Lines of Enquiry

Episodes

• 
  Case Notes #018: A Mother’s Search for Answers (Pt. 2) 11.11.2026 40m

  In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John and Darren continue their conversation with Julieanne Lynch, Kelly Lynch’s mother.Following her memories of Kelly in Part One, Julieanne describes the days after her daughter’s death and the difficulty of trying to understand what had happened. She shares where she feels her family were let down, raising concerns about communication with the authorities, scene preservation and the handling of potential evidence.The conversation also explores the differing medical opinions the family have received about how Kelly died, and the questions they continue to seek answers to. Above all, Julieanne reflects on wanting Kelly to be remembered for the person she was, and her hope that seeking accountability in her name might help other families.
• 
  Aoife Phelan: Tracing the Truth 10.11.2026 1h 1m

  At breakfast, on the morning Friday the 26th of October, 2012, a family in Portlaoise County Laois, find that their live-in nanny Aoife Phelan, is missing. She is not in her room, her bed is made, and her phone is going straight to voicemail. She had been out the night before and it seems she never came home. Her family haven’t heard from her either. As a search party gets underway a young man known to Aoife quietly boards a plane at Dublin Airport bound for New York City. When a detective reaches him in New York, he says he hasn’t heard from Aoife in weeks. The detective has heard otherwise. The lies have only just begun. And so has the search for Aoife Phelan. In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John revisits the tragic search for Aoife Phelan and the investigation that had to untangle a web of lies that grew with each step. Presented John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode written by Anna Priestland Produced by Sam HobsonExecutive produced by Eoin Brennan Sound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithLegal, Marketing and Social Media Support by the Team at GoLoudArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree
• 
  Case Notes #017: A Mother’s Search for Answers (Pt. 1) 04.11.2026 35m

  In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John is joined by Darren Cleary for a conversation with Julieanne Lynch, the mother of Kelly Lynch. On St Patrick’s Day in 2024, 23-year-old Kelly was found dead under a bridge in Monaghan. Since then, her family have continued to seek answers about what happened to her.In the first of two parts, Julieanne helps us get to know Kelly through the memories they shared, their humour, everyday routines, and the close friendship they had as mother and daughter. She speaks about Kelly’s hopes for her future and the space her absence has left in their family’s lives.Julieanne also recalls their final conversations, the growing worry when Kelly stopped responding, and the devastating moment the family learned she had died.
• 
  Mackenzie Michalski: A Hidden Darkness 03.11.2026 1h 7m

  In November 2024, Hungarian detectives searching for a missing American nurse traced her through CCTV from Budapest’s nightlife district. In the footage they saw Mackenzie Michalski, leaving a club and waling the city streets with a man. The pair entered an apartment building. After that, there was no further trace.Detectives set about locating the unidentified man - the last person seen with Mackenzie. When they did, they found an Irishman from a wealthy south Dublin family. Mackenzie had been spending one final night in a city she knew well and loved. The next morning, she missed her flight home. Her passport and belongings were still at her Airbnb, and her friends could not reach her. Camera by camera, investigators pieced together her last known movements. But they could find no footage of her leaving the man's apartment. In this episode, we follow the search for Mackenzie Michalski, examining how investigators pieced together the evidence from her last night in Budapest and uncovered a crime far darker than anything they first expected. Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyWritten by Sam HobsonScript Edited by Eoin BrennanProduced by Sam HobsonSenior Producer Siobhan WalshExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithLegal, Marketing and Social Media Support by the Team at GoLoudArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree
• 
  Incident Brief: The Sligo Hate Murders 27.10.2026 32m

  In April 2022, a series of violent attacks plunged Sligo into fear. Within the space of four days, two men were murdered in their homes and a third was left permanently injured after meeting a younger man through a dating app.In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Incident Brief, John Sweetman examines the murders of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee, and the subsequent race to find the attacker before he struck again. Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Sam HobsonProduced by Sam HobsonSenior Producer Siobhan WalshExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithLegal, Marketing and Social Media Support by the Team at GoLoudArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree
• 
  Case Notes #016: Instinct and Empathy 20.10.2026 53m

  In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John is joined by Pat Marry, a retired Detective Inspector with An Garda Síochána and author of several books, including The Making of a Detective.Drawing on a career spanning more than three decades, Pat reflects on the persistence, attention to detail and empathy required to investigate serious crime.He revisits the murders of Rachel O’Reilly and Mary Gough, explaining how instinct made him challenge the accounts given by their husbands, Joe O’Reilly and Colin Whelan. Pat describes what he recalls as pioneering uses of mobile phone location analysis and computer evidence in these murder investigations, and the painstaking work required to turn emerging techniques into evidence that could stand up in court.Pat also speaks about investigating the murder of his colleague, Garda Adrian Donohoe, and the personal strain of seeking justice for someone he knew and worked alongside.
• 
  Case Notes #015: Past Cases, Present Questions 13.10.2026 50m

  In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, Nules Ní Chléirigh, creator and host of Ireland Crimes and Mysteries, returns for another conversation with John Sweetman.This time, they look further back into Ireland’s criminal history, discussing Maamtrasna and the murder at Shandy Hall. They explore wrongful convictions, language barriers at trial and the lack of forensic science during these times, and how these stories live on generations later.Turning to more recent investigations, John and Nules discuss the challenges of revisiting unsolved murders and disappearances, including Raonaid Murray, Jo Jo Dullard and Deirdre Jacob. They reflect on the limits of searches, the potential of advances in forensic techniques, and why a lack of public updates does not necessarily mean an investigation has stopped.They also discuss how speaking with families can reveal a person beyond the headlines, sharing interests, ambitions and everyday details that help ensure a victim’s life is not defined solely by their death.If you’d like to get in touch, email LinesOfEnquiry@goloudnow.com and follow @linesofenquirypodcast on Instagram.This episode was brought to you by Finance Solutions, because when you’re making a decision as important as buying a home, you want to know you’re dealing with people you can trust.Finance Solutions helps thousands of people buy homes or switch their mortgages in Ireland every year, and with more than 3,000 five star Google reviews, there are plenty of people who’ve already put their trust in their team.They offer simple, mortgage advice, tailored to you and your circumstances.Visit financesolutions.ie to get started. A short 10 minute call is all it takes to help them understand your needs.
• 
  Case Notes #014: Evidence in Focus 06.10.2026 41m

  We have reached the end of Season 4 of Lines of Enquiry. While the team are planning, researching, writing and recording Season 5, John is sitting down with a series of guests for Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes.In this episode, John is joined by Paul Curran, a retired Detective Sergeant with An Garda Síochána.Paul spent over 27 years working in major crime scene investigation, specialising in Garda photography, aerial and drone photography, and facial identification using EvoFIT.In this conversation, Paul reflects on the role of photography in serious investigations, from documenting crime scenes and post-mortems to capturing fragile evidence such as fingerprints in blood or dust. He explains why crime scene photography is not about recreating what happened, but carefully recording a scene as it was found.Paul also speaks about the development of forensic photography over his career, from darkrooms and film to digital photography, video walkthroughs, aerial photography and the use of EvoFIT in facial identification.Throughout the episode, he reflects on the responsibility of documenting some of the most serious crime scenes, and the role that careful, accurate photography can play in helping victims and their families.
• 
  Kyran Durnin: Failed by the State 29.09.2026 55m

  In the summer of 2024 social workers from Tusla were trying to establish the whereabouts of an eight-year-old boy, named Kyran Durnin. They had concerns about his welfare, and where he might be living.  In July, a child was brought to meet them, and they were told it was Kyran. A second meeting followed in early August, and again the social workers were told the child was Kyran.Then, weeks later, Kyran and his mother Dayla were reported missing. As Gardaí begin investigating, they obtained family photographs of Kyran and showed them to the officials who attended those meetings. Social workers realise the boy in the photographs is not the child they met.   Soon, detectives realise they can find no trace of Kyran in recent months, or even years. Eventually gardai will tell the public they believe Kyran to be “missing, presumed dead”.This week we look at the still unresolved case of the missing Kyran Durnin, an ongoing investigation which has now for two years been trying to establish where Kyran is, and what may have happened to him. Alongside the garda investigation, there have been serious questions raised about how a child could disappear from the view of all public authorities for so long without anyone realising he was gone.This episode is not an attempt to solve an active case from the outside. It is an examination of the verified timeline and the gaps within it, that allowed Kyran to vanish.Presented by John Sweetman  Created by Darren Cleary  Written by Darren Cleary  Script Edited by Siobhan Walsh, Sam Hobson and Eoin Brennan  Produced by Sam Hobson  Senior Producer 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 Media Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree  Artwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree
• 
  Anne & Annie Gillespie: A Cruel Twist | Part 2 22.09.2026 55m

  In the aftermath of the 1988 shooting at Sligo Hospital, Gardaí were drawn into a dramatic confrontation that saw a car plunge into the murky waters of Donegal Bay.As the investigation moved towards trial, the case became about more than the tragic death of Anne and Annie Gillespie. It exposed the limits of the justice system. In court, questions arose over mental health and responsibility, with consequences that would haunt the Gillespie family for decades. Presented by John Sweetman  Created by Darren Cleary  Written by Anna Priestland  Script Edited by Siobhan Walsh, Sam Hobson and Eoin Brennan  Produced by Sam Hobson  Senior Producer 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 Media Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree  Artwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree
• 
  Anne & Annie Gillespie: Dark Obsession | Part I 15.09.2026 54m

  In County Donegal in 1988, 18-year-old Anne Gillespie was looking forward to a future beyond her hometown of Ballybofey. Despite her close friendships and a tight bond with her mother Annie, after Anne sat her leaving cert she had started to dream of a life of her own. But not everyone in her life was happy when Anne started to grow more independent - and soon she and her mother would find themselves targeted by a man consumed by rage, jealousy and obsession.Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyWritten by Anna PriestlandScript Edited by Siobhan Walsh, Sam Hobson and Eoin BrennanProduced by Sam HobsonSenior Produced by Siobhan WalshExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Laura Bracken and Róisín ReillySocial Media Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree
• 
  Siobhán Hynes: Left for Dead 08.09.2026 49m

  In Connemara, on a cold winter’s night in 1998, two sisters, Aine and Siobhán Hynes left their home and headed out to meet friends, driving to the disco in the nearby coastal village of Carraroe. The next morning, Aine was woken up by her mother asking where was Siobhán? The 17-year-old never made it home. In this episode, John explores the harsh and isolated landscape of Connemara, and how fear spread across the tightknit community after the tragic and cruel events of December 6th 1998. Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Siobhan WalshScript Edited by Eoin BrennanProduced by Siobhan WalshExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Laura Bracken and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree
• 
  Lines of Enquiry Live: Dublin Show Announcement 03.09.2026 1m

  John Sweetman invites you to join him for a special milestone: the first ever Lines of Inquiry live podcast, happening December 2nd at the O’Reilly Theatre in Dublin.Across one evening, we’ll revisit the stories Ireland can’t forget—tracking the crucial clues that helped piece investigations together, and the small details revealed in court that brought justice into focus.John will also be joined on stage by special guests, offering expert testimony and firsthand insight from working on some of Ireland’s most notorious crimes.Tickets on sale now: https://takeyourseats.ticketsolve.com/shows/873690336/events
• 
  Declan Flynn: Murder in the Park 01.09.2026 1h 3m

  As Declan Flynn made his way home in the early hours of September 10th 1982, he did not know what danger lurked in nearby Fairview park on the north side of Dublin City. In the dark shadows, was a gang with a mission. That night, kind and innocent Declan became their unknowing target. In this episode, John explores the tragic case of Declan Flynn, a vulnerable man trying to live his life in a country where simply being yourself was considered a crime. Lives of Enquiry is going on stage for our first ever live show on December 2nd in the O’Reilly Theatre, Dublin. Tickets go on sale on September 3rd  from www.oreillytheatre.com. To get a reminder, and a link to buy tickets, sign up to our mailing list here: https://bauermediaireland.jotform.com/260255277392057 Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by John SweetmanScript Edited by Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan WalshExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Laura Bracken and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree
• 
  Nancy Nolan: A Haunting Crime 25.08.2026 54m

  80 year old, Nancy Nolan didn’t answer her daughter’s calls on the 16th of February, 2000. Her neighbour noticed that her car hadn’t moved in a few days. They were worried about her and sent Gardaí out to check in.  The Gardaí found Nancy Nolan lying in a pool of blood in her hallway. It was clear this was not an accident. For locals in the small village of Ballygar, Co. Roscommon, Nancy’s death dredged up memories of another murder nearly 20 years earlier that still haunted the village.  In this week’s Lines of Enquiry, John revisits the case that shocked the small community and explores how the impact of Nancy’s death rippled across the country. Lives of Enquiry will be going on stage for our first ever live show on December 2nd in the O’Reilly Theatre, Dublin. Tickets go on sale on September 3rd  from www.oreillytheatre.com. To get a reminder, and a link to buy tickets, sign up to our mailing list here: https://bauermediaireland.jotform.com/260255277392057 Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Anna PriestlandScript Edited by Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan WalshExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Laura Bracken and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree
• 
  The Kerry Babies: An Irish Scandal 18.08.2026 1h 7m

  On 16th of April 1984, a man jogging on a beach in West Kerry found the body of a newborn baby. The child had been stabbed to death. Nobody knew who his parents were, where he had come from, how he handed up on that beach – and nobody knew his name. The discovery on the beach would lead to multiple garda investigations and would see a small family from rural County Kerry thrown into the national spotlight. It would become a case centred around staggering claims made against one young woman, and allegations of intimidation and coercion against the country’s leading detectives. In this episode, John tells us about how the search to solve the case of that baby on the beach in County Kerry would become a national scandal that would change Ireland forever. Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by David MaloneScript Edited by Eoin Brennan and Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan Walsh & Aoife PlunkettExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Laura Bracken and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree
• 
  Irene White: Price of Murder 11.08.2026 1h 6m

  Irene White woke up as normal on the 6th of April, 2005. She brought her three kids to school, chatted to the other parents, and returned home where she began washing up dishes. Irene’s mother Maureen lived in a mobile home in the garden and had a routine of calling in to her daughter for a chat and a cup of tea. On this day, she found her daughter on the floor of her kitchen, surrounded by blood. Her eyes were open and she still had her washing up gloves on. In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John looks back at a case that evaded Dundalk Gardaí for years, until a critical and unexpected break in the case paved the way for detectives to delve further into the case and unmask the people behind a murder that shocked Ireland. Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Siobhan WalshScript Edited by Eoin BrennanProduced by Siobhan WalshExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Laura Bracken and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree
• 
  Siobhan McLaughlin: A Savage End 04.08.2026 55m

  Brian Kearney arrived to work shortly before 8am on his 49th birthday – February 28th, 2006. Before he left home that morning he poured his 3 year old son Dan a bowl of Coco Pops. Later that morning, Dan’s aunt Niamh arrived at the home. She found the young child alone, crying. His mammy, Siobhan McLaughlin, had never come downstairs that morning.After an early suspicion of suicide, one piece of evidence was essential in upgrading the case to a murder investigation - A purple vacuum flex found at the scene. In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John Sweetman revisits the tragic death of 38-year-old Siobhan McLaughlin in Goatstown, South Dublin and the search for her killer. Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by John SweetmanScript Edited by Eoin BrennanProduced by Siobhan Walsh & Aoife PlunkettExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Laura Bracken and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree
• 
  Lying Eyes: The Hitman Plot 28.07.2026 1h 11m

  When Gardaí are called out following a burglary at the offices of a family run business in Ennis, Co. Clare, they aren't overly concerned. Two computers and some small items have been stolen. But when a hitman shows up at the home of the two young brothers who run the business gardaí realise there is much more to the case.In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John Sweetman, brings us a case so strange that, at first, even gardaí couldn’t believe it was real.We bring you through the web of online connections that led a hitman from the United States to County Clare, to sting operation to try to catch the assassin, the involvement of the FBI, and the trail of emails that revealed the full and incredible story.Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Anna PriestlandProduced by Siobhan WalshExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Laura Bracken and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree
• 
  Karen Buckley: A Fateful Encounter 21.07.2026 1h 15m

  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 SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Anna PriestlandScript Edited by Eoin Brennan & Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan WalshExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Laura Bracken and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree