55 - Murder by Arson: The McCann Family

In the summer of 1992, the McCann Family endured a series of gas leaks in their home, and a spate of threatening phone calls. These nuisances escalated quickly though, and culminated in a raging fire in their Rathfarnham home. Esther McCann and her foster daughter, Jessica, died in the blaze. Investigators ruled that this was a case of arson, and gardai quickly discovered that Frank McCann - the grieving father and husband - had some dark secrets.  ********** The featured podcast this week is a new one. Don't forget to check out Apple for the Teacher podcast. Find us on Facebook or Twitter! With thanks to our supporters on Patreon! Donate today to get access to bonus and ad-free episodes! ********** 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: “Sex abuse that beggars belief” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/sex-abuse-that-beggars-belief-26200037.html (30 January 1998)  Ray Managh, “Family claim against killer of daughter and her child” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/family-claim-against-killer-of-daughter-and-her-child-26180722.html (17 July 1998)  Ray Managh, “McCann to renew appeal on wife killing” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mccann-to-renew-appeal-on-wife-killing-26176066.html (1 August 1998)  Ray Managh, “Blaze victim's mother wins £90,000 payout” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/blaze-victims-mother-wins-90000-payout-26171143.html (9 October 1998)  Bernie O'Toole, “Wife murderer 'quite capable of killing again” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/wife-murderer-quite-capable-of-killing-again-26171294.html (10 October 1998)  Nicola Tallant, “No remorse from killer who burned wife, baby to death” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/no-remorse-from-killer-who-burned-wife-baby-to-death-26418038.html (29 October 2006)  Catherine Murphy, “We won't be safe is my sister's killer is released” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/we-wont-be-safe-if-my-sisters-killer-is-released-26893675.html (2 September 2012)  Conor Feehan, “Pictured: Double murderer serving life for killing wife and daughter gets taste of freedom with new prison job” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/pictured-double-murderer-serving-life-for-killing-wife-and-daughter-gets-a-taste-of-freedom-with-new-prison-job-35948540.html (19 July 2017)  Conor Feehan, “'He Should never be free' – family's horror as killer prepares for release” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/he-should-never-be-free-familys-horror-as-killer-prepares-for-release-38165850.html (31 May 2019)  Paul O'Neill and Frank McNally, “The 'distraught husband' who was unmasked as a cold killer” in The Irish Times (16 August 1996) p 6.  “McCann sits impassively as verdict is read to court” in The Irish Times (16 August 1996) p 6.  Frank McNally and Paul O'Neill, “Charismatic figure with reputation for clean living” in The Irish Times (16 August 1996) p 6.  Frank McNally and Paul O'Neill, “A loving woman unaware of sinister developments” in The Irish Times (16 August 1996) p 6.  “Garda shown mass card addressed to publican” in The Irish Times (13 January 1994) p 5.  “Jury in trial of publican charged with murder may retire today” in The Irish Times (13 August 1996) p 3.  Frank McNally, “Frank McCann: Consummate actor' and calculating killer” in The Irish Times (17 August 1996) p 7. https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/frank-mccann-consummate-actor-and-calculating-killer-1.77547 “Jurors told the State has no case against defendant in murder trial” in The Irish Times (14 August 1996) p 5.   “Blowtorch had been turned to 'on' position says detective” in The Irish Times (18 January 1994) p 17.  “Brothers were told of suicide pact, trial hears” in The Irish Times (1 August 1996) p 6. “Murder accused claims gardai threatened him at interview” in The Irish Times (7 August 1996) p 3.  “Judge alerts the jury to unsupported evidence in publican's murder trial” in The Irish Times (15 August 1996) p 7.  "Trial told about death of woman and child” in The Irish Times (20 June 1996) p 4.  “Fire as described to gardai would have injured arsonist, scientist tells trial” in The Irish Times (10 August 1996) p 3.  “Publican says wife was told of adoption problem with baby before fatal fire” in The Irish Times (8 August 1996) p 4.  “Decision today on murder case” in The Irish Times (31 January 1994) p 4.  Frank McNally, “Publican sentenced to life for murder of wife, baby” in The Irish Times (16 August 1996) p 1.  “Man in murder case remanded” in The Irish Times (27 April 1993) p 3 “Gardai to investigate threat to husband” in The Irish Times (9 September 1992) p 3.  Paul O'Neill, “Fatal fire investigated” in The Irish Times (5 September 1992) p 4.  Stephen Rae, Killers; Murders in Ireland (Dublin: Blackwater Press, 1998) p.p. 21-38.