Shattered Lives

"It is so hard to live with the unknown. My father passed away but we know where he is. With Esra, because we don't know where she is, I think that is the hardest part."

Berna Fidan's sister - Esra Uyrun - went missing on 23 February 2011 and has not been seen since leaving her home in Clondalkin. Her car was found at Bray strand.

Berna tells of Esra's son growing up without his mother, and the abyss at the heart of their family after her disappearance.

Ten years on from the case being opened, Berna wants to try and jog any memories from those who might know something of Esra's whereabouts. If you know anything, please contact An Garda Síochána.

Please listen and subscribe to the rest of this season of Shattered Lives for the highest-profile stories of Irish crime cases.

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It was Christmas morning 2008 when something out of a nightmare visited a young family.

Sharon Whelan was a young, loving mother to two beautiful children - seven-year-old Zara and two-year-old Nadia, who were in bed awaiting Santa's arrival.

In the early hours, postman Brian Hennessey showed up at Sharon's home in Windgap, Co. Kilkenny, raping her and strangling her to death before setting the house alight. Sharon and her children lay dead among the ruins.

Here, Sharon's brother John Whelan recounts the horror, and speaks about how the family and the Garda worked to get justice for Sharon. He also speaks about his advocacy for victims' families, and the ongoing battle against concurrent life sentences.

John's story is the third in this season of Shattered Lives.

You can listen and subscribe to all of the episodes here:

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Sally Rodgers is this week's guests on Shattered Lives, with Paul Healy.

Sally's partner, Michael, was killed at their home in Tallaght in 2009, with Sally present. He was stabbed fifteen times by two masked men, in one of the most shocking and inexplicable acts of violence in recent Irish history.

On Shattered Lives, she talks about the aftermath of the murder, and her experience of the Garda and justice system, as well as wanting to 'cut her own head off' to stop the thoughts that plagued her.

She calls once again for information on the case, and 

You can listen and subscribe to all of Shattered Lives here:

Spotify: spoti.fi/3FjNnrF

Apple: https://apple.co/30Eh0Fg

Audioboom: https://bit.ly/30CCzpD

Kathleen Chada lost her two boys Eoghan (10) and Ruairi (5) when they were strangled to death by their father Sanjeev on July 29, 2013.

The unimaginable tragedy shocked the country, and Sanjeev, who admitted the horrific murders, was eventually jailed for life.

In this feature-length episode of Shattered Lives, Kathleen opens up about what happened to her two boys, her fight against an imperfect justice system, and her fears that Sanjeev could one day be released. 

Subscribe to Shattered Lives wherever you get your podcasts, season 2 will be coming to you weekly on Thursdays with the stories of the highest-profile cases in Irish judicial history.

something about themselves and the state of Ireland today.

Join us for series two of Shattered Lives on Thursday 12th November, starting with the story of Kathleen Chada, whose sons were murdered by her husband Sanjeev.

Be sure to subscribe to hear the best true crime stories in Irish life, published every week.

Fiona Doyle was seven years old when her father Patrick O'Brien abused her on the night before her First Holy Communion.

She would end up suffering through years years of rape and abuse at the hands her father, but in 2013, she finally got justice, and the infamous paedophile was jailed.

Fiona has now become a beacon of light and hope for many survivors of abuse, and in this interview she speaks about her own harrowing experience, her advice for victims, and her criticism of the Irish justice system.

The tragic and horrific deaths of Conor (9), Daragh (7) and Carla (3) McGinley made headlines across Ireland and beyond.

Their mother Deirdre Morley was found not guilty by reason of insanity of the children's murder. 

Now their heartbroken father Andrew speaks to the Shattered Lives podcast about dealing with their horrific loss, carrying on their memories, and his concerns over his wife's mental health care prior to the tragedy.

For more information on Andrews's charities, visit https://asdarraghdid.ie/.

Father-of-two Bobby Ryan was a 'happy-go-lucky' character, known across Tipperary and beyond as a popular DJ under the stage name 'Mr Moonlight.'

But Bobby's name soon became synonymous with tragedy and intrigue after his life was brutally cut short in a baffling murder-mystery in 2011.

After his body was found in a disused slurry pit in 2013, more questions emerged - and what followed was a tale of lovers scorned, disputes over land, and what turned out to be the longest murder trial in the history of the Irish State.

Bobby's heartbroken daughter Michelle spoke to this podcast about the loss of her father, her unanswered questions, and her quest to keep her father's killer, Patrick Quirke, behind bars.

In this episode we explore the unsolved murder of Kenneth Fetherston, who was stabbed to death and dumped in the Dublin mountains in 2009.

His devastated father Brian speaks about his loss and his continued search for justice.

If you have any information regarding Kenneth's death, please contact Crimestoppers on 1800-25-00-25.

Coming soon