In the middle of the night on the 13th May, 2000, a flat in Ballymun was set alight. Inside, the body of Derek Benson was found. But his cause of death had nothing to do with the inferno in his bedroom. He had been brutally killed with a blade.

The garda investigation into his murder would not only identify his killers, but a litany of abuse and violence that would continue long after the trial had concluded.

This episode was researched and written by Aileen Spearin.

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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/

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Sources:

“Revenge”, book by Ken Foxe

Barbara Clinton, “Gardai appeal for public help in murder probe”, Irish Examiner, May 15th 2000

“Ballymun killing a gangland message”, Evening Herald, May 15th 2000

Bernie O’Toole, “Copycat flat death man had horrific injuries”, Irish Independent, May 15th 2000

Caroline O’Doherty, “Plea for help in hunt for savage killer”, Irish Examiner, May 16th 2000

Caroline O’Doherty, “Witness to killing sought by gardai”, Irish Examiner, May 17th 2000

“Drugged, tortured and killed for £300”, Evening Herald, May 19th 2000

Caroline O’Doherty, “Man charged with murder of stabbed father”, Irish Examiner, May 19th 2000

Tom Brady, “Man charged after frenzied knife murder”, Irish Independent, May 19th 2000

“Woman brought in for questioning”, Irish Examiner, May 23rd 2000

Tim Healy, “Woman charged with flat murder”, Evening Herald, May 23rd 2000

Liz Walsh, “Hired sword death horror”, Jan 13th 2004

For a full list of sources, please see mensreapod.com

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137 - A Legacy of Violence: Derek Benson