Crime World

Three women who admitted helping evil Jonathan Cresswell cover up details around the death of showjumper Katie Simpson were handed down suspended prison sentences today.Hayley Robb, Jill Robinson and Rose De Montmorency Wright each believed that Katie had taken her own life and had not been murdered when they helped Cresswell wash his clothing and hide the fact he had assaulted the 21-year-old in the hours before her death.At Derry Magistrates Court journalist Ciaran O’Neill watched as the three women were sentenced for their roles in the secret pact around her death and as her mother’s victim impact statement revealed that Cresswell had sat at her hospital bedside as she died.Nicola speaks to Ciaran about the sentencing, the reaction of the Simpson family and the remarks of the Judge about the controlling and predatory Cresswell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Congolese asylum seeker has been deported by the Garda National Immigration Bureau days after he walked free from another jail term.Chico Makamda was jailed in 2019 for a horrific sexual attack on a woman but had clocked up 15 other previous convictions in the 10 years he’d been in Ireland.Although he agreed to leave the country he never did.Nicola speaks to Eamon Dillon about the high-profile deportation from the country in recent weeks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The families of Bloody Sunday victims are angry that Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service has failed to challenge former paratrooper Soldier F’s anonymity and that the public will continue to know neither his name nor face.Outspoken Michael McKinney, a brother of victim William who was murdered on January 30th 1972, has led a chorus of criticism against the PPS and the fact that it didn’t take time to seek the views of those left behind to grieve.Nicola speaks to Niall Donald about the latest developments in the 52 year old atrocity and we will also broadcast an interview with Michael recorded in Derry last year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A heartbroken mum is taking her fight for tougher prison sentences for drug dealers to the government.Pauline Duddy’s 21-year-old daughter Jasmine died from a suspected drug overdose despite getting clean time and again.Since her death, her mum has dedicated her life to campaigning for more jail time for the dealers who she says “are murdering our young people”.The Derry woman speaks to me and journalist Ciaran O’Neill about the life and death of her beloved daughter who slipped away to addiction before her eyes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Dutch court has convicted and sentenced six men in connection with the murder of the well-known crime reporter and TV presenter Peter R De Vries.But sentences of life requested by the prosecution in the trial were not handed down to those charged as the court said that after a grinding three-year trial a motive for De Vries death had not been proved.Nicola speaks to Niall Donald about the sentencing and we also re-broadcast a lengthy interview about the murder with our colleague Jan Meeus which was filmed and recorded last year as we visited the crime scene and remembered his colleague and friend Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The house of murder accused turned state witness Jonathan Dowdall has gone on the market with a hefty price tag as he prepares for his release from jail and a new life once he signs off the programme.In a sign that his days as a witness which saw him give against Gerry The Monk Hutch found not guilty of the murder of David Byrne are firmly over the Dublin home with an asking price of just under €800,000 has been polished and is ready for viewers.Nicola speaks to Niall Donald as they go behind the hall door to the house that witnessed Garda raids and torture sessions and where Dowdall indulged his love for zen gardens and exotic Koi Fish. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sean ‘The Fixer’ Fitzgerald staged a dirty protest at the funeral of veteran criminal Fran ‘The Lamb’ Cunningham when he smeared excrement over a photographer's car.Nicola speaks with snapper Ernie Leslie who was bemused and disgusted by The Fixer's successful efforts to get himself back into the news.And we discuss the media's chequered history with the 78-year-old who has regularly made headlines with his strange and odd behaviour. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The history of organised crime in the US and the rise of the mafia is a story that is intrinsically linked to the party capital of Las Vegas where mobsters mixed with celebrities to launder their dirty money.Myths and legends surround the mob's arrival in Vegas and their takeover of the legal gambling industry that turned it into a playground for the rich and famous.But the real story of Las Vegas and the emergence of organised crime from the prohibition era is laid out in one of Sin City’s most fascinating experiences - The Mob Museum.Nicola is joined by Geoff Schumacher the Vice President of Exhibits and Programs at the museum which I visited in recent weeks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The childhood home of the Kinahan brothers Daniel and Christopher Jnr has been re-occupied in recent months nearly 10 years after they regularly stayed there.The Oliver Bond flat which is a local authority premises has remained in the tenancy of relatives of Boylan, who was the first wife of Christopher Kinahan Snr, since her death in 2014.Nicola speaks with Crime Correspondent Ken Foy about the flat and the legacy of the Kinahans on Oliver Bond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist Tanya Fowles was so concerned when she heard that showjumper Katie Simpson had been taken to hospital after an apparent suicide attempt by the known domestic abuser Jonathan Creswell that she repeatedly phoned police to inform them of her concerns that there was more to the story than met the eye.Tanya, an award winning court reporter based in Northern Ireland, couldn’t believe that Creswell’s account of finding Katie and trying to help her had formed the decision to shut down any investigation into her death. She was also flabbergasted when he played the role of chief mourner at her funeral and later showed support for suicide charities.It took almost five months for a new PSNI investigation team to be put in place who quickly discovered that Tanya was right to be suspicious that the 21 year old had been murdered by evil Creswell who would later be charged with the crime.Nicola talks to Tanya about Creswell, his own suicide as his murder trial got underway and an extraordinary story of sex, jealousy and coercive control which remained hidden for years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.