On 9 November 1970, in the little village of Clonroche, Co Wexford, a young girl went missing. Just a few hours later her body was found dumped in a field not far from her home, and the main street of town.

The only certain thing at the outset of the investigation into 9 year old Marie Buckley's murder was that this terrible thing had been done by someone local. 

*********

Join me at CrimeCon UK on June 11-12 in London 2022! Head to crimecon.co.uk and use the code MENSREA for 10% off (and to let them know I sent you!)

*********

With thanks to our sponsors for this episode:

Get 40% off your premium subscription for the #1 mental wellness app at calm.com/mens

Begin compiling your families’ personal histories with Storyworth and get 10% off your first purchase at storyworth.com/rea

*********

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:

“Charged with child’s murder” in The Irish Press (8 December 1970) p. 4

“Remand on murder charge” in The Irish Examiner (10 December 1970) p. 18

“Judge warns on murder case delay” in The Irish Press (25 February 1971) p. 5

“Murder case man remanded” in The Irish Press (11 March 1971) p. 9.

“Not guilty plea in murder trial” in The Evening Echo(5 July 1971) p. 1

“’A brutal killing’ – court told” in The Evening Herald(5 July 1971) p. 1, 2.

“Jury told accused slit his own throat” in The Cork Examiner (6 July 1971) p. 5.

“Clonroche murder trial resumes” in The Evening Herald(7 July 1971) p. 1.

“Account of girl’s last hours alive” in The Cork Examiner(7 July 1971) p. 11.

“Children give evidence in murder trial” in The Irish Press (7 July 1971) p. 7

“Dead girl’s pal tells of visit to secret hide-out” in The Irish Independent (7 July 1971) p. 9

“Murder trial told of conversation with accused” in The Evening Echo (7 July 1971) p. 1

“Murder trial: parents tell of widespread search for their child” in The Evening Herald (8 July 1971) p. 5.

“Aunt searched by torchlight” in The Irish Press (8 July 1971) p. 7.

“Judge lets dead girl’s parents go” in The Cork Examiner  (8 July 1971) p. 5.

“Screams heard, court is told” in The Irish Press (9 July 1971) p. 7.

“Garda tells of six-hour clue search” in The Evening Herald (9 July 1971) p.4

“Witness tells court he saw girl with accused man” in The Irish Independent (10 July 1971) p. 5.

“Man and child seen at night” in The Irish Press (10 July 1971) p. 4

“Murder trial enters sixth day” in The Evening Echo(13 July 1971) p. 2

“I heard child’s scream – murder trial witness” in The Evening Herald  (13 July 1971) p 2.

“Bloodstains on wall. Murder trial told” in The Irish Press (14 July 1971) p . 6

“Scream seemed to be a child’s, court told” in The Irish Independent (14 July 1971) p. 8

“Murder trial told how girl died” in The Irish Independent (15 July 1971) p. 11

“Accused’s wound could have killed” in The Cork Examiner(15 July 1971) p. 5

“Murder trial told of young girl’s injuries” in The Irish Press (15 July 1971) p. 7

“Accused told sergeant he burned clothing” in The Evening Herald (16  July 1971) p. 6

“The scientists give evidence” in The Irish Press (16 July 1971) p. 5.

“Evidence in child murder trial” in The Irish Press(16 July 1971) p. 5.

“Dead thistles in girl’s dress” in The Irish Independent(16 July 1971) p. 11

“Accused told garda of ‘commotion’” in The Irish Independent (17 July 1971) p. 7

“Burned pants in ashpit” in The Irish Press (17 July 1971) p. 4.

“Judge is to sum up today” in The Irish Press (20 July 1971) p. 7

“Defence rests in Clonroche murder trial” in The Irish Independent (20 July 1971) p. 12

“Jury retires in Clonroche murder trial” in The Evening Herald (20 July 1971) p. 6

“Clonroche murder-accused gets life” in The Cork Examiner(21 July 1971) p. 1.

“Life jail sentence for Wexford murder” in The Irish Independent (21 July 1971) p 13.