Crimes & Confessions – New three-part series starts Monday January 10th on RTÉ One
For over forty years the existence of a Garda heavy Gang has been denied.
This ground-breaking three-part true-crime series looks at three of the most notorious miscarriages of justice cases from the 1970s and 1980 and draws links between them.
Featuring dramatic first-hand accounts from those who were there during this most turbulent time in Irish history, this landmark new series shines a light on the key witnesses involved and re-examines some of the most successful- and controversial- cases amid ongoing rumours of a Garda Heavy Gang.
For the first time the series will draw links between cases and ask vital questions about accountability as some of the victims of injustice speak out after years of suffering.
Episode 1
Establishes a context for policing in Ireland during the 1970’s‘and focuses on the story of 19 year old Una Lynskey, who went missing on a country lane near her home in Ratoath, Co Meath in October 1971. Martin Conmey and Martin Kerrigan signed what they claimed were forced confessions, while their friend Dick Donnelly was also charged with the killing. The Court of Criminal Appeal subsequently declared a miscarriage of justice in Martin Conmey’s case. Dick Donnelly’s manslaughter conviction was overturned on appeal and Martin Kerrigan never faced trial after Una Lynskey’s brothers Sean and James Lynskey and Cousin John Gaughan killed him. They were ultimately found guilty of his manslaughter. Una’s killer was never found.