Mens Rea: A true crime podcast

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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. 6D AGO

    Listen Now: Lines of Enquiry

    For fans of true crime like the loyal and dedicated listeners of Mens Rea, we want to recommend a new Irish series that I think you’ll really appreciate. It’s called Lines of Enquiry, a brand new GoLoud Original hosted by former Garda forensic detective John Sweetman. Across eight episodes, John draws on his decades of experience inside the Garda Technical Bureau to explore some of Ireland’s most fascinating investigations from murders to mysterious disappearances. He brings a rare perspective to the genre, showing how forensic science and detailed investigative work uncover the truth. Lines of Enquiry is available now on the GoLoud app and wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. https://open.spotify.com/episode/3EzGXohKAgAo9iu9ADiHgU?si=oTnSuNyoRsePnLBeK9iSag

    3 min

  2. AUG 4

    Bonus - Tom & Kitty Fitzgerald

    This episode was originally published asa Patreon exclusive on 12 Jan 2020. In 2016, shocking news broke that an elderly couple were found dead in their own home in rural Co Mayo, and a younger man was found there too - badly injured. Over the following days, while family friends and the community in Irishtown grappled with the tragic news, it became clear that something very sinister had occurred in the small farmhouse.  And for reasons - that to this day - have yet to come to light. 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: Ryan Nugent, “Village in shock over tragedy involving 'saint like' pair who were the perfect match” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/village-in-shock-over-tragedy-involving-saintlike-pair-who-were-the-perfect-match-35184599.html (3 November 2016)    Ryan Nugent, “Death in rural Mayo: murder and suicide suspected in deaths of elderly couple” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/deaths-in-rural-mayo-murder-and-suicide-suspected-in-deaths-of-elderly-couple-35184593.html (3 November 2016)    Ryan Nugent, “Neighbours in quiet rural area left stunned by couple's death” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/neighbours-in-quiet-rural-area-left-stunned-by-couples-deaths-35190063.html (5 November 2016)    Meave Sheehan, “Mayo father suspected of killing wife, attacking son – then taking own life” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mayo-father-suspected-of-killing-wife-attacking-son-then-taking-own-life-35191796.html (6 November 2016)    Robin Schiller, “Tragic Mayo couple will be buried together” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/tragic-mayo-couple-will-be-buried-together-35193648.html (7 November 2016)  Greg Harkin, “'A silence has fallen across this parish' – Priest tells of 'shattered community' at double funeral of Tom and Kitty Fitzgerald” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/a-silence-has-fallen-across-this-parish-priest-tells-of-shattered-community-at-double-funeral-of-tom-and-kitty-fitzgerald-35194737.html (7 November 2016)    Greg Harkin, “Community mourns as couple who died in murder-suicide laid to rest together” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/community-mourns-as-couple-who-died-in-murdersuicide-laid-to-rest-together-35196930.html (8 November 2016)    Tom Shiel, “Man killed wife then took his own life, inquest told” in The Irish Times (21 November 2017) p. 4.    Tom Shiel, “Couple's deaths left community 'like orphans looking for a hand to hold' priest tells funeral” in The Irish Times (8 November 2016) p. 8.    Tom Shiel, “Bodies of two pensioners found in Mayo” in The Irish Times (2 November 2016) p. 4.  Tom Shiel, “Mayo couple's deaths a murder-suicide” in The Irish Times (3 November 2016) p. 1.    Anton McNulty, “Horrific Evidence heard at murder/suicide inquest” in The Mayo News http://www.mayonews.ie/news/31158-horrific-evidence-heard-at-murder-suicide-inquest (21 November 2017)    Darragh McDonagh, “Verdict of murder-suicide recorded at inquest into deaths of Tom and Kitty Fitzgerald (72)” in TheJournal.ie https://www.thejournal.ie/murder-suicide-mayo-fitzgerald-3707726-Nov2017/ (20 November 2017)   Caroline Crawford, “Son has no memory of what happened the day his parents died in murder-suicide, inquest hears” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/son-has-no-memory-of-what-happened-the-day-his-parents-died-in-murdersuicide-inquest-hears-36336486.html (20 November 2017)    Emma Lake, “OAP found battered to death next to husband who was dead in water trough surrounded by poison next to badly injured man” in The Sun  https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2098419/oap-found-battered-to-death-next-to-husband-who-was-dead-in-water-trough-surrounded-by-poison-next-to-badly-injured-man/ (2 November 2016)    Ryan Nugent, “Answers to grisly deaths of couple lie within the home” in The Evening Herald https://www.herald.ie/news/answers-to-grisly-deaths-of-couple-lie-within-the-home-35184129.html (3 November 2016)    James Ward and Tom Shiel, “Heartfelt tributes paid to elderly couple  found 'beaten to death' in Mayo home” in The Irish Mirror https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/heartfelt-tributes-paid-elderly-couple-9176939 (1 November 2016)    Trevor Quinn, “'God's own way is not our way': brother of Tom Fitzgerald pays tribute to slain Mayo man” in The Irish Mirror https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/gods-way-not-way-brother-9180453 (2 November 2016)    “Homicide verdicts at inquest into deaths of Mayo couple” in The Connaught Telegraph https://www.con-telegraph.ie/news/roundup/articles/2017/11/20/4148750-homicide-verdicts-at-inquests-into-deaths-of-mayo-couple/ (20 November 2017)    Cianan Brennan, “'A silence fell across this parish' – funeral takes place of pensioners found dead at home” in TheJournal.ie https://www.thejournal.ie/tom-kitty-fitzgerald-funeral-3068005-Nov2016/ (7 November 2016)    Sinead O'Carroll and Cianan Brennan, “Married couple found dead in house on Galway/Mayo border” in TheJournal.ie https://www.thejournal.ie/irishtown-mayo-bodies-3057574-Nov2016/ (1 November 2016)    Tom Sheil, “Murder-suicide verdict returned in Mayo inquest” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/coroner-s-court/murder-suicide-verdict-returned-in-mayo-inquest-1.3298900 (20 November 2016)

    24 min

  3. JUL 7

    Bonus - Satanic Panic in Palmerstown

    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

    27 min

  4. JUN 9

    Bonus - The Mysterious Death of Patrick Nugent

    This episode was originally published as a Patreon exclusive on 6 Oct 2019 In the early hours of the 11th February, 1984, Patrick Nugent died in a car park in front of Bunratty Castle, Co Clare. There had been a party, and Patrick was working in the castle that night.  A number of guests were present for the events leading up to Patrick's death, but, none of their stories were consistent with one another. Two guests - off duty gardai - would not speak to the officers who responded to the scene. At a post-mortem it was established that Patrick had been run over by a car, but not before falling to the ground. What happened to Patrick Nugent?  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: “What Happened in Bunratty?” Episode 29 Scannal (RTE, 26/09/2016) Available here: https://www.rte.ie/player/series/the-scannal-collection/SI0000004189?epguid=IH000338537  The History of Shannon Airport https://www.shannonproperties.ie/shannon-region/the-history-of-shannon-airport/  Bunratty Castle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunratty_Castle                                 www.bunrattycastle.ie    Economic History of the Republic of Ireland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_history_of_the_Republic_of_Ireland#1980_to_early_1990s  Derek Dunne, “The Death of Patrick Nugent” from Magill https://magill.ie/archive/death-patrick-nugent (12 June 1985)   Simon Carswell, “Who 'clocked' Patrick Nugent? A family still searches for answers” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/who-clocked-patrick-nugent-a-family-still-searches-for-answers-1.3107557 (5 June 2017)    Dan Danaher, “Patrick Nugent's family secures state inquiry into his death in 1984” in The Irish Examiner https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/patrick-nugents-family-secures-state-inquiry-into-his-death-in-1984-373317.html (28 December 2015)    Dan Danaher, “Family fury over death inquiry delay” in The Clare Champion https://clarechampion.ie/family-fury-over-death-inquiry-delay/ (11 September 2015)    Owen Ryan, “Death in Bunratty and the long search for answers” in The Clare Champion https://clarechampion.ie/family-fury-over-death-inquiry-delay/ ( (29 July 2019)    http://www.section42inquiries.ie/en/s42i/pages/si1992017  Anne Sheridan, “Suspicious death in Bunratty ow under review 33 years on” in The Limerick Leader https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/253965/suspicious-death-in-bunratty-now-under-review-33-years-on.html (8 June 2017)    “Nugent case goes to UN Committee” in The Clare Champion http://clarechampion.ie/nugent-case-goes-to-un-committee/ (4 February 2016)    Ray Ryan, “'Isn't he the image of Honey Fitz” in The Irish Examiner https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/isnt-he-the-image-of-honey-fitz-234702.html (21 June 2013)    Caroline O'Doherty, “Reviews into Garda malpractice claims are pointless, say victims” in The Irish Examiner https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/reviews-into-garda-malpractice-claims-are-pointless-say-victims-378790.html (29 January 2016)

    30 min

  5. MAY 26

    Bonus - Tina Cahill & the death of David Walsh

    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

    22 min

  6. MAY 12

    Bonus - Kilkenny City Cold Cases

    This episode was originally published as a Patreon exclusive on 5 May 2019. Two women were murdered in the 1980's in Kilkenny. They were unconnected, and unsolved. It would be years before the two murders were "rediscovered" by the Garda Cold Case Unit - the National Serious Crime Review Unit.  Appeals for information were made to the public, and now, 30 years on, there have been developments in the cases.... 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: “Man (52) due to be charged in connection with murder of Ann Nancy Smith in 2987” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/man-52-due-to-be-charged-in-connection-with-murder-of-ann-nancy-smith-in-1987-34113928.html (15 October 2015)  Natasha Reid, “Cold-case trial hears widow already dead when house set on fire” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/criminal-court/cold-case-trial-hears-widow-already-dead-when-house-set-on-fire-1.3023788 (24 March 2017) Natasha Reid, “Kilkenny murder trial: Nancy Smyth subjected to head injuries and strangled before fire started in her home” in The Kilkenny People https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/home/241784/kilkenny-murder-trial-nancy-smyth-subjected-to-head-injuries-and-strangled-before-fire-started-in-her-home.html (24 March 2017) Jim Cusack, “Killer repeatedly given bail despite threatening witnesses and stabbing his brother – after admitting murder” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/killer-repeatedly-given-bail-despite-threatening-witnesses-and-stabbing-his-brother-after-admitting-murder-35626554.html (16 April 2017) Sandra Murphy, “How murderer of pensioner Nancy Smyth was fianlly caught after 30 years” from Evoke.ie https://extra.ie/2017/04/20/news/real-life/how-detectives-cracked-cold-case-of-murder-of-pensioner-nancy-smyth (20 April 2017)    Eoin Reynolds, “'Closure' for family in cold-case” in The Irish Examiner https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/closure-for-family-in-cold-case-murder-447831.html (14 April 2017) Natasha Reid, “Bible study man strangled widow and set fire to her home, cold case murder trial hears” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/bible-study-man-strangled-widow-and-set-fire-to-her-home-coldcase-murder-trial-hears-35555465.html (22 March 2017)    Natasha Reid, “Cold case trial hears of widow's murder 30 years ago” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/cold-case-trial-hears-of-widows-murder-30-years-ago-35557331.html (23 March 2017)    Eoin Reynolds, “Woman died 'callouss and violent death', murder trial hears” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/criminal-court/woman-died-callous-and-violent-death-murder-trial-hears-1.3045399 (11 April 2017)    Ruaidhri Giblin, “Appeal dismissed” Convicted murderer confessed to people 'left right and centre' to killing woman 30 years ago as life sentence upheld” in The Irish Sun https://www.thesun.ie/news/2466416/convicted-murderer-confessed-to-people-left-right-and-centre-to-killing-woman-30-years-ago-as-life-sentence-upheld/ (19 April 2018) Ruaidhri Giblin, “'Cold-case' killer moves to appeal conviction for murder of woman in Kilkenny 30 years ago” in The Kilkenny People https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/home/295419/cold-case-killer-moves-to-appeal-conviction-for-murder-of-woman-in-kilkenny-30-years-ago.html (5 February 2018)    Conor Lally, “Gardai identify suspect in cold case murder of Marie Tierney in 1984” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/garda%C3%AD-identify-suspect-in-cold-case-murder-of-marie-tierney-in-1984-1.3681898 (31 October 2018)    Wayne O'Conner, “Family of murdered Marie believe gardai closer to finding killer” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/family-of-murdered-marie-believe-gardai-closer-to-finding-killer-37489911.html (4 November 2018)    Barry Cummins, “Family of murder victim Marie Tierney speak of ongoing anguish” from RTE.ie  https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/1115/1011234-marie-tierney/ (15 November 2018)    Cormac O'Keefe, “Garda review of one unsolved murder unearths a second case” in The Irish Examiner https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/garda-review-of-one-unsolved-murder-unearths-second-case-882462.html (1 November 2018)     Paul Hosford, “Gardai appeal for information into 1984 murder of mother of two” in TheJournal.ie https://www.thejournal.ie/marie-tierney-murder-appeal-3686145-Nov2017/ (8 November 2017)    Press Release: Garda Update – Marie Tierney Murder Investigation from Garda.ie https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/press-releases/2018/october/update-marie-tierney-murder-investigation.html    “Cold Case Breakthrough” Potential witness in Marie Tierney murder investigation comes forward” from KilkennyNow.ie https://kilkennynow.ie/breaking-potential-witness-in-marie-tierney-murder-investigation-comes-forward/ (20 December 2018)

    28 min

  7. APR 21

    Bonus - Eileen Costello O'Shaughnessy

    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)

    21 min

  8. APR 14

    Bonus - The Killing of Tom O'Gorman

    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

    22 min
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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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