Episode 92: John 'Rocky' Whelan

Welcome to episode 92, in which Ben and Claire are again joined by special guest Matt Turfrey for a journey back to ye olde Van Diemen's Land!Claire tells the story of John 'Rocky' Whelan, an Irish-born convict whose rampage in the mid-1850s earned him many names, including the Huon Terror.Hear about the torturous punishments he endured over nearly 20 years for the dozens of offences he racked up after being transferred from NSW to Norfolk Island that no doubt contributed to him later becoming a 'monster in human form'.After finally making it to Tasmania Whelan seemed to be getting his life on track for a time but he soon returned to a life of crime and it wasn't until he was facing the ultimate punishment that he finally confessed to a string of brutal murders...If you would like to reach out please email us at [email protected].