71 - A Walk in the Dark: The murder of Rachel Moran

In the early hours of New Years Day 2003, Rachel Moran decided leave her parents house and make the 20 minute walk to her own flat. Her worried mother tried to stop her, but Rachel said she would be fine: she'd ring as soon as she got in. But the phone call never came.  And Rachel was never seen alive again. *********** Thanks to our sponsors for today’s episode: Try the casual mobile puzzle game Best Fiends today! Find it on the Apple App store and Google Play!  *********** 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: Wanda Moran, The Murder of Rachel  (London: John Blake, 2011) Purchase here “Man charged with Rachel Moran murder” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/man-charged-with-rachel-moran-murder-1.459096 (30 January 2003)    “Man remanded over Rachel Moran murder” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/man-remanded-over-rachel-moran-murder-1.459236 (31 January 2003) "'Evil' man gets life for murder of student” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/evil-man-gets-life-for-murder-of-student-25928781.html (31 October 2003)    “'Evil' man jailed for killing student, 21” in The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/evil-man-jailed-for-killing-student-21-93942.html (31 October 2003)    “Parents of murder victim face more grief” in The Yorkshire Post  https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/parents-murder-victim-face-more-grief-1964918 (15 August 2010)    "Killer jailed for New Year murder” in The Journal http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/killer-jailed-new-year-murder-4667447 (31 October 2003)    Martin Wainwright, “Body in cupboard killer jailed for life” in The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/oct/31/ukcrime.martinwainwright (31 October 2003)    Adam Price, “Hopes fading for missing Irish girl” in The Evening Herald (13 January 2003) p. 18    Bernard Purcell, “Irish cousins of woman missing in UK” in The Irish Independent (14 January 2003) p. 4.    “We've never partied so hard” in The Bray People (16 January 2003) p. 1 Michael Johns, “Huge search for Dublin girl” in The Evening Herald  (16 January 2003) p. 20    Michael Lavery, “Lonely birthday for missing Rachel” in The Evening Herald (17 January 2003) p. 23.    Michael Lavery, “More Rachel items found” in The Evening Herald (21 January 2003) p 20.  “Fears grow for Rachel” in The Bray People (23 January 2003) p. 8.    “Two quizzed as police in Rachel hunt find body” in The Irish Independent (29 January 2003) p. 8.    Laura Elston, “Rachel search: Police question two men after body discovered” in The Evening Herald (29 January 2003) p. 8.    Liz Kearney, “Hull police find Rachel's body” in The Bray People (30 January 2003) p. 3.  “No bail for Rachel murder accused” in The Irish Independent (1 February 2003) p. 8  “Hundreds mourn at funeral of murdered Irish dancer” in The Irish Independent (1 March 2003) p 14. “Murder accused confessed to the police, court told” in The Bray People (16 October 2003) p. 3.  Conor Feehan, “Dublin dancer's stab death” in The Evening Herald (17 October 2003) p. 23.    “Irish student murder jury still out” in The Evening Herald (29 October 2003) p. 18.    Alistair Keely, “Man is found guilty of Irish girl's murder” in The Evening Herald (30 October 2003) p. 25.   ­ “'Evil' man gets life for murder of student” in The Irish Independent (31 October 2003) p. 10.  Paul Johnson, “Rachel Moran's killer Michael Little told police 'I Must be Evil' but pleaded not guilty to murder” in The Dull Daily Mail https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/rachel-morans-killer-michael-little-87978 (1 January 2013)    Rick Lyon, “Murdered Rachel Moran's Hull parent tell of heartache 10 years after Michael Little murdered her” in The Hull Daily Mail https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/rachel-moran-hull-murder-little-88032 (1 January 2013)