Lines of Enquiry

In April 2015, 24-year-old Cork woman Karen Buckley went for a night out with friends in Glasgow, where she was studying to become a nurse.
When Karen did not return home or answer her friends’ calls, police began searching for her. Their investigation soon focussed on a man seen speaking with Karen outside a nightclub, moments after she was last seen by her friends.
Over the next few days detectives would conduct an intense, detailed investigation to trace Karen’s movements and identify the man she spoke with. Through the analysis of hundreds of hours of CCTV footage, public appeals, forensics and police interviews, a picture would soon begin to emerge. It would become a case that deeply affected people in both Ireland and Scotland, as the shocking, heart-breaking truth emerged.
In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John Sweetman recounts that investigation in detail, and the impact of a crime that caused deep pain across two countries.
Presented by John Sweetman
Created by Darren Cleary
Episode Written by Anna Priestland
Script Edited by Eoin Brennan & Siobhan Walsh
Produced by Siobhan Walsh
Executive Produced by Eoin Brennan
Executive Produced by Ruth Fitzsimons
Sound Design and Editing by Neil Kavanagh
Audio Editing Support by Ed Smith
Marketing Support by Laura Bracken and Róisín Reilly
Social Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree
Artwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John is joined by Darren Cleary, creator of Lines of Enquiry and Head of Digital Audio at Bauer Media Audio Ireland.
Together, they look back on the previous season, reflecting on cases including Elaine O’Hara, Patricia O’Connor, Barbara Walsh, Ciara Breen and Philip Cairns. They also discuss the importance of revisiting unresolved cases, and the work that goes into making the podcast.
John and Darren also look ahead to the next season, including revealing the first episode of season 3, along with announcing a new longer-form documentary series focusing on a Dublin murder case from the 1970s.

In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John is joined by Darren Cleary, creator of Lines of Enquiry and Head of Digital Audio at Bauer Media Audio Ireland.
Darren gives an update on the case of Kelly Lynch following the completion of a Garda peer review into the original investigation. He discusses what Kelly’s family say they were told, the recommendations now being worked through and the file being prepared for the coroner.
John and Darren also discuss the differing medical opinions around Kelly’s death, before moving into a wider conversation about what happens at a crime scene and why scene preservation, evidence gathering and chain of custody matter.

In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John is joined by Ray Kane, his former colleague in the Garda Technical Bureau and Fingerprint Department.
Ray spent more than 30 years in policing, much of it in the Garda Technical Bureau. Together, Ray and John reflect on their experience in the Fingerprint Department, the unpredictable nature of crime scene work, and the responsibility of preserving and interpreting evidence in serious investigations to give victims of crime a voice.
Ray also speaks about the emotional impact of working around death and serious crime, and how one small piece of evidence can have a significant impact when solving a case.
Now a Consultant Forensic Expert, Ray also discusses his current role as Evidence Manager with the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention in Tuam, where forensic standards are being applied as part of the effort to recover and identify the remains of children who died at the former institution.

In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John is joined by Martin Egan, retired Detective Sergeant with An Garda Síochána.
Martin spent 30 years in the force and was also trained as a Garda crisis negotiator. He reflects on the communication, patience and judgement required in critical incidents, where the aim is to bring people to safety while working as part of a wider Garda response.
Martin also speaks about the case involving Jasmine McMonagle in Co. Donegal in 2019, where he was part of the response team that arrived at the house and negotiated with her killer. He discusses the difficult decisions made that morning, the importance of protecting the children in the house, and how gardaí deal with the most challenging parts of the job.