 https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/net-begins-to-close-on-raonaids-killer-as-photofit-man-is-named-26260869.html https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/did-a-jealous-love-rival-kill-raonaid-34907183.html https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/just-like-a-normal-teenager-she-raved-about-george-michaels-music-kept-her-favourite-teddy-bear-on-her-bed-talked-of-seeing-the-world-and-was-frequently-five-minutes-late-turning-up-for-her-shift-at-the-shop-26138107.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Raonaid_Murray#Cold_case_investigation https://www.broadsheet.ie/2016/02/04/an-overlooked-suspect/ https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/did-a-jealous-love-rival-kill-raonaid-34907183.html https://www.irishtimes.com/news/raonaid-s-friends-grieve-for-promise-brutally-terminated-1.224919 https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/raonaid-murray-knew-killer-says-12059574 https://www.thefreelibrary.com/DID+KILLER+WRECK+RAONAID%27S+GRAVE%3F%3B+Mum+seeks+probe+into+theft+of...-a086118751 https://www.thefreelibrary.com/End+our+misery%3B+Raonaid+Murray%27s+parents+new+plea+to+catch+killer...-a0206812908

In December of 1993, 35 year old Marie Kilmartin got a phone call. Then, she left her house and never returned. Marie's body was recovered some six months later, in a bog 25 km from her home in Portlaoise. She had been strangled. Why would anyone want to hurt this friendly, vulnerable woman? ********* 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 person” in The Cork Examiner (22 December 1993) p. 24. “Missing woman appeal” in The Irish Press (22 December 1993) p. 4 “Missing woman” in The Nationalist (24 December 1993) p. 7 “Search continues for missing Portlaoise woman” in The Leinster Express (25 December 1993) p 1 “Portlaoise woman still missing” in The Leinster Express (1 January 1994) p. 1. “Portlaoise woman still missing” in The Leinster Express(8 January 1994) p. 4. “Gardai call for information on missing woman” in The Evening Echo (12 January 1994) p. 9 “Missing woman” in The Irish Independent (29 January 1994) p. 4 Don Lavery, “Bid to identify woman’s body found in bog drain” in The Evening Herald (11 June 1994) p. 1 “Woman’s body in bog sparks murder inquiry” in The Evening Herald (13 June 1994) p. 4. Paulette O’Connor, “Probe as body found in bog” in The Irish Press (13 June 1994) p. 2 “Murder hunt for killer of woman left in bog” in The Irish Press (14 June 1994) p. 2 “Mystery phone caller sought” in The Irish Press (14 June 1994) p. 2 Stephen Rae, “Murdered girl knew killer say gardai” in The Evening Herald (14 June 1994) p.2. Eilish O’Regan, “Care worker was ‘in distress’” in The Irish Independent (14 June 1994) p. 7 “Midlands woman was murdered” in The Cork Examiner (14 June 1994) p. 3 Mairead Carey, “Anguish in Galway at funeral of slain woman” in The Irish Press (15 June 1994) p. 10 Barry O’Kelly, “Gardai are following strong lead in bog case” in The Irish Press (15 June 1994) p. 10. Eamon Timmins, “Gardai follow murder leads” in The Cork Examiner (15 June 1994) p. 5 “Murder hunt as woman’s body is found in bog drain” in The Westmeath Independent (17 June 1994) p. 10 “Kilmartin family thank Gardai and public” in The Westmeath Independent (17 June 1994) p. 10 “Ballinasloe and Athlone mourns tragic death of Marie Kilmartin” in The Westmeath Independent (17 June 1994) p.p. 1, 10 Harry Casey, “Definite line of enquiry in death of Marie” in The Connacht Tribune (17 June 1994) p. 1, 10. “No developments in Kilmartin murder hunt” in The Offaly Independent (24 June 1994) p. 15 Stephen Rae, “Two men held over body-in-bog killing” in The Evening Herald (25 June 1994) p. 1 “Men are released” in The Cork Examiner (27 June 1994) p. 2. “Murder probes proceed” in The Connacht Tribune (1 July 1994) p. 20 “Bog death probe” in The Irish Independent (28 July 1994) p. 3 “Kilmartin inquest adjourned” in The Leinster Express(6 August 1994) p. 40 “Murderer still at large” in The Leinster Express (31 December 1994) p. 19 “Woman in bog drain ‘strangled’” in The Evening Herald(15 June 1995) p 4. “Woman was strangled inquest told” in The Nationalist(23 June 1995) p 5 “Murder investigation continuing, inquest told” in The Leinster Express (24 June 1995) p. 11 “Marie’s murder – no link, Supt.” In The Nationalist(26 April 1996) p 13 Peter Teach “Laois/Offaly crime goes against trend” in The Nationalist (9 August 1996) p. 7 Cormac Looney, “New reward in bid to trace Jo Jo” in The Evening Herald (9 November 2005) p. 26 Cormac O’Keefe, “Appeal for information on dead and missing women” in The Irish Examiner (10 November 2005) p 7 Cormac Looney, “’Wolfman’ to face Marie murder quiz” in The Evening Herald (15 November 2005) p. 2 Darren O’Loughlin, “Renewed appeal on Kilmartin murder” in The Leinster Express (16 November 2005) p 6-7 Cormac Looney, “No leads found in search for missing women” in The Evening Herald (30 December 2005) p. 16-17. Dara deFaoite, “Aine bids to solve mum’s murder” in The Irish Independent (16 December 2006) p. 12 Mary Regan, “Search for birth mother turns to hunt for her killer” in the Irish Examiner (16 December 2006) Ryan Dunne, “Who killed Marie Kilmartin 13 years ago?” in The Leinster Express (20 December 2006) p. 2-3. Jane Last, “Gardai reopen murder probe” in The Evening Herald (25 April 2007) p 23 Jim Cusack, “How can my mother’s killer live a normal life?” in The Sunday Independent (11 November 2007) p. 8 Conor Ganly, “gardai renew appeal in Kilmartin case” in The Leinster Express (20 February 2008) p 5 Alan O’Keefe, “Three still held over 1993 killing of Marie” in The Evening Herald (22 September 2008) p 17 Eimear Ni Bhraonain, “Three held over 1993 abduction and murder of woman” in The Irish Independent (23 September 2008) p. 4. Tom Brady, “No case will be forgotten promises garda chief” in The Irish Independent (23 September 2008) p. 4 Cormac O’Keefe, “Three held in 15-year-old murder case” in The Irish Examiner (23 September 2008) p 5 Cormac Ganly, “Kilmartin suspects quizzed” in The Leinster Express (24 September 2008) p. 1, 4. Eimear Ni Bhraonain, “Gardai release three quizzed on 1993 murder” in The Irish Independent (24 September 2008) p. 6 Michelle Hogan, “Cold case probe into horror Laois murder” in The Leinster Express (13 August 2019) p. 6 Michelle McDonagh, “On the trail of a killer” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/on-the-trail-of-a-killer-1.1290245 (16 January 2007). Barry Cummins, Missing (Dublin: Gill Books, YEAR) pp 34-44