Mens Rea: A true crime podcast

Mens Rea: A true crime podcast

Mens Rea is the legal principle of intent that must be proved in a number of crimes, such as murder. It means literally, "guilty mind". Mens Rea Podcast explores the most notorious crimes from Ireland and the UK and the court cases that followed. Join your host, Sinead, every fortnight when a new case is discussed.

  1. 10 SEPT

    Bonus: Dolores McCrea

    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)

    30 min
  2. 1 SEPT

    138 - The Longest Wait for Justice: Nora Sheehan

    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. ******** 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: 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

    1h 14m
  3. 31 MAY

    137 - A Legacy of Violence: Derek Benson

    In the middle of the night on the 13th May, 2000, a flat in Ballymun was set alight. Inside, the body of Derek Benson was found. But his cause of death had nothing to do with the inferno in his bedroom. He had been brutally killed with a blade. The garda investigation into his murder would not only identify his killers, but a litany of abuse and violence that would continue long after the trial had concluded. 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/ ********* Sources: “Revenge”, book by Ken Foxe Barbara Clinton, “Gardai appeal for public help in murder probe”, Irish Examiner, May 15th 2000 “Ballymun killing a gangland message”, Evening Herald, May 15th 2000 Bernie O’Toole, “Copycat flat death man had horrific injuries”, Irish Independent, May 15th 2000 Caroline O’Doherty, “Plea for help in hunt for savage killer”, Irish Examiner, May 16th 2000 Caroline O’Doherty, “Witness to killing sought by gardai”, Irish Examiner, May 17th 2000 “Drugged, tortured and killed for £300”, Evening Herald, May 19th 2000 Caroline O’Doherty, “Man charged with murder of stabbed father”, Irish Examiner, May 19th 2000 Tom Brady, “Man charged after frenzied knife murder”, Irish Independent, May 19th 2000 “Woman brought in for questioning”, Irish Examiner, May 23rd 2000 Tim Healy, “Woman charged with flat murder”, Evening Herald, May 23rd 2000 Liz Walsh, “Hired sword death horror”, Jan 13th 2004 For a full list of sources, please see mensreapod.com

    49 min
  4. 29 FEB

    136 - David Byrne: Murder in a Dark Corner

    In March of 2011, 19 year old David Byrne set out to meet someone near to his home in Drimnagh, Dublin City. Little did he know that he was walking into a trap. A panicked chase was caught on CCTV, but the final attack occurred in a dark corner out of sight of any cameras. Could his killer be identified from the footage? 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/ ********* Sources: DPP vs Marcus Kirwan appeal doc, available on Vlex Ireland Young and Dumb Episode 3, TV3 documentary, available on YouTube Tom Brady and Patricia McDonagh, “Teen chased down and stabbed to death by gang”, Irish Independent, March 21st 2011 Ann Murphy, “Manhunt for gang after Dublin teen is murdered”, Evening Echo, March 21st 2011 Tom Brady and Shane Hickey, “Murdered teen’s stabbing death is not linked to gangland feud”, Irish Independent, March 22nd 2011 Cormac Murphy, “Gardai prepare to arrest four teen knife killers”, Evening Herald, March 22nd 2011 Tom Brady, “Teens aged 13 held over fatal stabbing of young man”, Irish Independent, March 23rd 2011 Clodagh Sheehy, “Two 13 year olds held over fatal knife attack”, Evening Herald, March 23rd 2011 Cormac O’Keefe, “Seven teenagers held in murder hunt”, Irish Examiner, March 23rd 2011 Tom Brady, “Young man was murdered over €2000 owed to drug dealers”, Irish Independent, March 24th 2011 For a full list of sources, please see mensreapod.com

    42 min
  5. 24 JAN

    135: The Superglue killer: The murder of Julie Tennant

    In August 2000, 21 year old Julie Tennant went missing from her home in Ballymena. Her parents searched desperately for her, while RUC officers began a search for her. They eventually identified a man she had last been seen with - but when he heard police were searching his home he went on the run. 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/ ********* Sources: “RUC renews missing plea”, Belfast Newsletter, Aug 12th 2000 Maureen Coleman, “Parents in appeal for missing daughter”, Belfast Telegraph, Aug 15th 2000 Martin Breen “RUC seal house in hunt for lost Julie”, Belfast Telegraph, Aug 22nd 2000 Martin Breen, “Search for Julie, man is arrested”, Belfast Telegraph, Aug 24th 2000 “Missing Julie man quizzed”, Belfast Newsletter, Aug 24th 2000 Ciaran McGuigan “Agony for Julie family as body discovered”, Belfast Telegraph, Aug 25th 2000 For a full list of sources, please visit www.mensreapod.com

    44 min
4.8
out of 5
589 Ratings

About

Mens Rea is the legal principle of intent that must be proved in a number of crimes, such as murder. It means literally, "guilty mind". Mens Rea Podcast explores the most notorious crimes from Ireland and the UK and the court cases that followed. Join your host, Sinead, every fortnight when a new case is discussed.

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