122 - Darragh Conroy: The mobile phone murder

On the night of the 11th Nov, 2003, Patricia Conroy frantically searched the small midlands town of Mountmellick for her 14 year old son Darragh. He wasn't answering the new mobile phone he'd just received and he hadn't come home when expected. Ms Conroy had no idea that hours earlier, Darragh had crossed paths with a schoolmate - 16 year old Darren Goodwin - and her son would not be coming home. This episode was researched and written by Aileen Spearin. ******** Find us on Facebook or Twitter! With thanks to our supporters on Patreon! Donate today to get access to bonus and ad-free episodes! Check out the Mens Rea Merch Store! ********* Theme Music: Quinn’s Song: The Dance Begins Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Additional Music: Allemande (Sting) by Wahneta Meixsell. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ********* Sources: Bernie O'Toole and Michael Lavery, “Boy is hammered to death for his phone”, Evening Herald, (November 12th 2003) Melanie Finn, “Horrified locals want to know why”, Irish Independent, (November 13th 2003) John Breslin and Charlie Keegan, “15 year old charged in relation to boy’s death”, Irish Examiner, (November 13th 2003) Neans McSweeney, “I can’t remember a tougher mass to prepare”, Irish Examiner, (November 14th 2003) “A town in mourning”, The Laois Nationalist, (November 21st 2003) Joe Barrett, “Outpouring of grief as Darragh is laid to rest”, Laois Nationalist, (November 21st 2003) Grace Halford, “Poignant farewell to Dar”, Leinster Express, (November 22nd 2003) Siobhan Gaffney, “Teenager ‘beaten to death over his phone’”, Irish Independent, (July 20th 2004) Siobhan Gaffney, “Teen denies hammering friend to death over mobile”, Irish Examiner, (July 20th 2004) ‘Mum repeatedly rang son as he was ‘killed for his phone’”, Irish Independent, (July 21st 2004) Siobhan Gaffney, “Mother kept ringing son on the night he died”, Irish Examiner, (July 21st 2004) Siobhan Gaffney, “Teenager died from ‘force of blows to his head’”, Irish Independent, (July 22nd 2004) Siobhan Gaffney, “Accused ‘said he wanted to kill someone’”, Irish Examiner, (July 22nd 2004) Sorcha Crowley, “Teenage suspect ‘asked grandmother for hammer on night of boy’s killing’, (July 28th 2004) Sorcha Crowley, “Teenager found guilty of beating schoolboy to death with hammer”, (July 29th 2004) “Judge criticises gardai's 'cavalier' treatment of boy”, Irish Times, (July 30th 2004) “I will never be able to tell you I love you”, Irish Examiner, (October 13th 2004) Siobhan Gaffney, “The court report”, Irish Examiner, (October 13th 2004) Jim Caldwell, “I’d love to kill someone, someone that no one cares about”, Irish Examiner, (October 13th 2004) Please see mensreapod.com for a full list of sources