Mens Rea: A true crime podcast

In 1980, 19 year old Deborah Robinson took a bus from her home in Belfast down to Dublin for the day. She never returned. Her body was found in ditch in rural Co. Kildare, and launched a huge murder investigation. It looked like the case might go cold after a year went by with no breaks in the case. But some loose threads lead investigators to a new suspect. ********* With thanks to our sponsors for this episode: Try the casual mobile puzzle game Best Fiends today! Find it on the Apple App store and Google Play! Check out the global leader in mens grooming and Get 20% Off + Free Shipping at Manscaped.com with the code MENS ********* 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: “Hunt for killer of Belfast girl” in The Belfast Telegraph(10 September 1980) p. 1, 4. “Check on bus passengers in murder hunt” in The Irish Times(11 September 1980) p. 1 “Deborah 'met someone in Dundalk'” in The Belfast Telegraph(11 September 1980) p. 1, 4. Michael MacConnell, “Belfast girl may have known killer” in The Irish Times (12 September 1980) p. 1 “Murder hunt: student held” in The Belfast Telegraph(12 September 1980) p. 1 “Man quizzed in murder hunt” in The Newcastle Evening Chronicle (13 September 1980) p. 1 “Deborah murder: man is still held” in The Belfast Telegraph(13 September 1980) p. 1. Dymphna Curley, “RUC interview couple who spoke to Deborah” in The Belfast Telegraph (15 September 1980) p. 1. Michael Devine, “Deborah: police review clues” in The Belfast Telegraph (16 September 1980) p. 4. “Gardai step up murder inquiries” in The Irish Times(16 September 1980) p. 1. “Deborah's mother talks to Swords man” in The Belfast Telegraph(17 September 1980) p. 11. “Gardai renew murder appeal” in The Belfast Telegraph(25 September 1980) p. 1. “Gardai in murder hunt search canal” in The Belfast Telegraph(26 September 1980) p. 13. Michael Devine, “Family of missing Eire girl fear 'Deborah' fate” in The Belfast Telegraph (2 October 1980) p. 1. “Garda seek sex killer after girl found strangled” in The Belfast Telegraph (7 November 1980) p. 5. “Fibres clue in hunt for Belfast girl's killer” in The Belfast Telegraph(12 December 1980) p. 3. “Gardai get new clues on murder” in The Irish Times(12 December 1980) p. 1. “Murder inquiry 'opened up again'” in The Irish Times(19 December 1980) p. 6. “Dead girl's parents hit out at authorities” in The Belfast Telegraph(23 July 1981) p. 4. Michael Devine, “One year on and the trail to Deborah's killer has gone cold” in The Belfast Telegraph(9 September 1981) p. 4 Michael Devine, “Belfast man in court on Deborah murder charge” in The Belfast Telegraph(3 December 1981) p. 1. “Man in day trip death case remanded” in The Belfast Telegraph(10 December 1981) p. 12. Michael Devine, “Murder probe 'one of gardai's biggest'” in The Belfast Telegraph(4 January 1982) p. 4. “Suicide threat of murder accused” in The Belfast Telegraph(16 January 1982) p. 5. “Deborah charge: bail not sought” in The Belfast Telegraph(30 January 1982) p. 3. “Court told how date trip girl was found dead in Kildare ditch” in The Belfast Telegraph(22 March 1982) p. 1, 4. “Man pleads not guilty to Belfast girl's murder” in The Irish Times(23 March 1982) p. 11. “Deborah died from strangulation – doctor” in The Belfast Telegraph(24 March 1982) p. 4. “Murdered girl's death due to strangulation, pathologist tells court” in The Irish Times(24 March 1982) p. 13. “Court told murdered girl died facing her attacker” in The Irish Times(25 March 1982) p. 15. “Man admitted Deborah killing, court told” in The Belfast Telegraph(26 March 1982) p. 1, 4. “Murder trial told of visit to priest” in The Irish Times(27 March 1982) p. 8. “Deborah: verdict must be murder, court told” in The Belfast Telegraph(29 March 1982) p. 1, 5. “Deborah's parents plan Ripper-style case against killer” in The Belfast Telegraph(30 March 1982) p. 17 “The long journey which ended in violent death” in The Belfast Telegraph(30 March 1982) p. 17. “Man gets life for murder of girl” in The Irish Times(30 March 1982) p. 1. “Robinson a teenager happy with her life” in The Irish Times(30 March 1982) p. 7. Chris Kelly, “Deborah trial leads to move in child case” in The Belfast Telegraph(31 March 1982) p. 1. “English girl's death review” in The Irish Times(31 March 1982) p. 6. “Killer fails in bid for freedom” in The Evening Herald(20 September 1996) p. 6. Ray Managh and Annemaria McEneaney, “Murderer of blind date girl loses plea after 15 years' jail” in The Irish Independent(21 September 19...

In May of 2012, Nicola Furlong and her best friend Sarah were enjoying an exciting year on Erasmus in a university in Japan. On the night of the 23rd, the two Wexford girls hit the town to see a Nicki Minaj concert that was on in Tokyo. But after missing their last train home, their care-free night out would end in disaster. ********* Join me at CrimeCon UK on September 25th & 26th 2021. For more information and tickets visit .co.uk. Use the code MENSREA for 10% off. Purchase a ticket with the code and get in touch to get a free Mens Rea T-Shirt (limited to first 10 listeners who contact me) ********** With thanks to our sponsor for this episode: Check out the amazing CBD infused oils and drinks from Trip at drink-trip.com and use the code TRUECRIME for 15% off your first order and free shipping! Check out the global leader in mens grooming and Get 20% Off + Free Shipping at Manscaped.com with the code REA Sign up for professional online counselling at betterhelp.com/mens and get 10% off your first month! Try the casual mobile puzzle game Best Fiends today! Find it on the Apple App store and Google Play! Check out the new bonus episodes of Dr. Death from Wondery out now! Find them here ********* 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: Mark Jilliard, Luke Byrne and Brendan Furlong, “Myster as Irish exchange student Nicola Furlong found dead in Tokyo hotel room” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mystery-as-irish-exchange-student-nicola-furlong-found-dead-in-tokyo-hotel-room-26857258.html(25 May 2012) Rowan Gallagher, “DCU student found dead in Tokyo hotel” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/dcu-student-found-dead-in-tokyo-hotel-1.523785(25 May 2012) Rowan Gallagher and David McNeill, “Man in custody after DCU student's death” in The Irish Times(26 May 2012) p. 6. Mark Hilliard and Luke Byrne, “Two men quizzed over student's death in Japan” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/two-men-quizzed-over-students-death-in-japan-26857627.html(26 May 2012) “Two held in Nicola killing” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/two-held-in-nicola-killing-26857826.html(27 May 2012) Luke Byrne, Mark Hilliard and Brendan Furlong, “Student Nicola Furlong suffered sexual assault after strangulation in Tokyo” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/student-nicola-furlong-suffered-sexual-assault-after-strangulation-in-tokyo-26858712.html(28 May 2012) “Two held over Irish student's death” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/irish-news/two-held-over-irish-students-death-26858762.html(28 May 2012) Danielle Demetriou “Two charged with sex assault on murdered Nicola's friend” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/two-charged-with-sex-assault-on-murdered-nicolas-friend-26858709.html(28 May 2012) David McNeill, “DCU student's body flown home” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/dcu-student-s-body-flown-home-1.717712(31 May 2012) “Two US rappers being questioned by police” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/regionals/enniscorthyguardian/news/two-us-rappers-being-questioned-by-police-27256910.html(5 June 2012) For a full list of sources see mensreapod.com

It’s one of the most haunting murder cases you’ll ever hear about, and it takes place in a small town in Israel. Tair Rada was only 13-years-old when her body was found inside a locked bathroom stall. She was viciously murdered during a school day, and yet no one saw or heard a thing. The police arrested the janitor, Roman Zadorov, and he eventually confessed, but this was far from being the end of it. Based on the hit true-crime series from Netflix, the podcast "Shadow of Truth" will take you on a journey into one of the wildest and most contested murder cases in the history of Israel, as it reaches its final resolution, 15 years after it all started. Listen to Shadow of Truth http://wondery.fm/SOT_MensReaPod

In 1988, Anne Gillespie was 18 years old. She was looking forward to embarking on adult life. There was just one problem - her boyfriend of over three years had begun to behave horribly. She decided to end things. Her boyfriend, 22 year old John Gallagher, decided that if Anne would no longer speak to him, he'd kill her. John also shot Anne's mother, Annie. No one could have predicted it, nor could they have known about the 24 years the two families would spend in and out of court. ******** 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! ******** 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: Michael Finlan, “Gardai wait to interview man in hospital” in The Irish Times (20 September 1988) p. 1 “Donegal man on murder charge” in The Irish Times (22 September 1988) p. 1. “Man to face murder charge” in The Irish Times (14 January 1989) p. 12 “Man accused of double killing was jilted by girlfriend” in The Irish Times (12 July 1989) p. 8 'Killer 'told man to run for his life'” in The Irish Times (13 July 1989) p. 12. “Man was 'taking big doses of slimming pills' before shooting” in The Irish Times (14 July 1989) p. 10. “Trial told of 'love tape' sent to victim of shooting” in The Irish Times (15 July 1989) p. 8. “Killer's judgement 'impaired' court told” in The Irish Times (18 July 1989) p. 8. “Man 'was not mentally ill' during Sligo shootings” in The Irish Times (19 July 1989) p. 12. “Jury finds Gallagher guilty but insane” in The Irish Times (20 July 1989) p. 7. Maol Muire Tynan, “Murder girl had sought to end relationship” in The Irish Times (20 July 1989) p. 7. Mary Maher, “Law on 'guilty but insane' verdicts to be challenged” in The Irish Times (31 July 1989) p. 1. “Protest over move to release killer” in The Irish Times (23 Janaury 1990) p. 5. “Murder victim's family seek hearing at appeal” in The Irish Times (30 January 1990) p. 10. “Apllication to free killer adjourned by judge” in The Irish Times (27 February 1990) p. 8 “Alter 'guilty but insane' law – psychiatrist” in The Irish Times (25 June 1990) p. 2. “Application to free killer unresolved” in The Irish Times (28 July 1990) p. 14. “Double killer now sane, court told” in The Irish Times (31 July 1990) p. 4 “Lawyers differ in 'guilty but insane' case” in The Irish Times (17 October 1990) p. 4. “Judge declines to release Gallagher” in The Irish Times (15 December 1990) p. 4. Paul Carney, “Applicaiton of 1883 law has divided High Court judges” in The Irish Times (15 December 1990) p. 4. “Court to consider Gallagher challenge” in The Irish Times (18 December 1990) p. 13 “Gallagher appeal date fixed” in The Irish Times (19 December 1990) p. 3. “Supreme Court opens Gallagher appeal” in The Irish Times (23 January 1991) p. 16 “Court reserves judgment in Gallagehr case” in The Irish Times (24 january 1991) p. 5. “Gallagher case referred to Government” in The Irish Times (13 February 1991) p. 4. Paul Carney, “Gallagher decision now up to Government” in The Irish Times (13 February 1991) p. 11. “Man in double killing gets ruling on detention” in The Irish Times (16 may 1991) p. 5. Padraig Yeates, “Cases highlight urgency of 'guilty but insane' reform” in The Irish Times (25 July 1991) p. 12. “Inquiry pledge halts Dundrum dentention case” in The Irish Times (27 July 1991) p. 3. Jim Cusack, “Law on 'guilty but insane' to be reformed” in The Irish Times (8 November 1991) p. 2. Jim Cusack, “Gallagher campaign to result in reform of 'guilty but insane' verdict” in The Irish Times (8 November 1991) p. 12. Jim Cusack, “'Guilty but insane' man released” in The Irish Times (22 November 1991) p. 4. “Man in Central Mental Hospital gets leave to challenge detentions” in The Irish Times (27 July 1993) p. 5. “Family fears for lives if Gallagher is set free” in The Irish Times (24 April 1996) p. 3. “Gallagher case date to be fixed soon” in The Irish Times (30 April 1996) p. 4 “Court told of family's fears over release of Gallagher” in The Irish Times (11 June 1996) p. 5 “Three Judges to rule on detention of double killer” in The Irish Times (20 June 1996) p. 5. Christine Newman, “Relatives seek right to give evidence on detention of killer” in The Irish Times (21 June 1996) p. 4. “Gallagher could kill again if set free, court told” in The Irish Times (21 June 1996) p. 4 “Gallagher would leave country, court told” in The Irish Times (22 June 1996) p. 4. “Families of victims in Gallagher case ref...

In the course of researching the assassination of Veronica Guerin, I came across the mention of files stolen from the offices of the Director of Public Prosecution by Martin Cahill (The General) and his gang. John Traynor told reporter Paul Williams that one in particular, the file relating to the investigation of the death of Fr Niall Molloy, was used in a trade to get him out of charges for receiving stolen goods. Why in the world was this file so important? I had to know. And so this week, we have the bizarre tale of the unsolved murder of Father Niall Molloy. Fr Molloy was murdered in the home of his friends and business associates, the Flynn's, in the summer of July 1985, a day after the wedding of one of the daughters. No one has ever been convicted of his murder. Find the new RTE documentary on Fr Niall's death here (#notanad) ********* Join me at CrimeCon UK on September 25th & 26th 2021. For more information and tickets visit crimecon.co.uk. Use the code MENSREA for 10% off. Purchase a ticket with the code and get in touch to get a free Mens Rea T-Shirt (limited to first 10 listeners who contact me) ********** With thanks to our sponsors for this episode: Try the casual mobile puzzle game Best Fiends today! Find it on the Apple App store and Google Play! ********* 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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atyrR3jxEtA - Today, tonight, RTE, 1987 Maresa Fagan, Fr Niall Molloy: “Truth out there' as chapter in unsolved death closes” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/fr-niall-molloy-truth-out-there-as-chapter-in-unsolved-death-closes-1.2989386 25 February 2017 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Niall_Molloy Gemma O'Doherty, “Truth about FR Molloy's murder will rock the State” in The Sunday Independent https://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/gemma-odoherty-truth-about-fr-molloys-murder-will-rock-the-state-28904708.html 22 November 2012 'On the day of his death, Fr Niall said he was dreading going over to the Flynns” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/on-the-day-of-his-death-fr-niall-said-he-was-dreading-going-over-to-the-flynns-26692151.html 23 October 2010 Paul Reynolds, “GSOC critical of failure to keep Molloy documents” in RTE NEWS https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0709/977506-fr-niall-molloy/ 10 July 2018 Aoife Barry “Call for judicial inquiry into death of Fr Niall Molloy” in TheJournal.ie http://www.thejournal.ie/judicial-inquiry-fr-niall-molloy-692242-Nov2012/ 27 November 2012 Colin Maher, “Who Rid Them of this Troublesome Priest?” in Broadsheet.ie https://www.broadsheet.ie/2013/08/23/the-troublesome-priest/ 23 August 2013 Michael Clifford, “Why was a priest killed in a couple's bedroom at an unholy hour?” in The Irish Examiner https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/views/analysis/why-was-a-priest-killed-in-a-couples-bedroom-at-an-unholy-hour-855138.html 14 July 2018 Eavan Murray, “'I know who murdered my uncle' : Probe into Fr Niall Molloy's death” in The Sun https://www.thesun.ie/archives/irish-news/25065/i-know-who-murdered-my-uncle/ 11 April 2015 David Langwallner, “Law is Boring – Trials are Fun” in The Village Magazine https://villagemagazine.ie/index.php/2016/11/law-is-boring/ 19 November 2016 "Bodger", “It became apparent many original documents, including exhibits, are missing” in Broadsheet.ie https://www.broadsheet.ie/tag/fr-niall-molloy/ 9 July 2018