Always True Crime

In the early hours of June 27, 1999, firefighters were called to a house fire in the quiet Swansea village of Clydach. As they entered the smoke-filled home on Kelvin Road, they made a horrifying discovery. Four members of the same family had been brutally murdered, and the fire had been deliberately started in an apparent attempt to destroy the evidence. The deaths of Mandy Power, her daughters Katie and Emily, and her elderly mother Doris Dawson would leave an entire community in mourning and spark one of the largest murder investigations in Welsh history.

The Clydach murders shocked Wales and quickly became one of Britain's most controversial criminal cases. A local man, David "Dai" Morris, was convicted twice of the murders, yet he maintained his innocence until his death in 2021. Over the years, appeals, forensic reviews, investigative documentaries and claims of a miscarriage of justice have continued to divide opinion, leaving many to ask whether the right man was convicted or whether crucial questions remain unanswered.

In this episode of British Murders with Stuart Blues, we examine the 1999 Clydach murders in detail. We look at the lives of Mandy, Doris, Katie and Emily before tragedy struck, the events of that June night, the investigation that eventually led detectives to David Morris, and the evidence presented during two separate murder trials. We also explore the controversy that has surrounded the convictions for more than two decades, the arguments put forward by both supporters and critics of the investigation, and the lasting impact the murders have had on the families involved and the close-knit community of Clydach.

Exclusive content:
Patreon - Ad Free, Early Access, Exclusive Episodes

Follow the show:
British Murders with Stuart Blues

Disclaimer:
The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maria Toomey was just weeks away from giving birth when she vanished. When police finally found Maria, they uncovered a quite dreadful scene that shocked even experienced detectives. This is a heartbreaking story from Hull of a life, and a future, stolen by an act of unimaginable violence.

Please join me for the next episode of the UK True Crime Podcast on Friday - two episodes a week, every Tuesday and Friday.

Support me at Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/UKTrueCrime

Writing Credit: Chris Wood
You can buy Chris's second book, 'Death in the Theatre' here: https://www.amazon.com/Death-Theatre-Chris-Wood/dp/1399009117

Watch my YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@Adam-uktruecrime/videos

Get All The News First - Subscribe To My Newsletter
https://uktruecrime.com

Join UK True Crime Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/UKTrueCrime
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In October 1974, 29-year-old Christine Taylor was living what appeared to be an ordinary family life with her husband, Michael, and their five young sons in the West Yorkshire village of Havercroft. Childhood sweethearts who had built a life together, nothing in Michael's past suggested the tragedy that was about to unfold. But after the couple became involved with a local Christian fellowship group, Michael's behaviour changed dramatically, leading those around him to believe he was under the influence of evil forces rather than suffering from a mental health crisis.

What followed became one of the most controversial cases in British criminal history. As ministers attempted an all-night exorcism to cast out dozens of alleged demons, concerns about Michael's increasingly erratic behaviour continued to grow. Within hours of the ritual ending, a shocking crime would spark national debate over demonic possession, exorcism, mental health conditions, and whether faith had been allowed to replace desperately needed medical intervention.

In this episode of British Murders with Stuart Blues, we examine the murder of Christine Taylor. We explore the Taylor family's background, the rise of the occult and deliverance ministry in 1970s Britain, the controversial exorcism carried out in Barnsley, the police investigation, Michael Taylor's trial, the divisive verdict, and the lasting legacy of a case that continues to divide opinion more than 50 years later.

Exclusive content:
Patreon - Ad Free, Early Access, Exclusive Episodes

Follow the show:
British Murders with Stuart Blues

Disclaimer:
The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Football fans from the UK - and across the world - held their breath for a week in March 1966 when the Jules Rimet trophy, more commonly known as the World Cup - was stolen from an exhibition in Westminster, where it had been on display. The possibilities were endless - had it been transported abroad, and was in the clutches of an unscrupulous millionaire? Had it been melted down, or had it been abandoned and lost forever?

The answer came in the most unlikely of circumstances, and a hero who came on to save the day. Not all heroes have two legs.

Some have four...

Music used in this episode: "The Descent" by Kevin Macleod. All music used is sourced from https://filmmusic.io/ and used under an Attribution Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

In The Crossfire – Starsailor
Lola Stars And Stripes - The Stills

The True Crime Enthusiast's Fundraiser For Macmillan Cancer Support

References - available upon request.

Follow/Contact/Support The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast

Facebook
Facebook Discussion Group
Twitter
Instagram
Youtube
Website
TTCE Merchandise
Patreon Page

Remembering Pickles - The Canine Sherlock Holmes.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some people can't wait for it to finish, some people perhaps never want it to end, but we have upon us the culmination of the 2026 World Cup. It's a tournament that has seen unlikely heroes, tears and controversy, and as the episode drops, it's the weekend that sees one team lifting aloft the ultimate prize in sport, the FIFA World Cup.

But back in 1966, a year that needs no introduction to football fans really, there almost wasn't a cup to lift aloft - except for an unlikely hero who came on to save the day...

Music used in this episode: "The Descent" by Kevin Macleod. All music used is sourced from https://filmmusic.io/ and used under an Attribution Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Spitfire – Inspiral Carpets
Pillar On The Bridge Of You - BODEGA

The True Crime Enthusiast's Fundraiser For Macmillan Cancer Support

References - available upon request.

Follow/Contact/Support The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast

Facebook
Facebook Discussion Group
Twitter
Instagram
Youtube
Website
TTCE Merchandise
Patreon Page

Remembering Pickles - The Canine Sherlock Holmes.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.