This episode was originally published as a Patreon exclusive on 2 December 2018

In this episode we take a look at the little-known so-called "satanic" murder of John Horgan (7) in Palmerstown, Dublin in 1973. John and his family lived in a quiet neighbourhood of 9 houses backing on to a field. It was there that his 16 year old neighbour, Lorcan Bale, took him and struck him in the back of the head, killing him. Lorcan then brought John's body to the attic of his house - next door to the Horgan's - and trussed him up in the shape of a cross and in front of a home-made altar.

No real explanation for the murder would ever emerge.

PLEASE NOTE - For some reason - possibly autocorrect - I mention the "Skylark Hotel" in Dublin. No such hotel exists. What I meant to say was the Skylon Hotel. I was half right? Sorry guys! My bad.

Theme Song:

Quinn's Song: First Dance by Kevin McLeod

Sources:

“The Devil is in the Detail”, in Broadsheet.ie https://www.broadsheet.ie/2016/page/382/ 22 June 2016

“Public servant and pillar of the church. guilty of the nation’s most gruesome ever ritual murder” from The Mail on Sunday https://dialogueireland.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/public-servant-and-pillar-of-the-church-guilty-of-the-nations-most-gruesome-ever-ritual-murder/ 14 August 2011

David Malone, The Boy in the Attic (Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing, 2011) Purchase here

This episode was originally published as a Patreon exclusive on 2 June 2019.

This is our first bonus episode to take place outside of Ireland, but involves an Irish couple living and working in Australia.

Tina Cahill and David 'Motcha' Walsh met in Sydney after they both moved in 2013. Their relationship was turbulent and marked with violent incidents. They got engaged in late 2016, but only months later, David Walsh was dead.

You'll hear the word "allegedly" throughout this episode, as David wasn't around in court to tell his side of the story relating to his behaviour in their relationship.

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/

For a full list of sources, please see menreapod.com

This episode was initially released as a Patreon exclusive on 8th Sept 2019

In November of 1997, Eileen O'Shaughnessy went to work as normal. She drove a taxi in Galway City, and was one of the few women drivers in the country

But on the night of the 30th of that month, Eileen's car was found abandoned in the city with blood all over the drivers seat. Her body was found the next day.

The case remains unsolved.

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:

Cracking Crime: Cold Cases – Eileen O'Shaughnessy RTE (2012) watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7Hg2mzVRmQ&list=PLdWT38WOXNebh2AJOBn2Ew-tjMgtnC_0n&index=4

Barry Cummins, Lifers (Dublin: Gill & McMillan, 2014)

Garda Press Release https://www.garda.ie/en/Crime-Prevention/Crimecall-on-RTE/Crimecall-Episodes/2017/November-20/Murder-of-Eileen-Costello-O%E2%80%99Shaughnessy-on-the-30-11-97.html#targetText=Murder%20of%20Eileen%20Costello%20O,on%20the%2030%2F11%2F97&targetText=Garda%C3%AD%20in%20Galway%20are%20continuing,taxi%20driver%20in%20Galway%20City. (20 November 2017)

Declan Rooney, “Taxi driver carry stickers on cars in bid to find killer” in The Irish Examiner https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/taxi-drivers-carry-stickers-on-cars-in-bid-to-find-killer-215158.html (27 November 2012)

Declan Tierney, “New Leads in 20 year old murder” from The Connacht Tribune http://claregalway.info/nuacht/news/2017/12/new-leads-20-year-old-murder/ (14 December 2017)

Lorna Siggins, “Family of Murdered woman believe gardai talking to the wrong man” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/family-of-murdered-woman-believe-gardai-talking-to-the-wrong-man-1.1128374 (30 November 2002)

Ciaran Tierney, “Convicted murderer is questioned about taxi driver killing” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/convicted-murderer-is-questioned-about-taxi-driver-killing-1.317571 (13 July 2001)

Declan Tierney, “Family still searches for answers 19 years after brutal murder” in The Connacht Tribune https://connachttribune.ie/family-still-searches-for-answers-19-years-after-brutal-murder-019/ (26 December 2016)

“Man jailed for murder committed while on day release” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/man-jailed-for-murder-committed-while-on-day-release-1.1119595 (6 December 2000)

“Taxi woman killed for her £70 takings” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/taxi-woman-killed-for-her-70-takings-26200462.html (4 December 1997)

This episode was first released as a Patreon exclusive on 7th October 2018

This is the story of the shocking killing of Tom O'Gorman by his lodger, Sevario Bellante, who suffered from schizophrenia. Bellante had recently been weaned off his medication under medical supervision, and on medical advice to do so, but this would have tragic results.

Theme Music:

Quinn’s Song: First Dance by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

For a full list of sources, please see mensreapod.com

This Bonus episode was first published as a "Guilt Trip" episode on Patreon on 7th April 2019.

Dolores McCrea married the man that she had met and fallen for while in Secondary School in Donegal. But her husband, Gary, was a controlling man and became abusive.

Soon the violence became too much for Dolores and she left Gary, bringing along their four daughters. But often the time after a person leaves their abuser is the most dangerous. And this was the case for Dolores.

Gary McCrea had plans for Dolores once she left him which would lead him to standing in the dock in the Four Courts just over a year later.

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:

24 Hours to Kill – Gary McCrea Season 4, episode 1. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2j7aj3

Ken Foy, “Meet the bone expert who has helped to jail some of our nost notorious killers” in The Evening Herald https://www.herald.ie/news/meet-the-bone-expert-who-has-helped-to-jail-some-of-our-most-notorious-killers-31466476.html (21 August 2015)

“Hundreds expected at Dolores McCrea's funeral” from The Irish Examiner https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/hundreds-expected-at-dolores-mccrea-funeral-157311.html (16 July 2004)

Kathy Donaghy, “Dad-of-four gets life for murder” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/dadoffour-gets-life-for-murder-25955289.html (5 November 2005)

“Daughter says man told her he would kill her mother” in The Tirish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/daughter-says-man-told-her-he-would-kill-her-mother-1.507798 (20 October 2005)

Kathy Donaghy, “'My father told me he was going to stab my mother and rip her guts out'” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/my-father-told-me-he-was-going-to-stab-my-mother-and-rip-her-guts-out--25955291.html (5 Novmeber 2005)

“Mechanic gets life sentence for murdering wife” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/mechanic-gets-life-sentence-for-murdering-wife-1.514254 (5 November 2005)

In 1981, Nora Sheehan went missing from Ballyphehane, Co Cork. She was found dead a week later, and gardai soon had a prime suspect for her murder while investigating another crime.

But a series of setbacks meant no trial was held in the case until 2023.

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/

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Sources:

Prime Time, “Family of cold case murder victim speak out”, available here on RTE Player

“Missing woman”, Irish Examiner, June 12th 1981

“Cork murder hunt”, Evening Echo, June 15th 1981

Dick Cross, “Body of murdered woman in wood”, Irish Independent, June 15th 1981

“No new leads in murder case”, Irish Examiner, June 16th 1981

“Murder hunt continues”, Irish Examiner, June 17th 1981

“No clues in murder hunt”, Evening Echo, June 18th 1981

“Gardai believe killer is known”, Evening Echo, June 19th 1981

Denis Reading, “Gardai warn killer could strike again”, Irish Examiner, June 20th 1981

For a full list of sources, please see mensreapod.com