Lines of Enquiry

In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, former Garda Detective Sergeant Alan Bailey takes us inside the hidden world of cold case investigation. With more than 200 unsolved homicides sitting on the desks of just eight detectives, he explains how and why an investigation goes cold, what it takes to justify reopening a case, and why there is always still hope.

Alan talks through some of the most significant cases he worked on, including the murder of Nora Sheehan. He reflects on the impact of modern forensics and the importance of preserving evidence, that allowed this case to be solve four decades after it happened.

Having been a lead detective on Ireland’s most prolific missing women cases, which became known as the Vanishing Triangle, Alan shares the immense challenges of working on cases with no suspect, and sometimes no body. After searches for some of these women began again recently, he shares what it takes to trigger new digs and how seemingly minor details can suddenly become pivotal.

As season 2 comes to an end, host of Lines of Enquiry, John Sweetman reveals what to expect over the next few weeks from Case Notes.

He shares the date for the return of the narrative episodes with 12 new stories already being worked on by the Lines of Enquiry team.

If you would like to get in touch, follow the Instagram page @linesofenquirypodcast or email us [email protected]

As students across the country prepare to go back to school after the summer holidays of 2016, Mary Coll arrived at her daughter Clodagh’s house in Castlerahan, County Cavan. Clodagh hadn’t shown up to meet her mother earlier that morning and Mary couldn’t get in touch.

When she arrived at the house Clodagh shared with her husband Alan Hawe, and their three sons Liam, Niall and Ryan, Mary found a note taped to the back door warning her not to come in. Mary called the Gardaí who arrived on the scene and informed her of the tragic news - the Hawe family were all dead.

In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John looks at a devastating case that stunned the country and left an entire nation struggling to understand what had happened.

This episode contains mention of coercive control and domestic violence. If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast help is available. Contact Women’s Aid on 1800 341 900. This episode also contains reference to suicide, if you need help please reach out to Samaritans on 116 123.

If you might be interested in a Lines of Enquiry live show - Let us know by filling out this survey: bauermediaireland.jotform.com/260255277392057

We would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast on Instagram here: www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast

 Presented by John Sweetman

 Created by Darren Cleary

 Episode Written by Darren Cleary

 Script editing by Eoin Brennan

 Produced by Siobhan Walsh

 Produced by Siobhan Maguire

 Executive Produced by Eoin Brennan

 Executive Produced by Ruth Fitzsimons

 Sound Design and Editing by Neil Kavanagh

 Audio Editing Support by Ed Smith

 Marketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín Reilly

 Social Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree

Artwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

In the August of 1976, a young Dublin woman named Elizabeth Plunkett, went missing while on holidays in Brittas Bay, Co. Wicklow. Her friends and family searched through sand dunes, forests and along the roads for a trace of her - All to no avail.  

Across the country, another young woman Mary Duffy read a newspaper article about Elizabeth Plunkett’s case with tears in her eyes. A few days later, she too vanished.

 In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John takes us back to Ireland’s first serial killers and the cross country man hunt to find them and finally bring them to justice.

This episode contains mention of rape and sexual assault. If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast help is available. Contact Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s National 24-Hour Helpline on 1800 77 8888.

If you might be interested in a Lines of Enquiry live show - Let us know by filling out this survey: bauermediaireland.jotform.com/260255277392057

We would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast on Instagram here: www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast

Presented by John Sweetman

Created by Darren Cleary

Episode Written by Siobhan Walsh and Eoin Brennan

Produced by Siobhan Walsh

Produced by Siobhan Maguire

Executive Produced by Eoin Brennan

Executive Produced by Ruth Fitzsimons

Sound Design and Editing by Neil Kavanagh

Audio Editing Support by Ed Smith

Marketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín Reilly

Social Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree

Artwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

In October 1986, 13-year-old Philip Cairns became one of the most recognisable faces in Ireland.

The boy left his home in Dublin to walk back to school after lunch and vanished without a trace. His disappearance gripped the nation, changed how parents viewed their children’s safety, and left a family living with unanswered questions for nearly four decades.

In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John revisits one of Ireland’s most haunting missing person cases and asks what really happened to the boy who never came home.

An Garda Síochána have told us the investigation into the disappearance of Philip Cairns remains active and ongoing. Gardaí are keen to speak to people who may have been young at the time Philip disappeared and not in a position to talk to them, but who may now feel able to come forward. 

 Even the smallest piece of information could help investigators. Anyone with information is asked to contact Rathfarnham Garda Station on 01 666 6500, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111. If for any reason, you do not feel comfortable making that contact directly, you can email [email protected] and we will ensure that any credible information is passed on to investigating Gardaí on your behalf.

If you might be interested in a Lines of Enquiry live show - Let us know by filling out this survey: bauermediaireland.jotform.com/260255277392057

 We would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast on Instagram here: www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast

 Presented by John Sweetman

Created by Darren Cleary

Episode Written by Emma McMenemy

Script Edited by Darren Cleary 

Produced by Siobhan Walsh

Produced by Siobhan Maguire

Executive Produced by Eoin Brennan

Executive Produced by Ruth Fitzsimons

Sound Design and Editing by Neil Kavanagh

Audio Editing Support by Ed Smith

Marketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín Reilly

Social Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree

Artwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

In August of 1987, 19 year old Trevor O’Keeffe embarked his journey home to Ireland after a brief holiday France. He planned to hitchhike across the north of the country, through the vineyards of the world-renowned Champagne province. 

Trevor was unaware of the warnings against hitchhiking that had been made to young men across the region. He had not heard the local rumours about a serial killer stalking the area. He did not know about the 6 other young men already disappeared.

Trevor’s body was found in a French forest just days after he began traveling. In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John explores what happens when a serious crime happens in another country. He asks how different laws, languages and police forces affect the search for answers and the fight for justice.

 If you might be interested in a Lines of Enquiry live show - Let us know by filling out this survey: bauermediaireland.jotform.com/260255277392057

 We would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast on Instagram here: www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/

 Presented by John Sweetman

 Created by Darren Cleary

 Episode Written by Darren Cleary

 Script Edited by Siobhan Walsh

 Produced by Siobhan Walsh

 Produced by Siobhan Maguire

 Executive Produced by Eoin Brennan

 Executive Produced by Ruth Fitzsimons

 Sound Design and Editing by Neil Kavanagh

 Audio Editing Support by Ed Smith

 Marketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín Reilly

 Social Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree

 Artwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

On the night of September, the 4th 1992, Esther and Jessica McCann went to sleep and never woke up.

The 36-year-old mother and her 18-month-old-toddler died when a fire swept through the house. It was a tragic loss of life.

The young mother had been trying to adopt the little girl she had fostered since her birth. They were inseparable. And it followed a series of events in the home that baffled Esther, her husband, and her family.

Was there something more sinister at play here?

In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John Sweetman takes us through the events leading up to that tragic house fire and how a dark secret from the past lurked in the corner.

If you might be interested in a Lines of Enquiry live show - Let us know by filling out this survey: bauermediaireland.jotform.com/260255277392057

We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/

Presented by John Sweetman

Created by Darren Cleary

Episode Written by Siobhan Maguire

Script Edited by Eoin Brennan

Produced by Siobhan Walsh

Produced by Siobhan Maguire

Executive Produced by Eoin Brennan

Executive Produced by Ruth Fitzsimons

Sound Design and Editing by Neil Kavanagh

Audio Editing Support by Ed Smith

Marketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín Reilly

Social Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree

Artwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John Sweetman is joined by one of Ireland’s leading true crime podcasters, Nules Ní Chléirigh, creator and host of Ireland Crimes and Mysteries.

John and Nules reflect on what draws them to the stories of some of Ireland’s biggest crimes, the realities of working on cases with no clear resolution, and the importance of ethical storytelling when dealing with victims and their families.

They share some of the most impactful cases they have worked on, including those where the smallest detail made a critical difference, and others that have stayed with them long after recording.

The conversation also explores how true crime has evolved as a genre, and the role it can play in prevention, awareness, and in keeping the memory of victims alive.

If you’d like to get in touch, you can email the show at [email protected] and follow @linesofenquirypodcast on Instagram.

28 year old mother of two Jasmine McMonagle loved to write and longed to be a children's author one day.

In 2019, a letter she wrote was sent to the Garda Technical Bureau for examination. In the letter, Jasmine wrote of being held hostage in her own home, of threats against her and her daughters, and of how she would no longer live in fear.

In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John explains how that letter ended up on his desk, and he looks back on a tragic story of rage, loss and bravery, and of a family torn apart by violence.

We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/

Presented by John Sweetman

Created by Darren Cleary

Episode Written by John Sweetman

Script Edited by Eoin Brennan

Produced by Siobhan Walsh

Produced by Siobhan Maguire

Executive Produced by Eoin Brennan

Executive Produced by Ruth Fitzsimons

Sound Design and Editing by Neil Kavanagh

Audio Editing Support by Ed Smith

Marketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín Reilly

Social Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree

Artwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

When Antra Ozolina was found dead in her home in Kilnaleck, Co Cavan in June 2014, from the outset, the explanation seemed straightforward and the case moved quickly towards closure.

 But small details did not sit comfortably. The circumstances raised quiet questions. The timeline felt too neat and the version that was accepted left little room for doubt or for scrutiny.

 In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John Sweetman revisits the death of Antra Ozolina, examining how early assumptions can shape an investigation, how quickly a version of events can become fixed, and how the how the easy answer is not always the right answer.  

We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/

Presented by John Sweetman

Created by Darren Cleary

Episode Written by Darren Cleary

Script Edited by Eoin Brennan

Produced by Siobhan Walsh

Produced by Siobhan Maguire

Assistant Produced by Aoife Plunkett

Executive Produced by Eoin Brennan

Executive Produced by Ruth Fitzsimons

Sound Design and Editing by Neil Kavanagh

Audio Editing Support by Ed Smith

Marketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín Reilly

Social Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree

Artwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree