Crime World8 Jan 2022

Episode 59: The most brutal 24-hour period in the North's troubled past

In Northern Ireland’s troubled past there have been hundreds of atrocities and thousands of lives lost - but one 24-hour period stands out as the most brutal of all.

Forty five years ago this week, unprecedented slaughter visited a small corner of south Armagh and left its mark forever on both the landscape and the lives of those left behind.

First, was the brutal murder of the Catholic Reavey brothers, John Martin and Brian, just 24 and 22-years-old when they were gunned down in their family home.

Their 17-year-old brother, Anthony, catastrophically injured in the ambush, would die weeks later. The attack was carried out by the notorious 'Glennanne Gang', made up of rogue police and army officers working in collusion with loyalist terrorists in a sick bid to ethnically cleanse the catholic population.
Twenty minutes after the ambush, in a co-ordinated attack, three members of the O’Dowd family were slaughtered in their home in nearby County Down by a UVF hit team.

But that wasn’t the end of the killings. Within 24 hours of the murders, a suspected IRA terror mob carried out the shocking Kingsmill massacre of 10 innocent protestant textile workers and one more who miraculously survived.

So what is the legacy of such appalling events and after four-and-a-half decades is the British government's plans for a Troubles amnesty a line in the sand or an outrage to those still seeking justice?

Nicola Tallant and Sunday World colleague Hugh Jordan visit peace campaigner Eugene Reavey, as he recalls the dreadful events that visited his life and they consider the stark reality that some scars will never heal.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(1928)

Coke dealer linked to UVF is nominated for Volunteer Of The Year award

A 53-year-old woman who was caught dealing cocaine as part of a UVF drugs investigation has controversially been nominated for a Volunteer of the Year award. Niall talks to Crime World's Stephen Moore...

3 Nov 13min

Hitman James ‘Nellie’ Walsh's ex reveals threats

A former girlfriend of exiled hitman James ‘Nellie’ Walsh has claimed she feared for her family’s life after their break up.Walsh was forced to flee Ireland for Scotland in 2023 after surviving two at...

3 Nov 17min

Mountjoy inmate slashed with shivs after being blamed for Hennessy gang drone theft

A prisoner needed 120 stitches to his face after being slashed with shivs in his cell in Mountjoy jail.Niall talks to Crime World’s Eimear Rabbitt about how the inmate was attacked after being blamed ...

2 Nov 13min

Busted: the untold story of Ireland’s biggest drug busts

Documentary maker Alan Bradley is set to delve into three of Ireland’s biggest and most dramatic drug seizures in a new series, Busted, which begins tonight.Nicola talks to Alan about crystal meth, a ...

2 Nov 21min

Who was 'The Wee Man' Scotland's most notorious gangster Paul Ferris?

He is one of Scotland’s most notorious gangsters with a colourful yet incredibly violent past. So who was Paul ‘The Wee Man’ Ferris and what has he said about his journey into the dark heart of the Sc...

30 Okt 38min

The Witness brought to life in Rex Ryan's one-man play

The story of gangland witness Joey O'Callaghan has made it to the stage where it's already getting rave reviews. Niall speaks to Nicola about Rex Ryan's one-man show, how he captures Joey's story, and...

29 Okt 23min

Sean McGovern says solitary confinement is damaging his mental health

Cartel boss Sean McGovern is taking a case against the Irish Prison Service saying the nature of his incarceration is damaging for his mental health.The man described as Daniel Kinahan’s number two is...

29 Okt 16min

Kerry man charged over €32m crystal meth seizure denies directing criminal organisation

James Leen has pleaded not guilty to charges relating to a €32 million seizure of crystal meth at Cork Port.The Kerry native will appear again in court on Monday at the Special Criminal Court where hi...

28 Okt 15min