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.

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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:

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 refused inquiry representation” in The Irish Times (10 July 1996) p. 4.

Christine Newman, “Gallagher not mentally ill when he killed two women in 1988 – doctor” in The Irish Times (18 July 1996) p. 5

“Phased release 'only way' to assess Gallagher” in The Irish Times (19 July 1996) p. 4.

Christine Newman, “Hospital director accepts Gallagher disorder a risk” in The Irish Times (20 July 1996) p. 4.

Christine Newman, “Judgment delayed in Gallagher detention court case” in The Irish Times (24 July 1996) p. 4.

Frank McNally “Gallagher detention upheld by High Court” in The Irish Times (7 September 1996) p. 1.

Padraig O'Morain, “Paroled murderer failed to return by deadline” in The Irish Times (17 July 200) p. 1.

Clare Murphy, “Gardai believe murderer may have escaped to Britain” in The Irish Times (18 July 2000) p. 1.

Clare Murphy, “Gallagher 'built up a high level of trust” in The Irish Times (18 July 2000) p. 3.

Clare Murphy, “Shatter wants statement on disappearance of Gallagher” in The Irish Times (19 July 2000) p. 5.

Clare Murphy, Frank Millar and Frank Kilfeather, “Gardai face legal problems with Gallagher extradition” in The Irish Times (22 July 2000) p. 1.

Kitty Holland, “Department says Gallagher 'legally a threat'” in The Irish Times (24 July 2000) p. 4.

Jim Cusack, “No sign Gallagher is in Donegal” in The Irish Times (20 January 2001) p. 5.

Carol Coulter, 'Bill to reform law on criminal insanity” in The Irish Times (3 December 2002) p. 4.

Stephen Maguire, “Killer of mother and daughter back in detention” in The Irish Times (23 May 2012) p. 2.

Stephen Maguire, “Gallagher's family not told he was back in custody” in The Irish Times (24 May 2012) p. 5.

Carol O'Brien, “Release now an option for the 'guilty but insane'” in The Irish Times (24 May 2012) p. 5.

Rowan Gallagher and Stephen Maguire, “Gallagher release may be inevitable – Shatter” in The Irish Times (25 May 2012) p. 4.

Stephen Maguire and Pamela Duncan, “Double killer released from mental hospital” in The Irish Times (30 June 2012) p. 3.

Tom Tuite, “Judge to consider Gallagher case for absconding” in The Irish Times (24 October 2012) p. 4.

“Serving of Gallagher summons defective” in The Irish Times (31 October 2012) p. 4.

CRIMINAL LAW (INSANITY) ACT 2006