The Fifth Court18 Kesä 2025

E123 The Fifth Court - Mark O'Connell, author 'A Thread of Violence', on the Malcolm McArthur case - from the Kilkenny Law Festival

The Murderer, the Memoirist & the Mystery That Lingers

On episode 123 of The Fifth Court, we’re joined by Mark O’Connell, Irish Times contributor and author of the acclaimed A Thread of Violence, his gripping account of the life — and crimes — of Malcolm MacArthur.

In conversation with barristers Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL, and recorded at the inaugural Kilkenny Law Festival 2025, O’Connell reflects on:

The extraordinary access he had to MacArthur
The unsettling contradictions at the heart of the man and the murders
And the personal and ethical tightrope of writing about someone capable of extreme violence

He also shares behind-the-scenes stories and details that didn’t make it into the book — including a few surprises even seasoned observers may not know such as his preoccupation with dust...

If you thought you knew the MacArthur story… think again.

The episode also includes recent important cases drawn from the Decisis casebook and discussed by Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL.

These cases are brought to you thanks to Charltons Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners, Georges St. Dun Laoghaire, Dublin.

This episodes cases include;

A professional negligence action against two firms of solicitors
A Judicial Review of a Compulsory Purchase Order of a farm brought against a Local Authority
And, a Summary Judgement case involving a loan that had a number of previous 'owners'.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or at thefifthcourt.ie

#TheFifthCourt #IrishCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #LegalPodcast #MarkOConnell #ATreadofViolence #MalcolmMacArthur #IrishLaw #TrueCrimeIreland #IrishWriters #BarristersView #PodcastRecommendation #LinkedInVoices

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Jaksot(161)

E149 The Fifth Court - Bridget Hourican on Frank Callanan’s Joycean masterpiece

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9 Kesä 38min

E148 The Fifth Court - Peter Shanley SC -Barristers Direct, legal access & barristers as entrepreneurs

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E147 The Fifth Court - John O’Donnell SC on Law, Literature and Life

ON this episode of The Fifth Court, Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL are joined by John O’Donnell SC — one of the Bar’s leading advocates… and one of Ireland’s most quietly brilliant writers. Th...

8 Touko 45min

E146 The Fifth Court - Your Reputation on Trial — And Why the Rules Are Changing - John Kerr

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17 Huhti 39min

E145 The Fifth Court - Verona Murphy - From leaving home at 14 to Ceann Comhairle, Dáil Éireann

The "referee" of Irish politics: Verona Murphy on power, pressure and running the DáilWhat actually happens when you’re handed the whistle in Irish politics?On Episode 145 of The Fifth Court, hosts Pe...

8 Huhti 50min

E144 The Fifth Court - Mr Justice Brian Cregan, Judge of the High Court | Parnell, leadership, and the law

Episode 144 – Mr Justice Brian Cregan, Judge of the High Court | Parnell, leadership, and the lawIn this very special episode of The Fifth Court, hosts Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL are joine...

24 Maalis 47min

E143 The Fifth Court - Máirín de Búrca, once more in front of the courts

Máirín De Búrca is in front of the courts again | The Fifth CourtThere are some names that belong in the footnotes of Irish history. Máirín De Búrca belongs in the headlines.In this very special episo...

18 Maalis 53min

E142 The Fifth Court - Garry O'Gorman, The Barrister Who Quit Law To Handicap Racehorses

The Barrister Who Quit Law To Handicap RacehorsesWhat kind of person leaves the Law Library… and ends up becoming one of the most quietly powerful men in Irish racing?Garry O’Gorman, that’s who.ON Epi...

12 Maalis 36min