Mens Rea: A true crime podcast

17 year old Siobhan Hynes went out with friends to the small village of an Cheathru Rua on the night of Sat 5th December 1998. She never made it home. Siobhan's body was found the following day, on the foreshore of a nearby beach. How could something like this happen in such a small, isolated community? This episode was researched and written by Aileen Spearin. ******** Find us on Facebook or Twit...

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. ******** Find us on Facebook or Twitter! With thanks to our supporters on Patreon! Donate today to get access to...

On the night of the 11th Nov, 2003, Patricia Conroy frantically searched the small midlands town of Mountmellick for her 14 year old son Darragh. He wasn't answering the new mobile phone he'd just received and he hadn't come home when expected. Ms Conroy had no idea that hours earlier, Darragh had crossed paths with a schoolmate - 16 year old Darren Goodwin - and her son would not be coming home....

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 A...

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...

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 figur...

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 t...

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 acc...

In December of 1997, 53 year old bachelor farmer Tom Clisham was found dead in his cottage in Galway. He hadn't been seen in some time, and his body was in such a bad state no visual identification could be made. It seemed some sort of fight had occurred in his home - but over what, Gardai had no clue. Who killed Tom Clisham? ********* Find us on Facebook or Twitter! With thanks to our supporters...

Here’s a preview of Bad Women: The Blackout Ripper. Over a single week in February 1942, a depraved serial killer stalked London’s dark and WWII bomb-ravaged streets, hunting for victims in the city’s bars and clubs. But the victims of the so-called Blackout Ripper are now all but forgotten. Using new research from police files, court transcripts and exhaustive genealogical studies, season 2 of Ha...

Welcome to the Hellmouth Weirdos! Your favourite Morbid hosts Ash and Alaina are branching out from true crime and heading to Sunnydale for the ultimate Buffy the Vampire Slayer Rewatch podcast! Alaina is a Buffy superfan and Ash has never watched a single episode, so whether you’re Team Angel, Team Spike, or have no clue who those people are…they’ve got you covered! Join them each week as they sl...

Before the sun had even risen on the morning of Christmas Eve, 1995 Julia O'Brien was discovered dead on the floor in her home in Drimoleague, Co Cork. Julia was well known locally, as was her problem with alcohol but no one would have thought that the 46 year married mother of five would die after a severe beating and strangulation. What had happened? ********* Find us on Facebook or Twitter! Wit...

In June 1997, Patrick Sammon was murdered in his home in Galway in the course of an argument. What had led to the fight that night would be a story of two very damaged individuals and circumstances one lawyer said were "stranger than fiction". ********* Special appearances by CJ and Georgia Bezler (Rottweilers) and Mr B. Bezler of Oklahoma. ********* With thanks to our sponsors for this episode: S...

The terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, took a large toll on America’s sense of security. In the dawn of this new era, Congress moved to take swift action by creating the Patriot Act. The stated goal was to identify and strike back against terrorists, but in practice, the law had much wider-reaching effects. But everything changed in 2013 when an intelligence contractor named Edward Snowden...

In December of 1995, 41 year old Marilyn Rynn disappeared after attending her workplace Christmas party. Two weeks later her body was found hidden in bushes at a park near to her home. She had been attacked as she took a shortcut on her journey home. A combination of cutting edge forensic techniques and old fashioned police work solved her murder 8 months later. ********* Find us on Facebook or Tw...

On Thursday the 26th of October 1986, Philip Cairns left his Ballyroan Road home after eating his lunch. He was headed back to school. But he never made it there. An intensive search followed, but there were no signs of the 13 year old.  A week later, his school bag was found in a nearby laneway, left there by persons unknown. Despite searches of the Rathfarnham area, including rivers, overgrown a...

Three days after arriving in Galway in October of 2007, 17 year old Swiss girl Manuel Riedo was found dead on some marshy ground just outside the city. The investigation into her murder would reveal a series of crimes committed in Galway. If you have been effected by sexual assault or rape, you can contact the Rape Crisis Centre at https://www.rapecrisishelp.ie/  or ring the 24 hr helpline on 1800...

On Friday the 22nd September 2012, Jill Meagher left work after a long week and went out for a night on the town in her adopted home of Melbourne, Australia. She spent the evening in a number of bars and pubs with work friends. But that night, there was a predator out on the streets too. One who had spent nearly a decade in prison for violent assaults and rape, and was still on parole and bail. Be...

An update on the show for the summer followed by a live session from CrimeCon London 2022 where Sinead goes behind the mic with her true crime podcasting friends! Thank you to Bob from Twisted Britain; Sarah from Stop the Killing, Conning the Con, Klooghless; and Gemma from Whats Up Doc?!

In September of 1989, 19 year old Deirdre Mulcahy was heading out for the night to meet her friends in Midleton, Co Cork. She never returned home. The garda investigation into her killing would last years - the court proceedings, however, would not. ********* With thanks to our sponsors for this episode: Get 40% off your premium subscription for the #1 mental wellness app at calm.com/mens Go grab...

On 9 November 1970, in the little village of Clonroche, Co Wexford, a young girl went missing. Just a few hours later her body was found dumped in a field not far from her home, and the main street of town. The only certain thing at the outset of the investigation into 9 year old Marie Buckley's murder was that this terrible thing had been done by someone local.  ********* Join me at CrimeCon UK o...

On the 29th of December, 1996, Gardai were called to a flat on Liffey St in Dublin city centre. Inside was the body of 26 year old British-Sri Lankan woman, Belinda Pereira, who was staying in Dublin for just a week. The nature of her trip prompted many inches of tabloid fodder. She had come to Dublin in order to carry out sex work.  But the voyeuristic media attention on Belinda's case did not la...

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.  ********* Join me at CrimeCon UK on June 11-12 in London 2022! Head to crimecon.co.uk and use the code MENSREA for 10% off (and to let them know I sent you!) *****...

On the morning of 26th March, 2013, a car entered the water at Arklow pier. Only one of it's occupants emerged from the freezing, rough water. Was it a terrible accident? Or a plan to murder? Additional writing, research and editorial support from Eileen MacFarlene ********* Join me at CrimeCon UK on June 11-12 in London 2022! Head to crimecon.co.uk and use the code MENSREA for 10% off (and to let...

A burning car was found in a country lane, just outside of Wexford Town in 2009. When emergency services examined it's remaining shell, the body of a woman was found. It was local woman, 30 year old mother of two Rebecca French. But would there be any justice for Rebecca? ********* Join me at CrimeCon UK on June 11-12 in London 2022! Head to crimecon.co.uk and use the code MENSREA for 10% off (and...