Red Room

In January 2005, 36-year-old Shaun Duffy returned to his home in Meenacross, Donegal, after celebrating his younger brother’s birthday. Hours later, he was found dead in his ransacked sitting room, having been stabbed, repeatedly struck on the head and wounded with a crossbow arrow.

More than 21 years later, no one has ever been arrested. This week, we examine the investigation into Shaun’s murder, the rumours surrounding his business dealings and the theories linking his death to organised crime...and possibly to another unsolved disappearance in Donegal.

This episode was written, hosted and produced by Jenny Claffey, with research by Karl O’Reilly.

Sources:
An Garda Síochána — Murder of Shaun Duffy, Meenacross, Co. Donegal, 29 January 2005
RTÉ News — Taxi examined in Donegal death case
RTÉ News — Appeal on 21st anniversary of Donegal man’s murder
The Irish Times — Priest asks killers to come forward
The Irish Times — Appeal for information over Donegal murder 21 years ago
The Irish Times — Gun ownership in Ireland
Irish Independent — Paradise lost as Dungloe reels from grisly murder
Irish Independent — Donegal cold case: Gardaí hope DNA technology may bring Shaun Duffy’s killers to justice
Belfast Telegraph via PressReader — “He was cold and I felt for a pulse but I couldn’t get one”
Donegal Live — Meenacross murder mystery: 20 years on from the killing of Shaun Duffy
Donegal Live — Detectives to probe possible Garda involvement in Shaun Duffy case
Donegal Live — Gardaí believe a number of people have yet to come forward
Donegal Daily — Detectives to probe Garda involvement in Shaun Duffy murder case
Donegal Democrat — Family of man murdered seven years ago still have no answers
Highland Radio — Gardaí renew appeal on 21st anniversary of Shaun Duffy murder
Limerick Live — Fresh appeal marks 21 years since unsolved murder of Shaun Duffy
The Free Library — Tragic Shaun Knew Too Much
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In May 1998, 83-year-old shopkeeper Eddie Fitzmaurice was attacked and left bound in the bedroom above his drapery shop in Bellaghy, where he remained undiscovered for five days.

This week we will examine the violent rural robberies that shaped the investigation, the seven innocent members of the travelling community who were targeted during the corrupt Burnfoot operation and why, nearly three decades later, nobody has been charged with Eddie’s murder.

Written, hosted and produced by Jenny Claffey. Research by Karl O’Reilly.

Sources:
An Garda Síochána: Eddie Fitzmaurice
An Garda Síochána: Murder of Eddie Fitzmaurice—2018 Crimecall Appeal
An Garda Síochána: Murder of Eddie Fitzmaurice—2023 Crimecall Appeal
RTÉ News: A Gentle Sligo Man Whose Cruel Killing Remains Unsolved
The Irish Times: Daughter of Eddie Fitzmaurice Wants to Know Who Is Responsible Before She Dies
The Journal: Gardaí Renew Appeal on the 24th Anniversary of Eddie’s Murder
Irish Examiner: Son Seeks Justice for Slain Father 15 Years On
The Irish Times: Seven Arrested over Co Mayo Murder in 1998
Irish Examiner: Tribunal Concludes That Sergeant Planted Gun
RTÉ News: Adverse Tribunal Finding on Sergeant John White
The Irish Times: Detective Helped Plant Gun at Traveller Site
The Irish Times: Man Gets Life for Murder of Elderly Farmer Paud Skehan
The Irish Times: Brothers Jailed for Killing Elderly Farmer Paddy Logan
Irish Unresolved Mysteries: Eddie Fitzmaurice—Mayo
Background: The Morris Tribunal
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In the early hours of 11 February 1984, 23-year-old Patrick Nugent was found fatally injured after managing an anniversary party at Bunratty Folk Park. With two damaged cars, conflicting accounts from those who remained and Patrick’s final words, “He clocked me,” his family have spent more than forty years fighting to learn what happened that night.

This episode was written, hosted and produced by Jenny Claffey, with research by Karl O’Reilly.

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Sources
Forty Years On, the Question Persists: Who ‘Clocked’ Patrick Nugent? – RTÉ
Who ‘Clocked’ Patrick Nugent? A Family Still Searches for Answers – The Irish Times
The Death of Patrick Nugent – Magill
Family Told Report into Investigation of Clare Man’s 1984 Death Will Be Released – The Irish Times
Strange, Mysterious Case of Patrick Nugent’s Death Still Shrouded in Subterfuge 40 Years On – Irish Independent
Body of Patrick Nugent, Who Died in Unexplained Circumstances in 1984, to Be Exhumed – TheJournal.ie
Patrick Nugent Postmortem Completed as Part of New Investigation – TheJournal.ie
One Night in Bunratty: Patrick Nugent – Ireland Crimes and Mysteries
State Postmortem on Exhumed Remains of Patrick Nugent Completed – The Irish Times
Death of Patrick Nugent: Investigation, Bunratty, Co. Clare – An Garda Síochána
Renewed Appeal over Patrick Nugent’s Death as Body Is Exhumed – RTÉ
Official Terms of Reference for the Patrick Clyne Inquiry – Irish Statute Book
Bunratty Castle: History and Restoration – Heritage Ireland

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On 30 November 1997, Galway taxi driver Eileen Costello O’Shaughnessy disappeared after accepting one final fare. Her bloodstained taxi, 17 unexplained miles and a series of unidentified witnesses gave Gardaí no shortage of leads, but almost three decades later, nobody has ever been charged with her murder.

This episode was written, hosted and produced by Jenny Claffey, with research by Karl O’Reilly.

Sources

Murder of Eileen Costello O’Shaughnessy — Wikipedia
Murder of Eileen Costello O’Shaughnessy on 30 November 1997 — An Garda Síochána Crimecall
Renewed Appeal: Eileen Costello O’Shaughnessy Murder Investigation — An Garda Síochána
Gardaí Renew Appeal Over 1997 Murder of Galway Taxi Driver — The Irish Times
Gardaí Renew Appeal Over Murder of Taxi Driver in 1997 — RTÉ News
Gardaí Renew Appeal for Information on 1997 Murder of Galway Woman — Irish Examiner
Convicted Murderer Is Questioned About Taxi Driver Killing — The Irish Times
Double Killer Quizzed on Taxi Woman Murder — Irish Independent
Family of Murdered Woman Believe Gardaí Talking to the Wrong Man — The Irish Times
Inquiry Into Murder Ten Years Ago Still “Live” — The Irish Times
Appeal for Witnesses in Galway — The Irish Times
Man Jailed for Murder Committed While on Day Release — The Irish Times
The Olden Report on the Thomas Murray Case — Department of Justice and Equality
DPP v Murray — Court Decision
New Leads in 20-Year-Old Murder — Claregalway.info
New Lead in Taxi-Driver Murder — Connacht Tribune
Cold Case: Eileen Costello O’Shaughnessy — Radio Espial

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This week we’re discussing the 1971 disappearance, and presumed murder, of 19-year-old Una Lynskey. We'll examine
the deeply flawed Garda investigation that followed, and the devastating chain of events that left another man dead and two others wrongfully convicted. More than 50 years later, what happened to Una on Porterstown Lane remains unsolved.

Sources
Fresh Appeal for Information on 1971 Murders of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan
An Garda Síochána Public Appeal and Serious Crime Review of the Murders of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan
Gardaí Carrying Out Full Reviews of 1971 Murders of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan
Cold Case Review into 1971 Meath Murder Cases
Fresh Appeal Issued for Information over Murders of Man and Woman in 1971
Una Lynskey Cold Case Review May Raise More Questions for Gardaí Than Deliver Answers
A Community That Never Healed After the Gravest of Injustices
40 Years Waiting to Clear His Name
Martin Conmey Walks the Long, Hard Road to Justice
DPP v Martin Conmey (No. 3)
Conmey Manslaughter Conviction Declared a Miscarriage of Justice
Conmey Conviction Was a “Miscarriage of Justice”
State Apologises to Man Jailed in Miscarriage of Justice
Drew Harris Apologises to Man Wrongly Convicted of Woman’s Manslaughter 50 Years Ago
Garda Commissioner Issues Written Apology to Man Wrongly Convicted of 1971 Killing of Una Lynskey
Commissioner Offers Apology to Former Murder Accused
Garda Needs to Come Clean About the “Heavy Gang”
ICCL Expresses Concern at Internal Investigation into Alleged Garda Human-Rights Violations
Una Lynskey Case to Feature on Ground-Breaking Crimes and Confessions Series
Shocking Documentary Explores Meath Man’s Wrongful Conviction
Crimes and Confessions — RTÉ Player
Who Killed Una Lynskey? A True Story of Murder, Vigilante Justice and the Garda “Heavy Gang” by Mick Clifford
Mick Clifford: “They Were Convinced They Knew What Had Happened to Una and Who Was Responsible”
Una Lynskey Disappeared as She Walked Home from Work. What Happened Next?
Who Killed Una Lynskey? by Mick Clifford — Garda Heavy Gang Under the Spotlight
Book Review: Clifford Is Unflinching in His Takedown of Garda Procedure
Group Migration by Small Farmers from the West to the East — A Personal Reflection
Where No One Can Hear You Scream: Murder and Assault in the Wicklow Mountains by Sarah McInerney
To access bonus weekly episodes of Red Room join Patreon HERE
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