Episode 1272: Mr Big's arrest, Sean McGovern's trial, and the cold case murder of Emer O'Loughlin

An intrepid Irish American cop joins the dots between Hezbollah, Syrian Dictator Bashar Al Assad’s brutal war, and some of Europe’s biggest drug lords.It sounds the plot from an episode of Homelands but it’s all true and forms the incredible geo political story that plays out on the pages of Chasing Shadows, A True Story of Drugs, War and the secret world of International Crime.Nicola is joined by author Miles Johnson, a journalist with the Financial Crimes. They talk about the intriguing world of money laundering which sees criminals fund war, the eye watering profits of cocaine dealing in Europe, the shady terrorists who’ve cashed in on the journey of the drug from Colombia to the pubs and clubs of every city and country town in Ireland and the reasons why the Kinahan organisation are being offered sanctuary in Dubai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12 Aug 202347min

He's the former Scotland Yard detective who headed up the hunt for the supplier of dangerous MAC 10 automatic machine guns that found their way into the hands of underworld criminals, terrifying communities and facilitating murders from Dublin to Glasgow and across the UK.Now Michael Hallowes has penned the story of the UK's biggest gun-running investigation which followed the trail right to the head of the weapon supply gang and uncovered a fascinating tapestry of criminals, undercover operatives and even politicans caught up in the plot.Nicola is joined by Michael to talk about Operation Abonar and the greed that lay at the very top of a chilling supply network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12 Aug 202333min

Cold case killer Noel Long was jailed last week for the murder of tragic mum Nora Sheehan in Cork 42 years ago.But this week his sister has said she was afraid of him since she was just six.Nicola is joined by Crime World’s Clodagh Meaney to talk about Long and his history of sexual violence against women. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 Aug 202320min

Thomas Bomber Kavanagh co-operated with police during an investigation into weapons and their location in Ireland.The crime boss, serving 21 years in prison for drug dealing, appeared in court on weapon charges but a Judge at Westminster Magistrates Court heard that he led officers to the guns and ammunition. They were discovered in Newry in 2021.Messages taken from the Encrochat phone hack were also described as forming part of the National Crime Agency case against Kavanagh and two co-conspirators.The same case involves his son Jack Kavanagh and brother in law Liam Byrne who are both fighting extradition to the UK from Spain.Nicola is joined by journalist Eamon Dillon to talk about the court revelations which will leave the Kinahan network worried that one of their own may be helping out the police Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 Aug 202334min

As Crime World continues to celebrate turning 50, Nicola is joined by former Managing Editor of the newspaper, Neil Leslie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 Aug 202337min

A caravan park millionaire Maurice Sines has made news in the high profile financial bible Bloomberg after setting in place a train of events that has threatened the liquidity of a multi billion euro company.But who is Sines and what are his connections to the Kinahan Cartel?Nicola speaks with Niall Donald about the self professed Romany Gypsy and his very close friendship with some of Ireland’s most notorious criminals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 Aug 202359min

Cold case killer Noel Long was found guilty today of the murder Nora Sheehan in Cork 42 years ago.Crime World's Clodagh Meaney attended the trial and heard the in camera evidence and arguments as he tried repeatedly to have the charges withdrawn.She was also there for the emotional moment when he was finally found guilty and when a family ended their four year wait for justice for a loving mother. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 Aug 202345min

It operates under different legislation in a country divided by a border which may be invisible to criminals, but which is very clear in different policing practices. But has the North had any more success with evidence given by those on the witness Protection Program than the Republic where the latest signing Jonathan Dowdall is set to disappear into the sunset without achieving anything for the state.Nicola is joined by the Belfast Telegraph's crime correspondent Alison Morris about the Ulster criminals who broke Omerta and agreed to testify against their own in the courtrooms of Belfast and beyond.From Killer Brothers Robert and Ian Stewart, to Gary Haggarty, a former commander of the brutal Ulster Volunteer Force, we consider what the taxpayer has got for their money and who are the real winners of a program struggling to survive in the modern era of facial recognition and social media? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 Aug 202332min