Assume Nothing

Journalist Gordon Adair has had a secret contact for a long time, a former Republican prisoner who ended his involvement with paramilitaries in the late 1970s. Now – the contact has agreed to go on record for the first time, telling a remarkable story of how a close brush with death inspired him to try to solve one of the most enduring mysteries of the conflict known as the ‘Troubles’

Journalist Gordon Adair is waiting on a call from a contact – a former IRA prisoner who has spent nearly 30 years trying to locate the remains of Captain Robert Nairac.

Clark W Fogg investigated crime scenes with the Beverly Hills Police Department for nearly 40 years – what can he reveal about evidence found at Greystone Mansion, and what does he think really happened that night?

Readings:

Michael Patrick

Presented by Peter Devlin and Conor McKay

The morning after the tragic events at Greystone, detective Leslie T White brings his concerns about the evidence to District Attorney Burton Fitts. When witnesses are recalled to the hall of justice later that day, Dr Fishbaugh, the Doheny family physician, makes a surprising admission.

Meanwhile, Peter meets internationally renowned artist Kerry Tribe, who was invited to exhibit at Greystone mansion in 2011.

Intrigued by the story of Ned and Hugh, Kerry created a unique film exploring five different theories about what might have really happened that night.

Readings:

Michael Patrick

Presented by Peter Devlin and Conor McKay

9.30pm, Doheny avenue, Beverly Hills. A dark blue car approaches the gates of Greystone Mansion. The guard at the gates recognises the driver – it’s Hugh Plunkett.

Waved through, Hugh drives into the estate. After a brief call to Lucy Doheny from the garage, Hugh enters the mansion and is soon alone in a guest bedroom with Ned Doheny. By midnight – both men are dead. What happened on that fateful day?

In this eight part series, Peter Devlin and producer Conor McKay trace the extraordinary rags to riches story of Edward L Doheny – a penniless prospector who built a vast oil empire – to try and uncover the story of what really happened on 16th February 1929, when two men died in mysterious circumstances in Greystone mansion, Beverly Hills

Readings:

Michael Patrick

Presented by Peter Devlin and Conor McKay

Accused of bribery, Edward Doheny is feeling the pressure. Facing an uncertain future, he decides to start selling some of his vast oil business. Albert Fall, his old friend and co-accused, is first up in the courtroom – and the jury returns a devastating verdict.

Meanwhile, Peter Devlin takes a tour of Greystone Mansion, Ned’s colossal family home, with the Mayor of Beverly Hills – Dr Julian Gold. Built while the Teapot Dome scandal raged, construction was overseen by Ned’s friend and secretary Hugh Plunkett – but how did two men from very different worlds become such close friends?

In this eight part series, Peter Devlin and producer Conor McKay trace the extraordinary rags to riches story of Edward L Doheny – a penniless prospector who built a vast oil empire – to try and uncover the story of what really happened on 16th February 1929, when two men died in mysterious circumstances in Greystone mansion, Beverly Hills.

Readings:

Michael Patrick

Presented by Peter Devlin and Conor McKay

When the United States wants to increase its military presence at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, a lucrative deal worth millions presents itself to Doheny thanks to an old friend from his Wild West prospecting days

But when other oil suppliers get wind of the secretive deal, an investigation is launched. It soon uncovers explosive allegations that Doheny sent his son Ned and secretary Hugh Plunkett to bribe a top government official with $100,000.

Readings

Jonathan Harding

Presented by Peter Devlin and Conor McKay

Sent south by a railway company in search of oil, Doheny and Canfield head into the jungles west of Tampico on horseback and soon discover vast tracts of untapped land.

They quickly build a vast oil empire on a colossal scale, but questions arise about Doheny’s dealings with the Mexican government - and a terrible tragedy calls Canfield back to Los Angeles

Readings:

Aoibhéann McCann

Presented by Peter Devlin and Conor McKay

The police close their investigation into the deaths of Ned Doheny and his secretary Hugh Plunkett, deciding it is a clear case of murder-suicide, but not everyone is convinced. A rookie detective with the district attorney’s office thinks the evidence does not match the official story, but will anyone listen?

When Belfast-born sound mixer Peter Devlin leaves a recorder running overnight while working on a movie in Greystone Mansion, Beverly Hills – he captures a bizarre, unexplained sound. After hours of silence, there is a sudden crash, two loud bangs and then …. silence.