Crime World

A Galway criminal who was the first to be charged under Ireland’s gangland legislation has made history again after he pleaded guilty to a string of offences in the north where he was nabbed by his Encrochat phone.Notorious crook Michael O’Loughlin was one of a huge number of suspected criminals lifted after cops hacked the encrypted phone network in 2020 which was being used to send messages between gangs.It is expected he would go to trial and that his case would be the first to test the legality of the process before a Northern Irish court. However, he pleaded guilty to more than 40 offences including conspiracy to murder and import heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis and was handed down a 12 year sentence.Nicola speaks to Niall Donald about O’Loughlin and his run of bad luck with the law. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sentencing for sex offenders has been thrown into debate after a shocking case of the sex assault of a baby resulted in a four year prison sentence.Nicola speaks with Niall Donald and Eimear Rabbitt about sentence guidelines, controversial judges and the public perception of jail terms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When news editor Alison Sandy began investigating the sinister disappearance of Marion Barter for a podcast series she did not know where the story would take her.The mother of two sold her home, quit her job and made plans to move to Europe, but when her family stopped hearing from her it was soon discovered that she had changed her name.Working with the missing woman’s daughter Sally Leydon and journalist Bryan Seymour, the hit Australian podcast ‘The Lady Vanishes’ led to the mysterious case unravelling in real-time, as a listener found a key piece of information that would blow the case right open.Clodagh Meaney speaks to Alison Sandy about the podcast and how the team managed to help piece together what really happened to Marion Barter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Drug dealer David Waldron's links to some of the country's most notorious criminals were revealed as he finally lost his mammoth legal battle with CAB.The bureau won their four-year case to have Waldron's assets - including stunning mansion in Wexford - declared the proceeds of crime.As part of the case, CAB described how Waldron's associates included a number of infamous gangland figures who had been murdered by gunmen.Niall speaks with Eamon Dillon about David Waldron's drug dealing operation and his criminal partners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a year to the day that Gerry The Monk Hutch walked free from the Special Criminal Court after he was found not guilty of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel.So what has it been like a year on from those dramatic events and what has the veteran criminal being doing since he tasted freedom?Nicola speaks with Niall Donald about The Monk and the day his chips came in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He was the Celtic tiger pin up boy - a solicitor and property speculator who smooth talked customers and lived the high life while all the while stealing from the banks.And when the tide eventually turned on Michael Lynn he went on the run first to Portugal and later Brazil.Throughout his epic time as a fugitive and later when he was convicted of theft from the banks he regularly spoke to one dogged investigative reporter who was always on his heels, Michael O’Farrell of the Irish Mail on Sunday.Nicola talks to Michael about his new book Fugitive The Michael Lynn Story about the hunt to bring one of Ireland’s most notorious fugitives to justice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The high spec house of criminal Christopher ‘Git’ Waldron is to go under the hammer later this month after the Criminal Assets Bureau settled their proceeds of crime case with the man they said made his money from selling drugs.Nicola speaks to Eamon Dillon about the house on Killala Road in Cabra and who might punt on a bargain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BBC producer Sue Mitchell literally stumbled upon a story on her doorstep when a homeless former meth addict washed up in a California town and fell in love with her elderly millionaire neighbour.The love affair between property owner Carolyn and vagrant Dave lasted more than a year and all the while Sue recorded the complexities of their relationship which pitted the 80 year old against her two daughters.Nicola speaks to Sue about Million Dollar Lover, a 10-part story of an unlikely romance and some very dark secrets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irishman Michael Dwyer was shot dead 15 years ago by special forces in Bolivia who later smeared his good name and claimed he was there to assassinate a President.However, former State Pathologist Marie Cassidy, exposed the lies that were fed to the media around the world and proved that he could not have been involved in the shootout at the a time of his death.Still Michael’s mother Caroline is fighting for her son’s memory. Nicola speaks with Eamon Dillon about her ongoing quest for justice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Businessman Nathan McDonnell who has been charged in connection with the discovery of €32.8 million worth of crystal meth at Cork Port is being housed on the A4 wing at Portlaoise jail after being taken off a restricted regime behind bars.Refused bail by the High Court he is now sharing a wing with notorious neighbours including a man convicted in connection with the Keane Mulready-Woods murder and the notorious Limerick inmate Red Larry McCarthy.Nicola speaks to Eamon Dillon about the A4 and what sort of prisoners are held there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.