95 - Desecration: The murder of Patricia O'Connor

In the summer of 2017, body parts were discovered strewn across the scenic landscape of the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Gardai began a wide-scale search and a murder investigation. But only days later a man presented himself at a south Dublin Garda station, confessing to the murder of his 61 year old mother in law, Patricia O'Connor.

But was he telling the whole story? 

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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:

Cathal McMahon, Robin Schiller and Conor Feehan, “Wicklow mountains murder victim named locally and remembered as 'loving grandmother'” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/wicklow-mountains-murder-victim-named-locally-and-remembered-as-loving-grandmother-35825348.html (14 June 2017)

“Woman whose remains were found in Wicklow mountains reported missing on June 2” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/irish-news/woman-whose-remains-were-found-in-wicklow-mountains-reported-missing-on-june-2-35826611.html (14 June 2017)

Conor Lally, Conor Gallagher and Jack Power, “Gardai believe woman was killed due to long-running dispute” in The Irish Times  https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/garda%C3%AD-believe-woman-was-killed-due-to-long-running-dispute-1.3120069 (15 June 2017)

Sean Dunne, “'It was self-defence': Man charged in Wicklow body case” in The Irish Timeshttps://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/district-court/it-was-self-defence-man-charged-in-wicklow-body-case-1.3120687 (15 June 2017)

Robin Schiller, “Neighbours recall victim Patricia as a 'quiet, polite woman'” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/neighbours-recall-victim-patricia-as-a-quiet-polite-woman-35828219.html (15 June 2017)

Robin Schiller and Cathal McMahon, “Wicklow Mountains killing suspect made admissions to gardai day before arrest – but was released” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/wicklow-mountains-killing-suspect-made-admissions-to-gardai-day-before-arrest-but-was-released-35828215.html (15 June 2017)

Cathal McMahon, “Man charged in connection with the murder of Wicklow mountains victim Patricia O'Connor” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/man-charged-in-connection-with-the-murder-of-wicklow-mountains-victim-patricia-oconnor-35829219.html (15 June 2017)

Eimear Cotter, “'It was self-defence' – man appears in court charged with the murder of Patricia O'Connor” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/it-was-self-defence-man-appears-in-court-charged-with-the-murder-of-patricia-oconnor-35829639.html (15 June 2017)

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Ronan McGreevey, “Three arrested over killing of Dublin grandmother” in The Irish Timeshttps://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/three-arrested-over-killing-of-dublin-grandmother-1.3207716 (2 September 2017)

Louise Kelly, “Three arrested in connection with murder of Dublin grandmother Patricia O'Connor:” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/three-arrested-in-connection-with-murder-of-dublin-grandmother-patricia-oconnor-36093726.html (2 September 2017)

“Gardai release three held over Patricia O'Connor killing” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/garda%C3%AD-release-three-held-over-patricia-o-connor-killing-1.3208302 (3 September 2017)

“Three questioned over murder of dismembered grandmother released without charge” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/irish-news/three-questioned-over-murder-of-dismembered-grandmother-released-without-charge-36095820.html (3 September 2017)

“Three questioned over murder of dismembered grandmother released without charge” in The Irish Independenthttps://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/irish-news/three-questioned-over-murder-of-dismembered-grandmother-released-without-charge-36095820.html (3 September 2017)

Emer Sugrue, “Man (40) arrested in relation to Patricia O'Connor murder” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/man-40-arrested-in-relation-to-patricia-o-connor-murder-1.3234230 (26 September 2017)

“Gardai make another arrest in relation to murder of grandmother Patricia O'Connor” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/gardai-make-another-arrest-in-relation-to-murder-of-grandmother-patricia-oconnor-36169287.html (26 September 2017)

“Trial date for murder accused” in The Wicklow Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklowpeople/news/trial-date-for-murder-accused-36422396.html (23 December 2017)

Tom Tuite, “Man sent forward for trial over death of Dublin grandmother” in The Irish Timeshttps://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/district-court/man-sent-forward-for-trial-over-death-of-dublin-grandmother-1.3319205 (7 December 2017)

Ken Foy and Conor Feehan, “Garda divers search for 'weapon' used in gruesome dismemberment of Dublin grandmother” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/garda-divers-search-for-weapon-used-in-gruesome-dismemberment-of-dublin-grandmother-36453084.html (2 January 2018)

Eimear Cotter, “Four people charged with impeding investigation into murder of grandmother Patricia O'Connor” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/four-people-charged-with-impeding-investigation-into-murder-of-grandmother-patricia-oconnor-37433951.html (18 October 2018)

“Four charged with impeding investigation of Patricia O'Connor's murder” in The Irish Timeshttps://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/district-court/four-charged-with-impeding-investigation-of-patricia-o-connor-s-murder-1.3667925 (18 October 2018)

“Four charged with impeding investigation” in The Bray Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/braypeople/news/four-charged-with-impeding-investigation-37450765.html (27 October 2018)

“Date for murder trial is vacated” in The Wicklow Peoplehttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklowpeople/news/date-for-murder-trial-is-vacated-37475596.html (3 November 2018)

Alison O'Riordan, “Dublin woman's body dismembered and found in nice locations, court told” in The Irish Timeshttps://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/criminal-court/dublin-woman-s-body-dismembered-and-found-in-nine-locations-court-told-1.4141002 (15 January 2020)

Alison O'Riordan, “Man denies murder of woman whose remains found scattered in Wicklow” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/criminal-court/man-denies-murder-of-woman-whose-remains-found-scattered-in-wicklow-1.4139479 (14 January 2020)

Andrew Phelan, “Man to go on trial for murder of grandmother Patricia O'Connor” in The Irish Independenthttps://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/man-to-go-on-trial-for-murder-of-grandmother-patricia-oconnor-38860998.html (14 January 2020)