In August 1976, John Shaw and Geoffrey Evans, Ireland's first serial killers, rowed out to sea to dispose of the body of 23-year-old Elizabeth Plunkett.
They hoped she would disappear - but she never did.
Because no matter what unspeakable things those two men did to Elizabeth in Brittas Bay nearly 50 years ago, the Plunkett family never let go of their sister.
So, when they discovered through a recent parole application made by Shaw that nothing about their sister's murder case was as it seemed, they had to take action.
Enter: Stolen Sister, a seven-part podcast series from RTÉ Documentary On One that wants to get Elizabeth, the justice she deserves.
Because despite ample evidence, confessions from both men and countless media reports to the contrary, no one was ever convicted of Elizabeth’s murder.
If this news is a shock, then you have not been following the podcast and need to do a recap listen asap.
So far, a number of new witnesses have come forward with information for the podcast team and the Plunkett family. If you have any information on John Shaw and Geoffrey Evans, the Plunkett family has asked that you contact the podcast makers through documentaries@rte.ie.
I will warn readers/listeners in advance that the podcast team managed to access the post-mortem report on Elizabeth’s remains, which is discussed this week in episode five.
To say it is harrowing is an understatement, so read on (and listen) with care.
Post mortem
The post-mortem examination of Elizabeth’s remains was carried out by the State pathologist John Harbison; the documentary team managed to access this report.
According to his findings, the degree of decomposition and erosion of her body suggested she had been in the sea for about a month before she was found.
Because of the degree of tissue composition, the pathologist could not give a cause of death. But was able to indicate that she did not die by drowning, because there was no water in Elizabeth’s lungs, indicating she was killed before her body was left in the water.
During the last 12 months of covering this story, the podcast team shared many of the documents and statements they have gathered with the Plunkett family, including the post-mortem report, which Elizabeth’s sisters Bernie and Kathleen had never seen before.
The sisters said they had the report for three weeks before having the strength to look at it.
It is difficult even to imagine what it must be like to read that your beloved sister was tied to a lawnmower and dumped in the sea in the hopes that no one would ever find her again.
That’s all I’ll say about the report for now - to hear more, press play above.
Elizabeth’s Uncle Willie had to identify her body once the post-mortem was completed, and her remains were released to her family in October 1976.
They had to drive to Wexford and bring her home to bury her, an event that brought not only her family but the country to its knees.
A warning to all readers and listeners, while this series has been especially tragic to date, this episode is particularly heartbreaking, so prepare yourself.
Eddie Plunkett told the podcast Elizabeth’s funeral was the first time he saw his father cry, and while at the time they did not realise it, their family unit would never be the same again.
Then we drove back to Ringsend Church and when we got there we could not get out of the car, the whole street was absolutely packed with people in shock that this had happened in our country, to a local girl in an ordinary simple family everybody trying to support us
- Bernie Plunkett
Lough Inagh
The podcast drastically shifts gears from the horrors of Elizabeth’s post-mortem report and burial right into gardaí desperately searching for Mary Duffy’s body in Lough Inagh.
Shaw and Evans had told the authorities where Mary’s remains were left, but a specialised diving squad had to be brought in from Dublin to try and locate her.
One of the divers who assisted the search, Tommy Mulveen, spoke to the podcast about the experience.
It’s worth noting that Lough Inagh is a deep lake - according to Tommy, you could be down 60 or 70 feet, and you would not be able to see your hand in front of you.
So, to say this search was challenging would be an understatement - to hear more, you really need to press play on the full episode.
I rang up Sergeant Kelly in Clifton and I offered my services. I did commercial diving. I thought it was a terrible thing what happened to Mary Duffy and I said I would help in every way I could. So I went down to Lough Inagh
- Tommy Mulveen, diver
Life without Elizabeth
The loss of a sibling irrevocably alters a family, as the Plunkett siblings detail in this week's episode.
Elizabeth’s mother had to take medication to sleep because she would hear her calling her at night when she went to bed.
As for the surviving Plunkett siblings, well, they had to grow up overnight.
Elizabeth’s brother Eddie describes the guilt he felt for being unable to protect his sister, irrational as it may sound considering the circumstances, as the eldest boy, he said he felt an obligation to protect his family.
As for Elizabeth’s best friend Mella Nesbitt. She started to have nightmares and became terrified to leave her home, afraid someone would attack her or Elizabeth’s killers would get out of jail.
It's very hard to look at your parents so sad and not feel angry that somebody could do that to them
- Kathleen Nolan
The trials
When Bernie and Kathleen approached RTÉ Documentary On One about the podcast, the family were struggling to get any information out of the relevant State agencies.
Thankfully, the team could help.
They managed to source trial transcripts, statements and other information about Elizabeth and Mary’s cases, as well as interview any sources that are still alive.
Shaw and Evans were both charged with the unlawful detention, rape and murder of both women. The trial marked the first time Mary’s sister Ann was in Dublin - she was 14.
She was one of almost 200 witnesses called before the trials of Shaw and Evans; while in legal terms, the pair were considered a 'joint criminal enterprise’, they argued to be tried separately.
Shaw went on trial first in the summer of 1977 for the murder of Mary. But when the jury was sent away to reach a verdict, they couldn’t agree.
So, despite everything they heard and you’ve read, Shaw was granted a retrial.
But this allowed his defence to raise the issue of how long he was initially held for questioning and also the fact there had been no warrant to search his caravan in Barna…if this makes no sense, please listen to episode four.
To find out exactly what happened at this retrial, you need to hit play - now.
Evans was next up - but he was tried for all charges relating to Mary and Elizabeth.
This trial took place in November 1978, two years after the murderers.
He, believe it or not, pleaded not guilty on all charges, so both families had to listen to all the details of what happened to their daughters and sisters in a public courtroom.
Kathleen recalled her father hiding newspapers from his children to protect them.
I remember myself and another witness went down to the bathroom, it was very, very dreary. And as we were coming up the steps, the police brought down the, them two down the stairs. It was frightening. And we had to look at them as we were passing. They were vicious looking
- Ann, Mary Duffy’s sister
The verdict
Unsurprisingly, everyone felt that Evans would be found guilty on all charges, that was until the judge made a surprising direction to the jury right before they entered deliberations…
A murder charge acquittal was ordered, meaning Evans was found not guilty of the murder of Elizabeth.
So far, the podcast has not been able to ascertain why the judge did this - but remember, this podcast is a live investigation…
On all other charges, Evans was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for Mary’s murder, with additional sentences for his repeated rapes of both women as well as their false imprisonment.
In the years that followed their sentencing, both men made a number of legal appeals, all of which were turned down.
However, what the podcast will reveal to you next happened nearly 47 years after these court cases, and it would turn the lives of the Plunkett family upside down.
In fact, what we’re about to tell you (if and when you hit play) will explain why there is a podcast in the first place and what needs to happen to finally give Elizabeth the justice she deserves.
Elizabeth’s father died in 1983 and her mother in 1985 - the Plunkett children believe that Shaw and Evans not only killed their sister, but their parents as well.
"We've nothing to do with legal situations. We've never had a family solicitor. We've never had any dealings with the courts.Do you know what I mean? We haven't got a bloody parking ticket between us - Bernie Plunkett
Catch up with all episodes of Stolen Sister here
