
BEST OF CRIME WORLD: The story of Darkey Kelly - Witch, devil worshipper or Ireland's first female serial killer?
Witch, devil worshipper and Ireland’s first serial killer are just some of the titles that have been bestowed on Darkey Kelly over the years. Born in the 1700s as Dorcus, she ran a brothel on Fishamble Street in Dublin’s city centre.And while not much is known about her life, the story went that she was burned at the stake for witchcraft after she sacrificed her baby to the devil in 1746.But in 2011, researchers debunked the theory when they discovered that the sex worker was actually publicly executed in 1761 for the murder of shoemaker Patrick Dowling on March 17th the year previously.However, a new theory began to emerge that she was a serial killer after a newspaper report suggested that five bodies were found beneath the floorboards of her former broth In 2022, PHD researcher Shannon Hughes Spence, who has an interest in women, witches and murder, took it upon herself to investigate whether or not Darkey was in fact a serial killer.Crime World's Clodagh Meaney chats with Shannon to discuss the King of Hell, public executions and the truth about the infamous murderer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
31 Okt 202332min

Episode 402: Bloody Sunday - Mickey McKinney (Part 2)
Last year, the people of Derry marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Bloody Sunday massacre. The brutal attack by the British Army on unarmed protestors left fourteen people dead and has been a source of anger and grief in the city for half a century. Now, for the first time, following a thirty-year campaign by the victims’ families, one of the soldiers involved in the killings is facing trial for the murders of two young men, and the attempted murders of three more. I went to Derry recently to meet those families, to visit the Museum of Free Derry, and to see for myself the streets where the killing happened. In this episode, I’m talking to Mickey McKinney, whose brother Willie was shot dead on that day in January 1972. Mickey has been a leader of the families’ campaign for justice since 1992, and he spoke to me about the terrible loss of his eldest brother, the efforts that have been made to get justice, and the challenging prospect of Soldier F’s murder trial. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
31 Okt 202328min

Episode 401: Bloody Sunday - Ciarán Shiels (Part 1)
Last year, the people of Derry marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Bloody Sunday massacre. The brutal attack by the British Army on unarmed protestors left fourteen people dead and has been a source of anger and grief in the city for half a century. Now, for the first time, following a thirty-year campaign by the victims’ families, one of the soldiers involved in the killings is facing trial for the murders of two young men, and the attempted murders of three more. Nicola Tallant went to Derry recently to meet those families, to visit the Museum of Free Derry, and to see for myself the streets where the killing happened. In this episode, Nicola speaks to Ciarán Shiels, who acted as a lead solicitor during the Bloody Sunday Inquiry and personally represented six of the families of the deceased and four of those wounded. Shiels grew up in Derry himself, and has close family connections to the events of January 1972. He shows me around the tight-knit neighbourhoods where the protestors lived, takes me down the route of the march, and explains in detail how the tragic scenes unfolded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
30 Okt 202349min

Episode 400: The life and crimes of Fran Fennell
Socialite Fran Fennell lived it up on a rollercoaster of holidays and nights out with models and executives while selling vast amount of cocaine to the party circuit. And he made vast profits from a unique cocaine start up which saw him fly human mules from Ireland to Australia where he could quadruple his profits.But the playboy dealer who was groomed by underworld killer Eamon ‘The Don’ Dunne and who supplied Dublin high society with lines of cocaine has lost it all after law enforcement on both sides of the globes cracked down on his business and seized his money and shut down his gang.This month Fennell was told he will do eight years in jail for drug trafficking while his co-accused were handed sentences for their roles in the operation.Nicola speaks to Niall Donald about Fennell, his background and his likely future after jail. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
28 Okt 202326min

Episode 399: The misogynistic misrepresentation of female journalists in TV and film
A new crime drama co-funded by RTE follows the mystery of a missing Irish couple in New Zealand and features a immoral female crime journalist whose character follows a tired Hollywood cliché of the profession as unethical and ruthless.The International Women’s Media Foundation says the tired trope of sexualised female journalists persists in popular culture despite being crass, base and often offensive and which it blames for driving women out of the profession.So will the character of Aileen Ryan flip as the writers of 'The Gone' insist she will as the drama unfolds, or is this prime time drama feeding the gender based harassment and abuse experienced by women in journalism.Nicola is joined by Niall Donald and Sunday World News Editor Eimear Rabbitt as they delve into the misrepresentation of female journalists on the big and small screen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
27 Okt 202338min

Episode 398: Ashling Murphy trial hears of Jozef Puska’s admissions to Gardaí
The trial of Jozef Puska, accused of killing 23-year-old Ashling Murphy is in its second week.This week, the jury heard about the admissions made in the defendants Garda interviews, the friend who lied to Gardai and Ashling Murphy’s final movements. Niall Donald is joined by Crime World’s Clodagh Meaney to discuss the developments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
25 Okt 202320min

Episode 397: Gunman opens fire at home of former McCarthy-Dundon criminal Jimmy Collins
Shots fired at the home of former McCarthy-Dundon criminal Jimmy Collins have sparked fears of a new feud erupting in Limerick. Last week, a gunman opened fire on the home on Limerick's Hyde Road following a series of tit -for-tat incidents. It comes as Jimmy Collins, son in law of convicted rapist Thomas O'Neill, is said to have had a falling out with a rival drug dealing faction. Niall Donald speaks to to Eamon Dillon about the rising tensions in Limerick and how it is being played out on the streets and on social media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
23 Okt 202322min

Episode 396: How Europe's drug cartels are turning kids into 'child soldiers'
Children are being radicalised by drug gangs and being turned into killers in the same way that terrorists have, and now the EU wants to develop an early-warning system for countries to recognise the process.The tsunami of cocaine, which is still coming for the block and which has changed the whole face of organised crime is to blame for the shocking societal changes being recognised by the European think thank.The warnings come at the same time the Maersk shipping company have said its entire industry is under threat from cocaine cartels determined to ship their cargoes across the Atlantic.Nicola speaks with Niall Donald about the evolution of organised crime into the biggest threat along with terrorism that we are now facing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
21 Okt 202337min





















