Lines of Enquiry

In October 1986, 13-year-old Philip Cairns became one of the most recognisable faces in Ireland.The boy left his home in Dublin to walk back to school after lunch and vanished without a trace. His disappearance gripped the nation, changed how parents viewed their children’s safety, and left a family living with unanswered questions for nearly four decades.In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John revisits one of Ireland’s most haunting missing person cases and asks what really happened to the boy who never came home.An Garda Síochána have told us the investigation into the disappearance of Philip Cairns remains active and ongoing. Gardaí are keen to speak to people who may have been young at the time Philip disappeared and not in a position to talk to them, but who may now feel able to come forward.  Even the smallest piece of information could help investigators. Anyone with information is asked to contact Rathfarnham Garda Station on 01 666 6500, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111. If for any reason, you do not feel comfortable making that contact directly, you can email linesofenquiry@goloudnow.com and we will ensure that any credible information is passed on to investigating Gardaí on your behalf.If you might be interested in a Lines of Enquiry live show - Let us know by filling out this survey: bauermediaireland.jotform.com/260255277392057 We would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast on Instagram here: www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Emma McMenemyScript Edited by Darren Cleary Produced by Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan MaguireExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

In August of 1987, 19 year old Trevor O’Keeffe embarked his journey home to Ireland after a brief holiday France. He planned to hitchhike across the north of the country, through the vineyards of the world-renowned Champagne province. Trevor was unaware of the warnings against hitchhiking that had been made to young men across the region. He had not heard the local rumours about a serial killer stalking the area. He did not know about the 6 other young men already disappeared.Trevor’s body was found in a French forest just days after he began traveling. In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John explores what happens when a serious crime happens in another country. He asks how different laws, languages and police forces affect the search for answers and the fight for justice. If you might be interested in a Lines of Enquiry live show - Let us know by filling out this survey: bauermediaireland.jotform.com/260255277392057 We would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast on Instagram here: www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/ Presented by John Sweetman Created by Darren Cleary Episode Written by Darren Cleary Script Edited by Siobhan Walsh Produced by Siobhan Walsh Produced by Siobhan Maguire 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 Bríd Walsh and Róisín Reilly Social Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree Artwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

On the night of September, the 4th 1992, Esther and Jessica McCann went to sleep and never woke up. The 36-year-old mother and her 18-month-old-toddler died when a fire swept through the house. It was a tragic loss of life. The young mother had been trying to adopt the little girl she had fostered since her birth. They were inseparable. And it followed a series of events in the home that baffled Esther, her husband, and her family. Was there something more sinister at play here? In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John Sweetman takes us through the events leading up to that tragic house fire and how a dark secret from the past lurked in the corner.If you might be interested in a Lines of Enquiry live show - Let us know by filling out this survey: bauermediaireland.jotform.com/260255277392057We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Siobhan MaguireScript Edited by Eoin BrennanProduced by Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan MaguireExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John Sweetman is joined by one of Ireland’s leading true crime podcasters, Nules Ní Chléirigh, creator and host of Ireland Crimes and Mysteries.John and Nules reflect on what draws them to the stories of some of Ireland’s biggest crimes, the realities of working on cases with no clear resolution, and the importance of ethical storytelling when dealing with victims and their families.They share some of the most impactful cases they have worked on, including those where the smallest detail made a critical difference, and others that have stayed with them long after recording.The conversation also explores how true crime has evolved as a genre, and the role it can play in prevention, awareness, and in keeping the memory of victims alive.If you’d like to get in touch, you can email the show at LinesOfEnquiry@goloudnow.com and follow @linesofenquirypodcast on Instagram. 

28 year old mother of two Jasmine McMonagle loved to write and longed to be a children's author one day. In 2019, a letter she wrote was sent to the Garda Technical Bureau for examination. In the letter, Jasmine wrote of being held hostage in her own home, of threats against her and her daughters, and of how she would no longer live in fear.In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John explains how that letter ended up on his desk, and he looks back on a tragic story of rage, loss and bravery, and of a family torn apart by violence.We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by John SweetmanScript Edited by Eoin BrennanProduced by Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan MaguireExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

When Antra Ozolina was found dead in her home in Kilnaleck, Co Cavan in June 2014, from the outset, the explanation seemed straightforward and the case moved quickly towards closure. But small details did not sit comfortably. The circumstances raised quiet questions. The timeline felt too neat and the version that was accepted left little room for doubt or for scrutiny. In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John Sweetman revisits the death of Antra Ozolina, examining how early assumptions can shape an investigation, how quickly a version of events can become fixed, and how the how the easy answer is not always the right answer.  We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Darren ClearyScript Edited by Eoin BrennanProduced by Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan MaguireAssistant Produced by Aoife PlunkettExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

The arrival of two detectives with very different backgrounds reinvigorates the search for Seamus Ruddy. As the new investigators search the darkest corners for information, they do it with a set of forensics skills never before seen in Ireland.The Ruddy family hold on to hope of finally ending their long nightmare, and a new source of information could prove to be the key. But there will be many false dawns, before what could be their final chance to bring Seamus home.We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Eoin BrennanProduced by Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan MaguireExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric RowntreeWe now have an instagram page, you can follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/

In May of 1985, Seamus Ruddy went to meet three men in Paris. They were men he knew from a past life, in Ireland. Seamus had left that life behind, to start a new one in the French capital. His family had asked him not to go to the meeting, but Seamus had been assured he would be safe.He was never seen again after that night, and his disappearance would lead to a search spanning decades. The Ruddy family refused to give up their hunt for answers, facing down intimidation and holding out hope even against the most insurmountable odds.This story would eventually join others, as the Ruddy family realised they were not the only ones searching for their missing loved ones, and pushing for answers from a dark period in Irish history. Seamus was eventually considered one of The Disappeared, the group of people suspected of being kidnapped, killed and secretly buried by Republican paramilitary groups during The Troubles.We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Eoin BrennanProduced by Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan MaguireExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

Jastine Valdez was abducted in broad daylight on a rural road in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, in May 2018.  The 24-year-old had just stepped off a bus that dropped her only a few minutes’ walk from her home.  Just moments later, a woman driving along that quiet country road spotted a man seemingly trying to force a young woman into his car.What followed was a frantic garda manhunt, as they realised Jastine had been abducted in broad daylight – but without any idea who may have done it, or why. What was to follow would be a tragic, terrifying case that would shock all of Ireland.In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John Sweetman takes us through that frenetic investigation by gardai moments, and their efforts to seek justice for Jastine, and her family in Ireland and the Philippines.We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by John SweetmanScript Edited by Eoin BrennanProduced by Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan MaguireExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

In this, Lines of Enquiry’s inaugural ‘Case Notes’, John Sweetman introduces a new strand of his hit true crime podcast series. Stepping away from any one specific case in detail and instead revisiting past investigations and responding to listener questions, John takes us behind the scenes of Lines of Enquiry. This first episode of ‘Case Notes' is also the last in Season 1 of Lines of Enquiry. Reflecting on his first season, John is in conversation with Darren Cleary, creator of Lines of Enquiry and Head of Digital Audio at Bauer Media, who hears all about Season 2, which goes out on January 6th, 2026, with further 'Case Notes' also on the way. We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/Remember, you can contact the show at LinesOfEnquiry@goloudnow.com 

When Anne O'Sullivan was diagnosed with terminal cancer, tensions within her family about who would inherit her substantial plot of farm land came to the surface.Soon, Anne would find herself awake before dawn, running through fields and ditches to a neighbour's house to get help as a terrible darkness descended on the family farm. This is a tragic story that saw a family torn apart as their home became consumed by fear and threats of violence towards Anne and her eldest son, Mark. Those rising tensions would lead to the most unfathomable and shocking moment of hatred and rage.In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John tracks the descent into violence and revisits his case notes on the letters that proved crucial to any understanding of events of that tragic day.We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Eoin BrennanScript Edited by John SweetmanResearch by Siobhan Maguire & Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsProduced by Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan MaguireSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

On St Patrick’s weekend 2024, 23-year-old Kelly Lynch travelled from her home in Armagh to Monaghan to support her boyfriend after a sudden death in his family. Two nights later, on the walk home from the pub in the town, on the Friday night of a busy bank holiday, Kelly disappeared.She was found in the Ulster Canal on the Sunday morning. Gardaí said Kelly had drowned and quickly confirmed they were not treating her death as suspicious. But as the details emerged, her family were left with devastating questions.In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John Sweetman follows Kelly’s final movements, the contradictions at the heart of the investigation, and the campaign led by a family desperate for answers. We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Darren ClearyScript Edited by Eoin BrennanProduced by Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan MaguireExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

The prime suspect walks free for the murder of Nora Sheehan after the death of the pathologist left the DPP's case unable to proceed to trial. In this second chapter of a two-part investigation, John Sweetman looks at how four decades after Nora Sheehan’s disappearance and death in 1981, advances in forensic technology breathed new life into a long-dormant investigation.  In this episode, we explore how preserved evidence from fibres and paint fragments to a partial DNA profile was re-examined by investigators as as long-preserved traces ignite a renewed hunt for answers.We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/ Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Darren ClearyScript Edited by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsProduced by Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan MaguireSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

In June 1981, Nora Sheehan left the South Infirmary Hospital in Cork and disappeared into the night. In the hours that followed, she was seen by witnesses walking alone after midnight, a familiar figure on dark roads and quiet streets.Days later, her battered body was discovered dumped in woodland far from the city. Her murder shocked Cork and marked the beginning of a case that would stretch across generations.In this opening chapter of a two-part investigation, John Sweetman reconstructs Nora’s final movements, the witness sightings after midnight, and the immediate aftermath of her disappearance. What emerges is the story of a vulnerable woman who vanished in plain sight and a killing that would become one of Ireland’s longest-running cold cases.We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Darren ClearyScript Edited by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsProduced by Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan MaguireSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

The Walsh house in rural Connemara is quiet by 4am on the 22nd of June 1985. Earlier in the night it was full of people celebrating the brief return of two family members who had emigrated. But now the friends, neighbours and even the local Gardaí who had attended the party have all dispersed. So, when 14 year old Jacquie Walsh wakes up in the middle of the night the only person she sees is her mother, 33 year old Barbara asleep on the couch. Jacquie tries to wake her but when she does not stir, Jacquie places a pillow beneath her head and drapes a blanket around her before heading to bed. Barbara Walsh was never seen again.For years, her family were told that the young mother of 7 must have wandered off – Despite not having a car and living over 50 miles away from Galway city.In this episode, former Garda forensic detective John Sweetman goes back to 1985 and examines the original investigation, the new leads for the cold case team and asks where is Barbara Walsh?We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/ Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Siobhan WalshScript Edited by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsProduced by Siobhan WalshAssistant Produced by Siobhan MaguireSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing support by Ed SmithMarketing support by Bríd Walsh and Roisin ReillySocial support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and graphics by Eric Rowntree

Gardaí are called to a house in north Dublin, where they make a grim discovery. 72-year-old Marie Dillon has been found murdered in a violent attack inside her home.As investigations begin, it becomes clear there are no suspects and no obvious clues. In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John Sweetman revisits the case that brought him face to face with his first murder scene at just 26 years of age, in his early days training to become a forensic fingerprint expert. We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/Presented by John Sweetman Created by Darren Cleary Episode Written by John SweetmanScript Edited by Eoin Brennan Executive Produced by Eoin Brennan Executive Produced by Ruth Fitzsimons Produced by Siobhan Walsh and Siobhan Maguire Sound Design and Editing by Neil Kavanagh Audio Editing support by Ed Smith Marketing support by Bríd Walsh and Roisin Reilly Social support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree Artwork and graphics by Eric RowntreeVideo by Ger Walsh

On 4 January 2005, 11-year-old Robert Holohan left his home to play on his bike in Midleton, Co Cork and never returned. What began as a desperate search for a missing boy quickly became one of the most emotionally charged murder investigations Ireland had ever witnessed. Thousands turned out to look for him. Gardaí deployed every resource available. For a week, the country hoped against hope. Then came the devastating discovery: Robert had been killed. The search for the young boy soon became a hunt for a killer. The eventual truth would prove to be more devastating than anyone had imagined.We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Darren Cleary and John SweetmanScript Edited by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsProduced by Siobhan WalshAssistant Produced by Siobhan MaguireSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing support by Ed SmithMarketing support by Bríd Walsh and Roisin ReillySocial support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and graphics by Eric Rowntree

A sinister, disturbing handwritten letter arrives into Garda HQ. It has been sent anonymously to a school in the midlands. There are 23 pages, promising terrible crimes to come, and detailing the writer’s twisted plans to abduct and kill teenage girls. Soon after, two more arrive – again sent to schools across the Irish midlands. Gardai then realise this is not their first encounter with the anonymous writer, as they discover records of a strange hideout found in the woods in Offaly many years ago. More letters arrive, sent to Garda stations and found by members of the public.Fear spreads as the writer goes further and begins naming potential targets, all teenage girls at a local Offaly school. Gardai now face a race against time to find him, before he can put his evil plans into action.As part of our launch week of Lines of Enquiry we are releasing two episodes this week, including this one. From next week we will release weekly, every Tuesday morning.We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Eoin Brennan, Siobhan Maguire and John SweetmanExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsProduced by Siobhan WalshAssistant Produced by Siobhan MaguireSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghEpisode Edited by Eoin BrennanEditing support by Ed SmithMarketing support by Bríd Walsh and Roisin ReillySocial support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and graphics by Eric Rowntree

When 27-year-old Mary Gough was found dead in her home in Balbriggan in 2001, it looked like a tragic accident. Gardaí were called to what appeared to be a fall down the stairs. But as investigators examined the scene, small details began to raise doubts, marks that didn’t fit, timelines that didn’t match, and a story that started to change. In this episode, former Garda forensic detective John Sweetman revisits the case, piece by piece, to uncover how investigators learned that what looked like a household accident was, in fact, something far more sinister. We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/Presented by John Sweetman Created by Darren Cleary Executive Produced by Eoin Brennan Executive Produced by Ruth Fitzsimons Produced by Siobhan Walsh Assistant Produced by Siobhan Maguire Sound Design and Editing by Neil Kavanagh Editing support by Ed Smith Marketing support by Bríd Walsh and Roisin Reilly Social support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree Episode Written by Darren Cleary Episode Edited by Eoin Brennan Artwork and graphics by Eric Rowntree

Former Garda detective and expert crime scene investigator, John Sweetman presents Lines of Enquiry, a GoLoud Original true-crime podcast examining some of Ireland’s most compelling crimes, uncovering how evidence, chance, and persistence can bring answers, and sometimes only more questions.