Lines of Enquiry
Former Garda detective John Sweetman presents Lines of Enquiry, a GoLoud Original true-crime podcast examining some of Ireland’s most compelling crimes, uncovering how evidence, chance, and persistence can bring answers, and sometimes only more questions.
Episodes
Case Notes #016: Instinct and Empathy
In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John is joined by Pat Marry, a retired Detective Inspector with An Garda Síochána and author of several books, including The Making of a Detective.Drawing on a career spanning more than three decades, Pat reflects on the persistence, attention to detail and empathy required to investigate serious crime.He revisits the murders of Rachel O’Reilly and
Case Notes #015: Past Cases, Present Questions
In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, Nules Ní Chléirigh, creator and host of Ireland Crimes and Mysteries, returns for another conversation with John Sweetman.This time, they look further back into Ireland’s criminal history, discussing Maamtrasna and the murder at Shandy Hall. They explore wrongful convictions, language barriers at trial and the lack of forensic science during these t
Case Notes #014: Evidence in Focus
We have reached the end of Season 4 of Lines of Enquiry. While the team are planning, researching, writing and recording Season 5, John is sitting down with a series of guests for Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes.In this episode, John is joined by Paul Curran, a retired Detective Sergeant with An Garda Síochána.Paul spent over 27 years working in major crime scene investigation, specialising in Garda
Kyran Durnin: Failed by the State
In the summer of 2024 social workers from Tusla were trying to establish the whereabouts of an eight-year-old boy, named Kyran Durnin. They had concerns about his welfare, and where he might be living. In July, a child was brought to meet them, and they were told it was Kyran. A second meeting followed in early August, and again the social workers were told the child was Kyran.Then, wee
Anne & Annie Gillespie: A Cruel Twist | Part 2
In the aftermath of the 1988 shooting at Sligo Hospital, Gardaí were drawn into a dramatic confrontation that saw a car plunge into the murky waters of Donegal Bay.As the investigation moved towards trial, the case became about more than the tragic death of Anne and Annie Gillespie. It exposed the limits of the justice system. In court, questions arose over mental health and responsibility, with
Anne & Annie Gillespie: Dark Obsession | Part I
In County Donegal in 1988, 18-year-old Anne Gillespie was looking forward to a future beyond her hometown of Ballybofey. Despite her close friendships and a tight bond with her mother Annie, after Anne sat her leaving cert she had started to dream of a life of her own. But not everyone in her life was happy when Anne started to grow more independent - and soon she and her mother would find themsel
Siobhán Hynes: Left for Dead
In Connemara, on a cold winter’s night in 1998, two sisters, Aine and Siobhán Hynes left their home and headed out to meet friends, driving to the disco in the nearby coastal village of Carraroe. The next morning, Aine was woken up by her mother asking where was Siobhán? The 17-year-old never made it home. In this episode, John explores the harsh and isolated landscape of Connemara, and how f
Lines of Enquiry Live: Dublin Show Announcement
John Sweetman invites you to join him for a special milestone: the first ever Lines of Inquiry live podcast, happening December 2nd at the O’Reilly Theatre in Dublin.Across one evening, we’ll revisit the stories Ireland can’t forget—tracking the crucial clues that helped piece investigations together, and the small details revealed in court that brought justice into focus.John will also be joined
Declan Flynn: Murder in the Park
As Declan Flynn made his way home in the early hours of September 10th 1982, he did not know what danger lurked in nearby Fairview park on the north side of Dublin City. In the dark shadows, was a gang with a mission. That night, kind and innocent Declan became their unknowing target. In this episode, John explores the tragic case of Declan Flynn, a vulnerable man trying to live his life in a
Nancy Nolan: A Haunting Crime
80 year old, Nancy Nolan didn’t answer her daughter’s calls on the 16th of February, 2000. Her neighbour noticed that her car hadn’t moved in a few days. They were worried about her and sent Gardaí out to check in. The Gardaí found Nancy Nolan lying in a pool of blood in her hallway. It was clear this was not an accident. For locals in the small village of Ballygar, Co. Roscommon, Nancy
The Kerry Babies: An Irish Scandal
On 16th of April 1984, a man jogging on a beach in West Kerry found the body of a newborn baby. The child had been stabbed to death. Nobody knew who his parents were, where he had come from, how he handed up on that beach – and nobody knew his name. The discovery on the beach would lead to multiple garda investigations and would see a small family from rural County Kerry thrown into the natio
Irene White: Price of Murder
Irene White woke up as normal on the 6th of April, 2005. She brought her three kids to school, chatted to the other parents, and returned home where she began washing up dishes. Irene’s mother Maureen lived in a mobile home in the garden and had a routine of calling in to her daughter for a chat and a cup of tea. On this day, she found her daughter on the floor of her kitchen, surrounded by blood.
Siobhan McLaughlin: A Savage End
Brian Kearney arrived to work shortly before 8am on his 49th birthday – February 28th, 2006. Before he left home that morning he poured his 3 year old son Dan a bowl of Coco Pops. Later that morning, Dan’s aunt Niamh arrived at the home. She found the young child alone, crying. His mammy, Siobhan McLaughlin, had never come downstairs that morning.After an early suspicion of suicide, one piece of e
Lying Eyes: The Hitman Plot
When Gardaí are called out following a burglary at the offices of a family run business in Ennis, Co. Clare, they aren't overly concerned. Two computers and some small items have been stolen. But when a hitman shows up at the home of the two young brothers who run the business gardaí realise there is much more to the case.In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John Sweetman, brings us a case so stra
Karen Buckley: A Fateful Encounter
In April 2015, 24-year-old Cork woman Karen Buckley went for a night out with friends in Glasgow, where she was studying to become a nurse.When Karen did not return home or answer her friends’ calls, police began searching for her. Their investigation soon focussed on a man seen speaking with Karen outside a nightclub, moments after she was last seen by her friends.Over the next few days detective
Case Notes #013: What Comes Next
In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John is joined by Darren Cleary, creator of Lines of Enquiry and Head of Digital Audio at Bauer Media Audio Ireland.Together, they look back on the previous season, reflecting on cases including Elaine O’Hara, Patricia O’Connor, Barbara Walsh, Ciara Breen and Philip Cairns. They also discuss the importance of revisiting unresolved cases, and the wor
Case Notes #012: Kelly Lynch Peer Review
In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John is joined by Darren Cleary, creator of Lines of Enquiry and Head of Digital Audio at Bauer Media Audio Ireland.Darren gives an update on the case of Kelly Lynch following the completion of a Garda peer review into the original investigation. He discusses what Kelly’s family say they were told, the recommendations now being worked through and th
Case Notes #011: Fingerprints and Forensics
In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John is joined by Ray Kane, his former colleague in the Garda Technical Bureau and Fingerprint Department.Ray spent more than 30 years in policing, much of it in the Garda Technical Bureau. Together, Ray and John reflect on their experience in the Fingerprint Department, the unpredictable nature of crime scene work, and the responsibility of preserv
Case Notes #010: Crisis Negotiation
In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John is joined by Martin Egan, retired Detective Sergeant with An Garda Síochána.Martin spent 30 years in the force and was also trained as a Garda crisis negotiator. He reflects on the communication, patience and judgement required in critical incidents, where the aim is to bring people to safety while working as part of a wider Garda response.Mart
An update from John
As season 3 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 many new stories already being worked on by the Lines of Enquiry team.John also notes some recent feedback from listeners. If you would like to get in touch, follow the Instagram page @linesofenquirypod
Case Notes #009: Witnessing Justice (Pt. 2)
In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John continues his conversation with Frank Greaney, Courts Correspondent and award-winning journalist and broadcaster.Frank explains the work that goes into complex criminal investigations, the role of An Garda Síochána, and the way evidence is presented and tested in court. He also reflects on public reactions to sentencing and why court outcomes c
Case Notes #008: Witnessing Justice
In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John is joined by Frank Greaney, Courts Correspondent and award-winning journalist and broadcaster.Frank has spent much of his career reporting from courtrooms on some of the most high-profile criminal trials in Ireland, including several we have covered on Lines of Enquiry. He reflects on the responsibility that comes with reporting on live cases,
Lines of Enquiry Recommends: GoLoud Sleep Sounds
Hi! John here. I just wanted to drop in with a recommendation.If you find it difficult nodding off after the show, or just want to relax to the ambient sounds of some of Ireland's most scenic spots, we want to introduce you to GoLoud's latest original stream - GoLoud Sleep Sounds.This specialized series is a calming collection of immersive 10-hour soundscapes, with each episode carefully tailored
Case Notes #007: The Disappeared
In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John is joined by Geoff Knupfer, former lead investigator with the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains. For almost two decades, Geoff led searches for some of the Disappeared, those abducted, murdered and secretly buried during the Troubles, helping to return loved ones to families who had spent years waiting for answers
Want to join the Lines of Enquiry team?
Are you a fan of Lines of Enquiry and narrative podcasts?Would you have the skills or the experience to become part of the team?We’re looking for a Narrative Podcast Producer at GoLoud to help create and shape the stories behind one of Ireland’s leading podcasts. You’ll research, script and produce full episodes, turning complex source material into compelling, narrative driven audio. From bu
Ciara Breen: The Open Window
In the early hours of Thursday, the 13th of February, 1997, 17-year-old Ciara Breen disappeared from her home on Bachelor’s Walk in Dundalk. Her bed was empty. The front window had been left open. There was no packed bag, no money missing, and nothing to suggest she had planned to stay away. At first, it looked like Ciara had slipped out quietly into the night, leaving herself a way back in.
Gerry McGinley: A Scandalous Affair
When Gerry McGinley was arrested for minor drug possession charges on the 6th of June 2000, he insisted upon his innocence. He said the drugs had been planted on him, and he was convinced someone was trying to get rid of him. By that time, McGinley had already received threatening phone calls at his home along with warnings from the IRA that he should leave town. He was a man with a lot
Celine Cawley: Veil of Deceit
In December 2008, a man calls 999 for assistance. His name was Eamonn Lillis, and his wife Celine Cawley had been attacked by an intruder at their Howth home in Dublin. Celine was rushed to hospital, and an alert went out to find the man who had attacked the business mogul. Gathering evidence, gardaí started to piece together what had happened at her home that cold December day, leaning on CCTV fo
Tina Satchwell: A Calculated Mystery
On the 24th of March in 2017, Richard Satchwell walked into a Cork Garda station to report that his wife, Tina, was missing. He told gardaí their relationship had deteriorated, and Tina had been gone for four days having taken €26,000 euros in cash from their savings. It seemed that Tina had made a concerted effort to disappear.For six years, Richard and Tina’s family pleaded for the Fermoy native
Patricia O’Connor: House of Secrets
In June 2017, a family out for a picnic discovered a human torso discarded in a ditch in the Wicklow mountains. Gardaí and army personnel came together to comb the area for any clues. The search recovered fifteen more body parts dumped in nine different locations across a 30km range. Initially, it was believed the body was that of a young man, after the recovered bones were measured. But this theo
Elaine O'Hara: Coercion and Control
Elaine O’Hara disappeared from her Dublin home in 2012, at the age of 36. She left behind no trace. Her family struggled to understand what had happened to their bright and friendly sister and daughter.One year later, a woman walking in the woods of Dublin discovered Elaine’s remains. As Gardai began to piece together her final moments and days they saw traces of a dark and sinister side to
Tom Nevin: Web of Lies
On the 19th of March 1996, gardaí were called to a pub in Co Wicklow after its panic button was activated in the small hours of the morning. Catherine Nevin, who owned the pub with her husband Tom, was found slumped in a hall with her hands tied and a gag around her neck. What initially looked to be a botched burglary at a time when Wicklow businesses were being targeted by Dublin gangs, soon
John recommends....A New Day with Gerry Hussey
If you're looking for an uplifitng start to your day, check out GoLoud's latest original podcast - A New Day with Gerry Hussey.Biteszie episodes released every Monday to Friday. Be sure to check it out and hit follow to stay up to date.
Incident Brief: The Harold’s Cross Hitman
When Bryan Kennedy became convinced his wife’s online friendship with a Canadian couple were a threat to his marriage, he turned to a man he believed could arrange murder.In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Incident Brief, John Sweetman examines a disturbing murder for hire plot that began in Harold’s Cross and targeting two unsuspecting women in Canada. Kennedy feared that his wife was having an
Kevin Lunney: Campaign of Violence
On the 17th of September 2019, Kevin Lunney, a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings, a company formerly owned by bankrupt billionaire Sean Quinn, disappeared near his home in Fermanagh. The 50-year-old father-of-six was taken across the Irish border to Cavan and what happened next would shock the nation and expose years of threats and intimidation against QIH directors and their families. In this
Rachel O'Reilly: The Botched Burglary
On the 4th of October 2004, Rachel O'Reilly, a 30-year-old mother-of two was found dead in her north county Dublin home. She had been murdered. Her mother, Rose Callaly, found Rachel's lifeless body in a pool of blood. It all pointed to a botched burglary and gardai began a hunt for her hiller. What followed was a rigorous investigation on matters closer to Rachel's home. In this episode Joh
Incident Brief: Stopping a Dublin terror attack
In June 2021, armed Gardaí carried out a search at a hostel on Gardiner Street in Dublin. They arrested a 37-year-old man named Mark Wolf. He had a sordid past. He was a wanted man in the UK. So how did gardaí find him? And what dark obsessions was he harbouring?Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Darren ClearyScript Edited by Eoin BrennanProduced by Siobhan WalshP
Ana Kriégel: An Unspeakable Crime
On the 14th of May 2018, Ana Kriégel left her home in Leixlip, Co Kildare, with a promise to her father that she wouldn't be long. But Ana never came home and her disappearance sparked a three-day search of a local park, the last place where she had been seen walking with another child. It was a missing person's case that gripped the nation as everyone hoped the smiling girl in her favourite
Case Notes #006: The Kelly Lynch Update
In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes producer Siobhan Maguire steps out from behind the scenes to share a significant update on one of season one’s most troubling stories, the death of 23 year old Kelly Lynch in Monaghan. Siobhan outlines new findings from an independent pathology review commissioned by the Katie Trust, including questions over the original cause of death, issues around
Case Notes #005: The Search for Jastine Valdez
In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, retired Detective Superintendent Frank Keenaghan takes us inside one of the most shocking cases in recent Irish history, the abduction and murder of 24 year old student Jastine Valdez.Frank led the frantic 24 hour search in May 2018, from the first early morning briefing to the moment a member of the public spotted the suspect’s car, and the dramati
Case Notes #004: Capturing The Courtroom
In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, renowned courtroom artist Mike O’Donnell takes us inside the hidden world of Ireland’s criminal courts as seen from his sketchpad. In his day to day, Mike sits just feet away from judges, juries, gardaí, families and some of the country’s most high profile defendants, capturing not only the people in the dock but the tension, emotion and fragile hum
Case Notes #003: Cold Case Breakthroughs
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
A Note from John
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 linesofenquiry@goloudnow.com
The Hawe Family: Monster in a Mask
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
Elizabeth Plunkett and Mary Duffy: Innocence Lost
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 day
Philip Cairns: The Lost Boy
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
Trevor O’Keeffe: Hitchhiking Into Danger
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 kill
Esther and Jessica McCann: A Deadly Secret
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 E
Case Notes #002: Inside True Crime
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 deali
Jasmine McMonagle: No Way Out
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 th
Antra Ozolina: The Set Up
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 o
Seamus Ruddy: Hidden Clues I Part 2
The arrival of two detectives with very different backgrounds reinvigorates the search for Seamus Ruddy. As the new investigators search the darkest corners for information, they do it with a set of forensics skills never before seen in Ireland.The Ruddy family hold on to hope of finally ending their long nightmare, and a new source of information could prove to be the key. But there will be many
Seamus Ruddy: The Long Search | Part I
In May of 1985, Seamus Ruddy went to meet three men in Paris. They were men he knew from a past life, in Ireland. Seamus had left that life behind, to start a new one in the French capital. His family had asked him not to go to the meeting, but Seamus had been assured he would be safe.He was never seen again after that night, and his disappearance would lead to a search spanning decades. The Ruddy
Jastine Valdez: Abducted in Plain Sight
Jastine Valdez was abducted in broad daylight on a rural road in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, in May 2018. The 24-year-old had just stepped off a bus that dropped her only a few minutes’ walk from her home. Just moments later, a woman driving along that quiet country road spotted a man seemingly trying to force a young woman into his car.What followed was a frantic garda manhunt, as they re
Case Notes #001: The Inbox
In this, Lines of Enquiry’s inaugural ‘Case Notes’, John Sweetman introduces a new strand of his hit true crime podcast series. Stepping away from any one specific case in detail and instead revisiting past investigations and responding to listener questions, John takes us behind the scenes of Lines of Enquiry. This first episode of ‘Case Notes' is also the last in Season 1 of Lines of Enquiry. Re
Mark O'Sullivan: Terror on the Farm
When Anne O'Sullivan was diagnosed with terminal cancer, tensions within her family about who would inherit her substantial plot of farm land came to the surface.Soon, Anne would find herself awake before dawn, running through fields and ditches to a neighbour's house to get help as a terrible darkness descended on the family farm. This is a tragic story that saw a family torn apart as their home
Kelly Lynch: Beneath the Surface
On St Patrick’s weekend 2024, 23-year-old Kelly Lynch travelled from her home in Armagh to Monaghan to support her boyfriend after a sudden death in his family. Two nights later, on the walk home from the pub in the town, on the Friday night of a busy bank holiday, Kelly disappeared.She was found in the Ulster Canal on the Sunday morning. Gardaí said Kelly had drowned and quickly confirmed they we
Nora Sheehan: The Past Speaks | Part II
The prime suspect walks free for the murder of Nora Sheehan after the death of the pathologist left the DPP's case unable to proceed to trial. In this second chapter of a two-part investigation, John Sweetman looks at how four decades after Nora Sheehan’s disappearance and death in 1981, advances in forensic technology breathed new life into a long-dormant investigation. In this ep
Nora Sheehan: The Last Walk | Part I
In June 1981, Nora Sheehan left the South Infirmary Hospital in Cork and disappeared into the night. In the hours that followed, she was seen by witnesses walking alone after midnight, a familiar figure on dark roads and quiet streets.Days later, her battered body was discovered dumped in woodland far from the city. Her murder shocked Cork and marked the beginning of a case that would stretch acro
Barbara Walsh: Vanished after Dark
The Walsh house in rural Connemara is quiet by 4am on the 22nd of June 1985. Earlier in the night it was full of people celebrating the brief return of two family members who had emigrated. But now the friends, neighbours and even the local Gardaí who had attended the party have all dispersed. So, when 14 year old Jacquie Walsh wakes up in the middle of the night the only person she sees is her mo
Marie Dillon: Horror at Home
Gardaí are called to a house in north Dublin, where they make a grim discovery. 72-year-old Marie Dillon has been found murdered in a violent attack inside her home.As investigations begin, it becomes clear there are no suspects and no obvious clues. In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John Sweetman revisits the case that brought him face to face with his first murder scene at just 26 years of ag
Robert Holohan: Robbed of Tomorrow
On 4 January 2005, 11-year-old Robert Holohan left his home to play on his bike in Midleton, Co Cork and never returned. What began as a desperate search for a missing boy quickly became one of the most emotionally charged murder investigations Ireland had ever witnessed. Thousands turned out to look for him. Gardaí deployed every resource available. For a week, the country hoped against hope. The
The Beast: The Midlands Letters
A sinister, disturbing handwritten letter arrives into Garda HQ. It has been sent anonymously to a school in the midlands. There are 23 pages, promising terrible crimes to come, and detailing the writer’s twisted plans to abduct and kill teenage girls. Soon after, two more arrive – again sent to schools across the Irish midlands. Gardai then realise this is not their first encounter with the anony
Mary Gough: Death on the Stairs
When 27-year-old Mary Gough was found dead in her home in Balbriggan in 2001, it looked like a tragic accident. Gardaí were called to what appeared to be a fall down the stairs. But as investigators examined the scene, small details began to raise doubts, marks that didn’t fit, timelines that didn’t match, and a story that started to change. In this episode, former Garda forensic detective John Sw
Trailer : Lines of Enquiry
Former Garda detective and expert crime scene investigator, John Sweetman presents Lines of Enquiry, a GoLoud Original true-crime podcast examining some of Ireland’s most compelling crimes, uncovering how evidence, chance, and persistence can bring answers, and sometimes only more questions.
