Episode 1119: Stakeknife's Dirty War (extract)

The murder of newly-married Michaela McAreavey on the honeymoon island of Mauritius is one of the most high-profile, unsolved cases in the world.Yet still, 10 years on, Mauritian authorities have failed to bring her killer, or killers, to justice. Following the botched original investigation and the shambolic court case that saw the acquittal of two men, what can the government do now they have vowed to look at the murder files again?Investigative journalist Donal MacIntyre joins this episode of Crime World Extra to discuss murder in paradise and our own journey to Mauritius which uncovered the grinding poverty that lies at the heart of this most tragic killings, the failings of the original inquiry and the opportunities of ever solving the case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 Juni 202125min

He was the unknown face in the crowd spotted by Garda officers as they poured over footage and images of mourners at the funeral of Regency Hotel murder victim David Byrne.Up until that point Declan Brady had got away with being an ordinary guy, foraging a living by renting bouncy castles, inflatable sumo suits and later running a transport firm.But this week, Brady, his wife Deirdre and his mistress Ericka Lukacs pleaded guilty to money laundering charges relating to € 1.3 million identified by gardai. Officers believe there was many millions more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

16 Juni 202124min

Just 24 hours before news broke of the ANOM phone hack, the newsroom of the New Zealand Herald got a tip-off that there was a raid on the properties of known members of organised biker gang 'the Comancheros'.Senior crime reporter Jared Savage began to ring around his contacts. He knew that the gang were the top targets of Kiwi police, but he’d no idea what was about to unfold or that the powerful FBI was behind what would happen next. In an interview with Nicola Tallant he describes how the ripple effects of the gangland tsunami are being felt in his country.Like Ireland, New Zealand was not a coalition partner on the historic sting but Savage describes numerous takedowns of gangs and plots, including a Comanchero plan to purchase a catamaran and rendezvous at sea with a drug ‘mothership’. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12 Juni 202128min

Hot on the heels of the Encrochat and Sky ECC takedowns, criminals are again counting the costs of their so called ‘bullet proof’ mobile phone systems.The busted Anom network, co-ordinated by the FBI and Australian law enforcement partners, has seen 800 arrests, the seizure of 32 tons of cocaine, cannabis and meth, 250 firearms and $48 million of dirty money.But just how did a small FBI field office in San Diego conceptualise the ANOM phone hack that led to the world's biggest crime sting? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11 Juni 202128min

It’s the Netherlands' trial of the century, with infamous underworld boss Ridouan Taghi in the dock along with 16 of his men who face accusations relating to six gangland murders.In a courtroom known as 'The Bunker', the most dangerous figures in Dutch organised crime are putting up a tough defence while Taghi’s former business partners in Irish, Italian and Bosnian mafias look on from a safe distance.But now that state witness Nabil B has stopped talking, what is going to happen to the Marengo trial and is there a possibility that the Mocro Mafia could walk free? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 Juni 202131min

‘Fat’ Andy Connors was part of a notorious burglary gang that terrorised Ireland for years, robbing elderly people in their homes and often using horrendous violence against them.He was shot dead in 2014 by an unknown gunman and in the aftermath of his murder the Criminal Assets Bureau secured a €2.5m judgement against his widow, Ann Connors.The judgement included a massive property known as 'The Ranch', which in recent months has expanded into neighbouring lands and has been turned into unofficial halting sites where ‘chalets’ are on offer for €1,500 per month.This week, Nicola Tallant chats with Sunday World journalist Eamon Dillon about the rise, the fall and the legacy of 'Fat' Andy Connors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 Juni 202136min

The home of senior Kinahan lieutenant Liam Byrne has just been put on the on the market for just €400,000 after it was seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) .The dream property where Byrne (40) lived was once valued at around €1m with extensive refurbishments carried out on the house.Now, No2 Raleigh Square in Crumlin, has been advertised for less than half of its previous estimated value.The confiscation of the property was the final blow by the CAB against the BOCG Gang, with a total of 47 assets confiscated under proceeds of crime legislation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 Juni 202126min

CARTEL killer Freddie Thompson organised the murder of 'easy target' David ‘Daithi’ Douglas to bulk up the mob’s body count in Dublin and impress his bloodthirsty boss Daniel Kinahan.But it was 'Fat' Freddie's desperation to be accepted at the top table that finally cost him a life sentence behind bars and brought a dramatic end to his violent career.But how did a small-time criminal from Dublin's inner-city become one of Ireland's most-feared mobsters? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

29 Maj 202148min