69 - The Emergency: The IRA, spies and the murder of Michael Devereux Mens Rea: A true crime podcast

In 1940, 24 year old Michael Devereux disappeared from his home in Co Wexford. A year later, his body would be discovered buried in an isolated part of Co Tipperary. A number of men who were known members of the IRA found themselves accused of the murder - allegedly motivated by the belief that Devereux had been a spy among their ranks. 



A four month legal battle ensued, which saw the use of the Emergency Powers Act passed to deal with "The Emergency" of the ongoing war in Europe used to circumvent due process and normal court procedures in order to hold the men accountable.

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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: 



“Missing Wexford man: motor car found in a pit” in The Irish Times (23 September 1941) p. 1. 



“Co Wexford man's death: shot through the head” in The Irish Times (2 October 1941) p. 5 



“Found buried after a year” in The Weekly Irish Times (4 October 1941) p. 1. 



“Devereux murder trial: counsel's story of an 'amazing crime'” in The Irish Times (12 October 1941) p. 1. 



"Devereux murder charge surprise: witnesses arrested and a prisoner discharged” in The Irish Times (11 of December 1941) p. 1, 5. 



“Collapse of the Devereux case: Plant discharged and again detained” in The Irish Times (12 December 1941) p. 4. 



“Devereux murder charges: Postponement of trials” in The Irish Times (23 December 1941) p. 2. 



“Devereux murder charge: special criminal court to sit” in The Irish Times (1 January 1942) p. 6. 



“Devereux murder charge: postponement of trial” in The Irish Times (2 January 1942) p. 3. 



“Devereux case echo: military court to hear charge” in The Irish Times (6 January 1942) 



“Military court sitting: Devereux case adjourned” in The Irish Times (7 January 1942) p. 3. 



“Devereux murder charge: habeas corpus order asked in high court” in the Irish Times (14 January 1942) p. 1. 



“Devereux murder charge: Habeas Corpus motion” in The Irish Times (15 January 1942) p. 5. 



“Habeas corpus motion: decision to-day in Devereux case” in The Irish Times (16 January 1942) p. 3. 



“Devereaux murder charge: habeas corpus and prohibition refused” in The Irish Times (17 January 1942) p. 1. 



“Devereux murder charge: appeal opened in the supreme court” in The Irish Times ( 22 January 1942) p. 3. 



“Statements as evidence: criticism in habeas corpus motion” in The Irish Times (23 January 1942) p. 6. 



“'All-devouring Article 28': Arguments in Habeas Corpus motion” in The Irish Times (24 January 1942) p. 7. 



“Wexford man who vanished: discovery of body after his car is found” in The Belfast Telegraph (1 October 1941) p. 6. 



“The Devereux murder: trial date fixed” in The Derry Journal (28 November 1941) p. 3 



“'Unparalleled murder' – IRA accused” in The Northern Whig and Belfast Post (10 December 1941) p. 3 



“Irish murder trial” in