After The Headlines

On the evening of January 10th 2007 the country first became aware of a huge tragedy unfolding off the coast of Dunmore East. A fishing trawler, the Pere Charles, disappeared from radar just a few miles South of Hook Head with 5 men onboard. Other trawlers and rescue services were at the scene within minutes, but the boat had vanished beneath the waves. Despite a massive search, none of its crew were ever seen again. And the storm wasn’t over yet. As the country watched in horror, news of another boat in difficulty began to emerge. On the same night, just 30 miles away, another trawler, the HoneyDew II disappeared without a trace. In all 7 fishermen where lost that night and none of their bodies were ever recovered. 10 years on Charlie Bird meets some of the families and friends of those lost at sea and reveals a fishing community still haunted by the loss.

Valentine’s night 1981, and the Stardust nightclub was in full swing when at around 1.40 am a fire suddenly broke out. Within minutes the building was engulfed in flames and what had started as an evening of fun and romance turned into one of the worst tragedies this country has ever known. 214 people were injured, 128 of them seriously and 48 young people lost their lives. Most of the victims came from just a few areas of north Dublin and the communities of Artane, Kilmore and Coolock were changed forever. Charlie Bird was a young reporter at the time and was sent to the scene that night. What he saw there and in the days and weeks that followed have stayed with him ever since. He now goes back to meet some of the survivors and families of the victims. All these years later many are still grieving and still fighting for justice and answers they feel they never received.

On a dark night in 1996 a man was found dead on the side of the road outside the small village of Raphoe, Co. Donegal. The evidence pointed to a hit and run but some Gardai felt differently. They set about building a case to incriminate a local publican family, the McBreartys and a few of their extended family and friends. Years of harassment and intimidation followed, but the McBreartys fought back. They mounted a legal battle to clear their name which culminated in the Morris Tribunal. After over 300 days of hearing evidence the tribunal exposed a case of corruption and negligence like no other. The McBreartys were exonerated of any wrong doing and received compensation from the State. But what of the human cost? Charlie Bird now returns to Donegal and meets some of those at the heart of this extraordinary case and witnesses the aftermath of a murder that never happened.