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Mens Rea: A true crime podcast

Mens Rea: A true crime podcast

By: GoLoud
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Mens Rea is the legal principle of intent that must be proved in a number of crimes, such as murder. It means literally, "guilty mind". Mens Rea Podcast explores the most notorious crimes from Ireland and the UK and the court cases that followed. Join your host, Sinead, every fortnight when a new case is discussed.Mens Rea True Crime Social Sciences True Crime
Episodes
  • Listen Now: Lines of Enquiry

    Listen Now: Lines of Enquiry
    Nov 5 2025

    For fans of true crime like the loyal and dedicated listeners of Mens Rea, we want to recommend a new Irish series that I think you’ll really appreciate.

    It’s called Lines of Enquiry, a brand new GoLoud Original hosted by former Garda forensic detective John Sweetman.

    Across eight episodes, John draws on his decades of experience inside the Garda Technical Bureau to explore some of Ireland’s most fascinating investigations from murders to mysterious disappearances.

    He brings a rare perspective to the genre, showing how forensic science and detailed investigative work uncover the truth.

    Lines of Enquiry is available now on the GoLoud app and wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday.

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/3EzGXohKAgAo9iu9ADiHgU?si=oTnSuNyoRsePnLBeK9iSag
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    3 mins
  • Bonus - Tom & Kitty Fitzgerald

    Bonus - Tom & Kitty Fitzgerald
    Aug 4 2025
    This episode was originally published asa Patreon exclusive on 12 Jan 2020.In 2016, shocking news broke that an elderly couple were found dead in their own home in rural Co Mayo, and a younger man was found there too - badly injured. Over the following days, while family friends and the community in Irishtown grappled with the tragic news, it became clear that something very sinister had occurred in the small farmhouse. And for reasons - that to this day - have yet to come to light.Music:Kevin McLeod, Quinns Song : The Dance Begins. (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Sources:Ryan Nugent, “Village in shock over tragedy involving 'saint like' pair who were the perfect match” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/village-in-shock-over-tragedy-involving-saintlike-pair-who-were-the-perfect-match-35184599.html (3 November 2016) Ryan Nugent, “Death in rural Mayo: murder and suicide suspected in deaths of elderly couple” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/deaths-in-rural-mayo-murder-and-suicide-suspected-in-deaths-of-elderly-couple-35184593.html (3 November 2016) Ryan Nugent, “Neighbours in quiet rural area left stunned by couple's death” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/neighbours-in-quiet-rural-area-left-stunned-by-couples-deaths-35190063.html (5 November 2016) Meave Sheehan, “Mayo father suspected of killing wife, attacking son – then taking own life” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mayo-father-suspected-of-killing-wife-attacking-son-then-taking-own-life-35191796.html (6 November 2016) Robin Schiller, “Tragic Mayo couple will be buried together” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/tragic-mayo-couple-will-be-buried-together-35193648.html (7 November 2016) Greg Harkin, “'A silence has fallen across this parish' – Priest tells of 'shattered community' at double funeral of Tom and Kitty Fitzgerald” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/a-silence-has-fallen-across-this-parish-priest-tells-of-shattered-community-at-double-funeral-of-tom-and-kitty-fitzgerald-35194737.html (7 November 2016) Greg Harkin, “Community mourns as couple who died in murder-suicide laid to rest together” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/community-mourns-as-couple-who-died-in-murdersuicide-laid-to-rest-together-35196930.html (8 November 2016) Tom Shiel, “Man killed wife then took his own life, inquest told” in The Irish Times (21 November 2017) p. 4. Tom Shiel, “Couple's deaths left community 'like orphans looking for a hand to hold' priest tells funeral” in The Irish Times (8 November 2016) p. 8. Tom Shiel, “Bodies of two pensioners found in Mayo” in The Irish Times (2 November 2016) p. 4. Tom Shiel, “Mayo couple's deaths a murder-suicide” in The Irish Times (3 November 2016) p. 1. Anton McNulty, “Horrific Evidence heard at murder/suicide inquest” in The Mayo News http://www.mayonews.ie/news/31158-horrific-evidence-heard-at-murder-suicide-inquest (21 November 2017) Darragh McDonagh, “Verdict of murder-suicide recorded at inquest into deaths of Tom and Kitty Fitzgerald (72)” in TheJournal.ie https://www.thejournal.ie/murder-suicide-mayo-fitzgerald-3707726-Nov2017/ (20 November 2017) Caroline Crawford, “Son has no memory of what happened the day his parents died in murder-suicide, inquest hears” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/son-has-no-memory-of-what-happened-the-day-his-parents-died-in-murdersuicide-inquest-hears-36336486.html (20 November 2017) Emma Lake, “OAP found battered to death next to husband who was dead in water trough surrounded by poison next to badly injured man” in The Sun https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2098419/oap-found-battered-to-death-next-to-husband-who-was-dead-in-water-trough-surrounded-by-poison-next-to-badly-injured-man/ (2 November 2016) Ryan Nugent, “Answers to grisly deaths of couple lie within the home” in The Evening Herald https://www.herald.ie/news/answers-to-grisly-deaths-of-couple-lie-within-the-home-35184129.html (3 November 2016) James Ward and Tom Shiel, “Heartfelt tributes paid to elderly couple found 'beaten to death' in Mayo home” in The Irish Mirror https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/heartfelt-tributes-paid-elderly-couple-9176939 (1 November 2016) Trevor Quinn, “'God's own way is not our way': brother of Tom Fitzgerald pays tribute to slain Mayo man” in The Irish Mirror https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/gods-way-not-way-brother-9180453 (2 November 2016) “Homicide verdicts at inquest into deaths of Mayo couple” in The Connaught Telegraph...
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    24 mins
  • Bonus - Satanic Panic in Palmerstown

    Bonus - Satanic Panic in Palmerstown
    Jul 7 2025

    This episode was originally published as a Patreon exclusive on 2 December 2018

    In this episode we take a look at the little-known so-called "satanic" murder of John Horgan (7) in Palmerstown, Dublin in 1973. John and his family lived in a quiet neighbourhood of 9 houses backing on to a field. It was there that his 16 year old neighbour, Lorcan Bale, took him and struck him in the back of the head, killing him. Lorcan then brought John's body to the attic of his house - next door to the Horgan's - and trussed him up in the shape of a cross and in front of a home-made altar.

    No real explanation for the murder would ever emerge.

    PLEASE NOTE - For some reason - possibly autocorrect - I mention the "Skylark Hotel" in Dublin. No such hotel exists. What I meant to say was the Skylon Hotel. I was half right? Sorry guys! My bad.

    Theme Song:

    Quinn's Song: First Dance by Kevin McLeod

    Sources:

    “The Devil is in the Detail”, in Broadsheet.ie https://www.broadsheet.ie/2016/page/382/ 22 June 2016

    “Public servant and pillar of the church. guilty of the nation’s most gruesome ever ritual murder” from The Mail on Sunday https://dialogueireland.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/public-servant-and-pillar-of-the-church-guilty-of-the-nations-most-gruesome-ever-ritual-murder/ 14 August 2011

    David Malone, The Boy in the Attic (Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing, 2011) Purchase here

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    27 mins
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sinead has an amazing voice for telling these stories. I recommend giving this podcast a go.

one of the best podcasts I've listened to

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I've been binging this series for the past month or so, started from the very first episode and almost up to date with it now. It has a great range of true crime stories. The majority of them British/Irish, and most of them I've never heard of before which is why I particularly enjoy this series.

Having binged them in a short space of time, it's great to hear the progression and growth of the host's narration. The first episode sounded almost like an automated voice, but she puts a lot more of her personality into her delivery as the series progresses. You can almost hear her confidence grow. Great job.

Great range of 'one voice' true crime stories

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I love listening to true crime podcasts and have something of a professional interest too. I arrived here through one or two recommendations about crime stories in Ireland after listening to West Cork and many others.
The material is interesting and well researched, but I find the delivery rather monotone and too intense - like someone reading quickly through case notes. A few longer pauses to allow information to sink in would be welcome, perhaps a slower, more respectful pace. These are people who have died in tragic circumstances - rattling through their stories seems uncomfortable.

Great content but lacking in delivery

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