The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

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   Number 1: 7 – Scottish Crime Spree: The Beast of Birkenshaw (Part 1)

   "Mary had a little cat She used to call him Daniel, Then she found it killed six mice And now she calls him Manuel" Peter Manuel was born in New York in 1927, to Scottish Parents Samuel and Brigit. The family returned to Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1932 where Peter's childhood and adolescence were marred with sprees of theft and violence. He ended up in first an approved school before moving on to Borstal. He was an over confident person, and liked to be the centre of attention, going so far as to make up his involvement in serious crimes in order to increase his notoriety. In this, the first of our three part series on the man who would become known as "The Beast of Birkenshaw" we look at his upbringing, and the circumstances that led to the deaths of 8 people on the outskirts of Glasgow in the late 1950s. Find us on Facebook or Twitter! With thanks to our supporters on Patreon! If you would like to support the podcast, head on over to Patreon.com. Theme music: Quinn’s Song: The Dance Begins by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Sources: MacLeod, Hector and Malcolm McLeod, Peter Manuel, Serial Killer (Edinburgh, Mainstream Publishing 2010) Purchase here http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1633409/Historic-inflation-calculator-value-money-changed-1900.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4568945.stmhttp://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35659541 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOknCObysSA

   August 20, 2017·40min
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   Number 2: 138 - The Longest Wait for Justice: Nora Sheehan

   In 1981, Nora Sheehan went missing from Ballyphehane, Co Cork. She was found dead a week later, and gardai soon had a prime suspect for her murder while investigating another crime. But a series of setbacks meant no trial was held in the case until 2023. This episode was researched and written by Aileen Spearin. ******** 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: Prime Time, “Family of cold case murder victim speak out”, available here on RTE Player “Missing woman”, Irish Examiner, June 12th 1981 “Cork murder hunt”, Evening Echo, June 15th 1981 Dick Cross, “Body of murdered woman in wood”, Irish Independent, June 15th 1981 “No new leads in murder case”, Irish Examiner, June 16th 1981 “Murder hunt continues”, Irish Examiner, June 17th 1981 “No clues in murder hunt”, Evening Echo, June 18th 1981 “Gardai believe killer is known”, Evening Echo, June 19th 1981 Denis Reading, “Gardai warn killer could strike again”, Irish Examiner, June 20th 1981 For a full list of sources, please see mensreapod.com

   September 01, 2024·1h 15min
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   Number 3: 96 - Nicola Furlong: Murder in the Land of the Rising Sun

   In May of 2012, Nicola Furlong and her best friend Sarah were enjoying an exciting year on Erasmus in a university in Japan. On the night of the 23rd, the two Wexford girls hit the town to see a Nicki Minaj concert that was on in Tokyo. But after missing their last train home, their care-free night out would end in disaster. ********* Join me at CrimeCon UK on September 25th & 26th 2021. For more information and tickets visit .co.uk. Use the code MENSREA for 10% off. Purchase a ticket with the code and get in touch to get a free Mens Rea T-Shirt (limited to first 10 listeners who contact me) ********** With thanks to our sponsor for this episode: Check out the amazing CBD infused oils and drinks from Trip at drink-trip.com and use the code TRUECRIME for 15% off your first order and free shipping! Check out the global leader in mens grooming and Get 20% Off + Free Shipping at Manscaped.com with the code REA Sign up for professional online counselling at betterhelp.com/mens and get 10% off your first month! Try the casual mobile puzzle game Best Fiends today! Find it on the Apple App store and Google Play! Check out the new bonus episodes of Dr. Death from Wondery out now! Find them here ********* 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: Mark Jilliard, Luke Byrne and Brendan Furlong, “Myster as Irish exchange student Nicola Furlong found dead in Tokyo hotel room” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mystery-as-irish-exchange-student-nicola-furlong-found-dead-in-tokyo-hotel-room-26857258.html(25 May 2012) Rowan Gallagher, “DCU student found dead in Tokyo hotel” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/dcu-student-found-dead-in-tokyo-hotel-1.523785(25 May 2012) Rowan Gallagher and David McNeill, “Man in custody after DCU student's death” in The Irish Times(26 May 2012) p. 6. Mark Hilliard and Luke Byrne, “Two men quizzed over student's death in Japan” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/two-men-quizzed-over-students-death-in-japan-26857627.html(26 May 2012) “Two held in Nicola killing” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/two-held-in-nicola-killing-26857826.html(27 May 2012) Luke Byrne, Mark Hilliard and Brendan Furlong, “Student Nicola Furlong suffered sexual assault after strangulation in Tokyo” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/student-nicola-furlong-suffered-sexual-assault-after-strangulation-in-tokyo-26858712.html(28 May 2012) “Two held over Irish student's death” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/irish-news/two-held-over-irish-students-death-26858762.html(28 May 2012) Danielle Demetriou “Two charged with sex assault on murdered Nicola's friend” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/two-charged-with-sex-assault-on-murdered-nicolas-friend-26858709.html(28 May 2012) David McNeill, “DCU student's body flown home” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/dcu-student-s-body-flown-home-1.717712(31 May 2012) “Two US rappers being questioned by police” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/regionals/enniscorthyguardian/news/two-us-rappers-being-questioned-by-police-27256910.html(5 June 2012) For a full list of sources see mensreapod.com

   July 26, 2021·1h 4min
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   Number 4: 34 - The murder of Una Lynsky, Wrongful Convictions & fight for Justice

   In October 1971, on a rural lane south of the village of Ratoath, Co Meath, Una Lynsky disappeared while walking a short distance from a bus stop to her home. Around that time, screams were heard and a strange car was seen driving up and down the lane. But three local lads, Dick Donnelly, Martin Kerrigan, and Martin Conmey found that they were the ones who had drawn the attention of the notorious Murder Squad of the Garda Siochana. By the end of the year, two young people from Porterstown Lane would be dead. Two trials would follow and a series of appeals to try and clear a man's name of guilt that did not belong to him. Our featured promo this week is from good friends, All Crime No Cattle. Erin and Shea are experts at the conversational true crime podcast, and back it up with phenomenal research and production. Go subscribe today! Find us on Facebook or Twitter! With thanks to our supporters on Patreon! If you would like to support the podcast, head on over to Patreon.com. Theme Music: Quinn’s Song: The Dance Begins by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by Sources: The Criminal Justice Act 1993 (available here: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1993/act/6/enacted/en/print) DPP -V- MARTIN CONMEY, [2012] IECCA 75 (2012) Sarah McInerney, Where No One Can Hear You Scream (Dublin: Gill and Macmillan, 2008) Purchase here Michael Clifford, “Martin Conmey walks the long, hard, road to justice” in The Irish Examiner https://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/columnists/michael-clifford/martin-conmey-walks-the-long-hard-road-to-justice-430703.html (16 November 2016) Mary Carolan, “State apologises to man jailed in miscarriage of justice” in the Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/state-apologises-to-man-jailed-in-miscarriage-of-justice-1.2868751 (15 November 2016) Aodhan O'Faoilan, “An innocent man; Martin Conmey, 63, was jailed for the manslaughter of his neighbour in 1972... yesterday his name was finally cleared after a 'miscarriage of justice'.. The Free Library https://www.thefreelibrary.com/An+innocent+man%3b+Martin+Conmey%2c+63%2c+was+jailed+for+the+manslaughter...-a0376505736 (2014) Michael Clifford, “40 years waiting to clear his name ' in The Irish Examiner https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/features/profiles/40-years-waiting-to-clear-his-name-199954.html (7 July 2012) https://www.townlands.ie/meath/ratoath/rathbeggan/dunshaughlin/porterstown/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_in_Ireland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratoath

   February 03, 2019·1h 1min
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   Number 5: 30 - Sharon Collins: Lying Eyes, Hitman4Hire, & attempted murder

   In 2006, Sharon Collins decided that what she had wasn’t enough. She was a divorced mother of two, living with a long term partner, PJ Howard, who also had two sons. He also owned a multi-million euro property business, which he wanted to pass to his sons. So much so that he wouldn’t marry Sharon in order to ensure this. But despite the lavish lifestyle Sharon lived – nice houses, a penthouse apartment in Spain, a boat, basically anything she wanted – Sharon wanted more. So, she got on her computer and between searches for weight loss and diet tips, she looked for a hitman. And she found one. Our podcast Promo this week is from our friends at Pretend Radio. This season is all about a strange and secretive Christian sect that Javier managed to get unprecedented access to. It’s fascinating! Find us on Facebook or Twitter! With thanks to our supporters on Patreon! If you would like to support the podcast, head on over to Patreon.com. Theme Music: Quinn’s Song: The Dance Begins by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Sources: Abigail Rieley, Devil in the Red Dress (Dublin: Maverick House, 2015) Buy Here Emer Connolly, Lying Eyes and the hitman for hire(Dublin: Gill and McMillan, 2008) Buy here Conor Lally, “Prison alert over ricin traces find” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/prison-alert-over-ricin-traces-find-1.1295221( 27 April 2007) “Man defends partner in hitman hiring case” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/man-defends-partner-in-hitman-hiring-case-1.1217055 (6 June 2008) Aoife Finneran “Hitman planned to use Ricin: Witness” in The Evening Herald https://www.herald.ie/news/courts/hitman-planned-to-use-ricin-witness-27875615.html (12 June 2008) Aoife Finneran “Incompetent wife of hitman’s takes stand” in The Evening Herald https://www.herald.ie/news/courts/incompetent-wife-of-hitman-takes-stand-27875683.html(13 June 2008) Abigail Rieley “’Hitman target’ kisses his accused partner” in The Evening Herald https://www.herald.ie/news/courts/hitman-target-kisses-his-accused-partner-27874870.html (6 June 2008) “Sentenced by court, acquitted by partner” in The Irish Examiner https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/icrime/sentenced-by-court-acquitted-by-partner-76527.html(4 November 2008) Niamh Horan, “Everyone deserves a second chance says newly single Sharon Collins as she begins a new life in Belfast” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/everyone-deserves-a-second-chance-says-newly-single-sharon-collins-as-she-begins-a-new-life-in-belfast-31580164.html (4 October 2015) “’For her there should be no second chance’ ‘ Hitman-for-hire slams Sharon ‘Lying Eyes’ Collins” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/for-her-there-should-be-no-second-chance-hitmanforhire-slams-sharon-lying-eyes-collins-34675173.html (1 May 2016) “Judgment reserved in ‘lying eyes’ appeal” from RTE.ie https://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0312/128701-collinss/ (12 March 2010) Kevin Doyle, “PJ: ‘Why I’ve spent €200K trying to clear Lying Eyes name” in The Evening Herald https://www.herald.ie/news/pj-why-ive-spent-200k-trying-to-clear-lying-eyes-name-27891765.html (10 November 2008) Abigail Goldman, “Would-be Vegas hitmans’ story ends in an Irish jail” in The Las Vegas Sunhttps://lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jul/20/would-be-vegas-hitmans-story-ends-irish-jail/(20 July 2008) Denise Calnan, “’I regret not doing the job, I wish I’d done it’ LyingEyes hitman on murder contract from Sharon Collins to kill her partner businessman and his sons” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/i-regret-not-doing-the-job-i-wish-id-done-it-lying-eyes-hitman-on-murder-contract-from-sharon-collins-to-kill-her-partner-businessman-and-his-sons-30912311.html (16 January 2015) “Woman convicted of hiring a hitman to kill partner released from jail” from Newstalk.ie https://www.newstalk.com/woman-convicted-of-hiring-hitman-to-kill-partner-released-from-jail (11 September 2012)

   December 23, 2018·1h 10min
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