The Crime I Can't Forget - Episode Guide

On 19th May 2002, 34-year-old Paul Gault was found murdered in his home in Lisburn, where he lived with his wife, Lesley, and their five-year-old triplets.

Initially, detectives believed they were dealing with a violent burglary gone wrong, but it became clear that the crime scene was meticulously staged, suggesting a deeper, more sinister motive. A thread of suspicion emerged, pointing to a frequent daytime visitor to the Gault residence.

As Detective Inspector Roy McComb delved into the case, a darker truth emerged – this was no ordinary crime. Instead, it was a calculated act of jealousy. This unique and challenging investigation focused on two main suspects: Lesley Gault, Paul's wife, and her lover, Gordon Graham. What followed was a relentless pursuit of justice, culminating in not one but three gruelling criminal trials.

But the impact of this crime stretched beyond the courtroom. Jonathan Gault, the couple's son, still carries the emotional scars of that day. He shares his perspective, shedding light on the impact on his life and the frustration he feels toward those who doubted his mother's innocence and the man who took his father's life.

On 12th August 1981, Ballinderry, County Antrim, experienced a profound tragedy when nine-year-old Jennifer Cardy was abducted while cycling to a nearby friend's house.

A huge search effort commenced, uniting countless local volunteers and law enforcement officers who meticulously scoured local roads, fields, and woodlands in a desperate quest to find her. Tragically, six days later, Jennifer's lifeless body was discovered submerged in a pond. The post-mortem revealed a horrifying truth: she had not only been murdered but also sexually assaulted. Despite the exhaustive search and grim discovery, the case reached a dead end. No credible suspect emerged, and justice remained elusive.

For over two decades, the case remained unsolved. Then, in 2002, it was reopened and Detective Superintendent Raymond Murray led the investigation. His focus turned to a series of similar crimes in 1980s Britain. The conviction of Robert Black for the murders of three young girls led Detective Murray to consider whether Black could have been responsible for Jennifer's murder.

Uncovering the truth was a monumental task. Detective Murray and his team had to sift through over 20 tonnes of paper evidence collected by three different police forces.

Throughout this challenging process, Jennifer's father, Andy Cardy, grappled with the heart-wrenching reality of losing his daughter. Sitting in the courtroom, he bore the weight of listening to damning evidence against the man eventually convicted of her murder. Yet, Andy also offers a powerful insight into human resilience, revealing how his faith helped him overcome the all-too-human instincts of hatred and the desire for revenge. In the face of unimaginable tragedy, he found a path towards healing and forgiveness.

On 8th October 2004, Rachel Callaly was found brutally murdered in her Dublin home. Very quickly,the finger of suspicion pointed towards her husband Joe O'Reilly, who played the part of a perfect husband, fooling friends and family alike. It took three years of surprising twists and turns, bizarre encounters and ground-breaking detective work to secure a conviction.

The programme has access to the key people at the forefront of this investigation including Pat Marry, one of Ireland's most straight-talking detectives, who recounts his many challenging encounters with the man he believed to be Rachel's murderer. For Pat, this case became deeply personal, a relentless mission to ensure justice was served.

In 1983, the IRA kidnapped British supermarket executive Don Tidey near his Dublin home. This triggered an unprecedented response from Irish law enforcement, with a joint operation involving the police and the Irish armed forces. The extensive manhunt marked a historic moment of cooperation between the two organisations.

Over the course of three weeks, the search led to dense woodland in County Leitrim. Tragically, the operation concluded with a double fatality: the loss of army Private Patrick Kelly and Garda recruit Gary Sheehan.

Retired Sergeant Major PJ Higgins, who served in the Irish Defence Forces, takes us back to the tumultuous search. Four decades later, he reflects on the mistakes that marred the rescue mission, leading to a fatal shootout and the tragic loss of his colleague, Patrick.

Meanwhile, Detective Sergeant Cyril Meehan of the Irish police remembers the sorrowful day of his friend Gary Kelly's death.

Retired Detective Inspector Edwin Handcock provides insights into the subsequent investigation. In addition, Private Kelly's son, David, shares the enduring impact of his father's death and his unrelenting pursuit of justice.

In the heart of West Belfast, a promising young boxer is tragically found stabbed to death. PSNI Detective John McVea faces the challenge of solving a murder that holds the potential to disrupt the fragile peace within the community.

Eamonn Jr. was a 22-year-old engineering student and the son of champion boxer Eamonn Magee Sr. His murder occurred in Twinbrook, an area where distrust between the police and the community remains high.

To successfully crack the case, Detective McVea must gain the trust and cooperation of the community. This pivotal moment prompts him to make a groundbreaking decision, not only altering the course of the investigation but also reshaping his entire approach to policing.

In 2011, Queen Elizabeth II made history as the first British monarch to visit Ireland.

The visit has gone down in history as a high-water mark in Anglo-Irish relations, during which the Queen astonished Irish dignitaries, politicians, journalists and the public alike, when she spoke in the Irish language at a state banquet in Dublin Castle.
It all could have been very different.

While these remarkable events unfolded, four senior Gardai were facing the biggest challenge of their careers. Assistant Commissioner Pat Leahy was tasked with ensuring public order during the visit. He and his team had just nine weeks to secure every building, rooftop, and rubbish bin along the Queen's route around Dublin city. But as the Queen entered the capital, hundreds of Gardai suddenly found themselves under attack from public protesters. Pat led the battle to restore order so that the historic events could unfold peacefully.

Meanwhile, a viable improvised explosive device was found on a bus heading for Dublin, Garda intelligence revealed a capable lone wolf bomber who posed a real and credible threat to the safety of the royal party. Assistant Commissioner John O'Mahony led the investigation as detectives raced to track down the bomber before he could strike the state banquet at Dublin Castle.

In September 1992, Esther McCann and her 18-month-old daughter, Jessica, tragically lost their lives in a house fire in south Dublin.

What seems like a tragic accident takes a more sinister turn when retired sergeant Pat Treacy and superintendent Martin Walker uncover disturbing death threats leading up to the fire, all seemingly aimed at Frank McCann, Esther's husband and a respected swimming coach.

In one of the most harrowing cases of their career, Pat and Martin recall how as they dig deeper, Frank's claims of being targeted unravel, exposing a sinister web of lies that establish him as the central focus and prime suspect in the investigation. Crime scene mapper Michael Campbell details how the truth was uncovered in the ashes of the house fire, in a case that became one of the longest running trials in Irish history.

Esther McCann's niece, Esther Leonard, describes the effect these murders have had on her close-knit family and her fears for the future, if their murderer walks free.

In 2013, a young Romanian woman approaches the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) about a gang that had forced her into prostitution.

Former detective chief inspector Dougie Grant and detective inspector Rachel Miskelly of the Serious Crime Branch are tasked with investigating this challenging case. Their first priority is to identify other victims to gather crucial evidence and help them escape exploitation. But inside the brothels, fear and grooming have silenced vulnerable women, making the task almost impossible.

With determination, Rachel and Dougie turn to digital forensics and piece together the movement of victims across international borders. They recall how, in a groundbreaking human trafficking investigation, the PSNI join forces with Swedish authorities, Europol and Romanian law enforcement to bring the leaders of this organised crime gang to justice.

In Stockholm, Detective Per Hjort and public prosecutor Eva Wintzell share unique insights into evidence gathering through covert surveillance and wiretaps. Through this, they're able to identify another victim and share intelligence to build a stronger case.

The most profound impact of this case is on the thirteen women who were rescued. Diane Hickey and Heather Woods from Women's Aid shed light on their efforts to collaborate closely with police and support victims throughout the investigation and legal process

In the late 70s and early 80s, Ireland battles a growing heroin epidemic, leaving devastation in its wake. Stable, working-class communities collapse, becoming hotspots of addiction and crime.

At the heart of this turmoil is Larry Dunne, a petty criminal from Dublin's inner city, who has big ambitions. He rises to power, building a vast heroin trafficking empire and amassing incredible wealth as the city's streets descend into chaos.

Detective Michael O'Sullivan, who only recently joined the Irish police service, is tasked with being the first detective to go undercover in the fight against drug crime. Michael assumes the guise of an addict, infiltrating the violent underworld controlled by Dunne's network. He recounts the twists and turns of a high-stakes, four-year long game of cat and mouse to bring down Ireland's first heroin kingpin.

Anna Buckley is a local community journalist who describes how her community was ravaged by the drugs sold by Dunne's operation. Journalist and reporter Brendan O'Brien also shares how his work turned the issue into national outrage.

In 2019 Pat McCormick, a 55-year-old father of four, is reported missing when he fails to come to work one morning.

When detectives speak to Pat's ex-wife and children, they get a picture of a loving and reliable father. So when he also fails to show up one morning to bring daughter Morgan to school, and no trace of him can be found, all are left gravely concerned.

Officers believe they're dealing with a missing persons case. But as they dig deeper, they uncover a call made by Pat to police on the night he disappeared.

It is clear from the call that Pat was concerned about his well-being and feared someone was out to get him. With this shocking information, the case is escalated to a possible kidnapping, and detective Heather Campbell is brought in to run the inquiry.

Heather and her team scan hours of CCTV to trace Pat's movements. They get their first break when footage shows him walking into the flat of his girlfriend, Lesley Ann Dodds, in Comber, County Down. However, he is never seen leaving.

Detectives also discover Lesley Ann is engaged to another man, David Gill, also captured on CCTV in Comber on the night of Pat's disappearance.

As a complicated love triangle emerges, this missing person case is declared a murder investigation, and the search for Pat's body begins. But detectives can find no sign of his remains.

If Detective Campbell is to put Pat's killers behind bars, she and her team must use everything at their disposal, from appeals to the public to cell site analysis and the use of specialist underwater search teams, to find the body. Colin Ferguson, search team leader, gives behind-the-scenes insights into his complex search operation.

Meanwhile, in a heartfelt account, Pat's daughter Morgan recounts the trauma she and her family endured while waiting for answers.

In Dublin in 1982, it was still illegal to be gay. But when Declan Flynn was brutally killed in a homophobic attack at a local park, the public was outraged.

Communities united in support of the gay community, beginning a decades-long process of social change. Over 40 years later, Declan's death is considered the catalyst of Ireland's Pride movement.

Retired detective inspector Edwin Handcock has never forgotten the case. He recalls every detail of the investigation, including the discovery of the sticks used to beat Declan to death. His inquiry led to the arrest of four men and a14-year-old boy. Their prosecution sparked further anger and controversy when they were handed suspended sentences for manslaughter.

The public took to the streets in protest, with a now-famous march across the city to the site where Declan died.

His siblings, Paul, Gabrielle and Lorraine, now speak emotionally on camera for the very first time about their brother's senseless killing. Local activists and national politicians also share the impact of this attack on their own lives as members of the gay community, and on Irish society as a whole.

In October 2018, a sleepy village in County Antrim is rocked when, in the dead of night, a gang arrives with a stolen digger and rips an ATM from the walls of the local newsagent.

Police are quickly at the scene, where they soon discover that the gang is highly skilled and has left minimal evidence. But this was only the first in a string of ATM heists by the gang, as they continued their work across the county.

As the attacks escalate, specialist detective superintendent Richard Thornton from the Organised Crime Division is appointed to lead the response, and assembles a dedicated team to tackle the sophisticated criminals.

Richard recalls how he and his team spent weeks meticulously analysing the gang's methods to predict their next move, and with the help of experts in surveillance, sought to put an end to the relentless attacks.

Chief superintendent Sue-Ann Steen provides insight into her leadership of the uniformed officers who patrolled the affected communities. Business owner Geoffery McKillop offers a personal account of the damage caused to his café during one of the gang's audacious attacks.

On the night of October 13, 2010, eyewitnesses called 999 when they discovered 18-year-old Niall Dorr lying unconscious on Castle Road in Dundalk, County Louth. He had severe head injuries and was later declared dead at Beaumont Hospital.

Newly-promoted detective inspector Pat Marry is put in charge of the investigation. It's his first case in Dundalk, and his team scour the town for clues, including CCTV footage and forensic evidence. An anonymous tip-off suggests Niall had been assaulted by a notorious local thug. But Pat faces a problem when terrified eyewitnesses refuse to make statements.

Pat is determined to deliver justice and provide closure to Niall's friends and family. So he turns instead to forensic science to catch the killer. He describes how he meticulously built the case, finally relying on a discarded cigarette butt and brand-new DNA techniques to identify Douglas Ward as the killer.

Niall's father Dave Dorr, along with his friends, talk about Niall, the circumstances of his death and the promising life that was tragically cut short.