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OVER 240 GANGLAND murders remain unsolved in Ireland since 1980 according to new figures compiled for RTÉ’s Prime Time.
That includes 130 murders committed here in the last 10 years alone in which the killers have never been caught.
Tonight’s programme spoke to the relatives of three such incidents in recent years.
Clearwater
In November 2010 cousins Glen Murphy and Mark Noonan were shot dead at the forecourt of Tesco Clearwater in Finglas, north Dublin.
Their murder was a case of mistaken identity, with the killers mistaking their car for somebody else’s.
The Dublin gang responsible subsequently escaped across the border, travelling at speeds of up to 200 km/h.
No one was ever charged for their murder.
“They went to the shop that night like anybody else to get a DVD and a packet of cigarettes,” Mark’s mother Geraldine told Prime Time.
Mark had a little girl, she was only nine months old. He picked Glen to be the Godfather. Mark and Glen were always together. Our lads are now lying in a grave and the killers are still out walking and living.
“Somebody knows something”, says Geraldine’s sister Michelle Murphy.
And we need those people to come forward. I’m not saying it would bring Mark and Glen back that’s never going to happen but it would help us. It could do tremendous things.
Lough Sheelin
In April 2014, Eoin O’Connor and Anthony Keegan borrowed Eoin’s mother’s car to travel from Dublin to Cavan.
Neither were ever seen again alive.
Their bodies were discovered the following month on Inchicup Island at Lough Sheelin on the Cavan / Meath border. They had been tied up and shot dead. Likewise, Eoin and Anthony’s murders remain unsolved.
“I don’t know what would bring people to do that. What kind of minds they have,” Eoin’s mother Jean told the programme.
Eoin had previously worked as a courier and had no record of being involved in organised crime.
“Eoin was a family man, he had two beautiful children. Somebody knows who is responsible and I am appealing to those people,” said Jean.
We will never be the same again but if we get justice it would help us.
Eoin was my son. I loved him. I still love him.
“At the end of the day there are murderers out there,” said Jean.
It’s not a nice feeling.
Gormanston
The report also featured an impassioned plea from Joe and Nell Maughan, the parents of Willie Maughan, who disappeared along with his girlfriend Anna Varslavane in April 2015.
At the time Willie and Anna were living in Gormanston, Co Meath, but had made plans to move back to Tallaght, Willie’s home.
Anna was 20 years old. She was also pregnant.
The two disappeared after making a phone call to Willie’s mother. They have never been seen again.
Tonight, Joe and Nell say that all they want is “to give them a Christian burial”.
“We know that William and Anna were murdered. But our priority is to get the bodies back,” said Nell.
What we are going through I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Just pick up the phone and tell where the bodies are.
We know a lot more now than we knew when all this started. And we know that people know something.
Anyone with any information on any of these cases, or on any of the unsolved murders mentioned on tonight’s programme, should contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111.
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Wishing her a speedy recovery.
@Mjhint: who cares
@frank griffin: clearly you took the time to comment. You become a prisoner of your own actions.
@Mjhint: Lota of brits on here today it seems.
@frank griffin: wow what a arrogant comment.
The woman is 95 years old FFS.
Nothing good to say, don’t say it all.
Just childish behaviour
@Billy McNamara: no doubt. There’s nearly 800k of them in the North of the country and I’m guessing a few more in the Republic.
@alan scott: she oversees an army that has committed atrocities around the works & especially here in IRELAND for Queen & Country
@alan scott: billionaire how never earned a penny of it
@frank griffin: bit like yourself mate.
@Eire: she doesn’t oversee anything,
What about the IRA eh?
Why comment on a article about a person who you hate?
Your a troll, and a bad one at that.
@frank griffin: She personally owns virtually NONE of it.
Well I’m sorry to hear that she has the virus, it’s a worry at any age but more so in a lady of her vintage especially since she has been unwell lately, hope she makes a good recovery. My own neighbour in her fifties got the virus at Christmas, no underlying issues but sadly died three weeks ago, so folks do take care, we are not out of the woods yet.
@Honeybee: ahh.so sad.
Yes it’s not over yet. Take care all
@Honeybee: The most sensible comment so far. It’s a pretty dangerous disease for a 95 year old, no matter who they are.
We should gift her a flat bottle of 7-Up.
@LaoisWeather: lucozade
@James Lough: Mrs O Brien 2 doors up from my mam’s also got tested positive yesterday ffs
@Bernard Connolly: you ok hun
@James Lough: Liz’sade.
@Bernard Connolly: yeah but she’s not the queen though.
“Continues light duties…” Wonder what her heavy duties are.
@Matt Joe Caulfield: dealing with Andrew
@David: And Harry & Meghan.She has a lot on her silver platter.
What does Vogue think?
was it Charles who gave it to her, he’s keen to be king maybe
God save the Queen!
@Shane Collins: no
Articles like this shows up people in thier true colours.
“The week he had the disease.” Are we calling it a disease now, Journal?
@Dublin – Overheard: WHO calls it a disease.
@Dublin – Overheard: COVID 19 = COronaVIrus Disease 2019
They’ve been calling it a disease for over 2 years now.
@Dublin – Overheard: So you don’t know what a disease is? Probably best to not comment on matters of medical matters then.
I hope she has good health insurance.
Mayo for Sam.
Feel better soon.
@Scott Coulter: was that for the queen of England? I don’t know if one will read it in the comment section of a journal.ie article
I blame Andrew , he was up at the palace every day last week .
Light duties ??
@Marg FitzGerald: Yeah, like opening her chequebook for the son.
Must be a tough time for her.
I note she’s on LD, not ED or MD.
@Gavin Tobin: Milk & Dougnuts
The 78 toilets in the palace will be in some state if she can only do light cleaning duties. Wishing her well though.
Shure I have to say it…. Does she wamt a medal??? Sorry. I do like her
Just the washing up and some light dusting allowed.
have your say