The late Mary DuffyONE of the most horrific murders of the last century, which involved the brutal rape and killing of waitress Mary Duffy (23) from Deerpark, Belcarra, in September 1976, is the subject of the final two episodes of Crimes That Shook Ireland on TV3.

The first episode was broadcast last night (Monday) while part two will be aired on Monday, June 25, at 9 p.m.

Serial killers and sex predators Geoffrey Evens and John Shaw were found guilty of her murder and were both sentenced to life in prison – making them two of the country’s longest-serving prisoners. Evans died recently in a Dublin hospital.

Mary Duffy was the second murder victim of the sadistic duo, who were wanted at the time for a number of sexual assaults in Great Britain. They had also raped and murdered Elizabeth Plunkett, a 23-year-old currency clerk from Ringsend in Dublin, and dumped her body in the sea.
On the night of Mary Duffy’s abduction she had just finished her shift at the Wimpy (now the Irish House) in Castlebar and was walking outside the town, awaiting her brother who was due to pick her up.

 

Evidence of her ensuing ordeal indicated a brutal assault and repeated rape, before her body was dumped in Lough Inagh, weighed down by a sledgehammer, an anchor and concrete block.

She had been missing for 18 days during which the vigilance by local gardaí led to an early arrest after the pair’sr re-painted car was spotted in the Salthill area of Galway. A confession was quickly elicited from Shaw, a Catholic, by Detective Inspector Gerry O’Carroll, who suggested he kneel down and say a prayer for the dead women. Mr. Shaw broke down crying and confessed.

Officers involved in the investigation and witnesses who heard Mary’s screams near Lakeshore Drive were interviewed for Crimes That Shook Ireland. They included Padraig Lyons and Cyril Killeen, who gave evidence at the trials.

Connaught Telegraph editor, Tom Gillespie, who covered the story at the time also recalls his memories of the search and the impact the killing had on the local community.

The first episode can be seen on the TV3 player.