Documentary On One - Rté Documentaries

With Samantha out of prison in 2018, she was now turning 30 years old. She began working as an au pair again and was about to commit her most serious crimes to date. With access to children, she began manipulating them into presenting themselves as victims before she was eventually charged with child stealing... (Ep 6/7) Credits: Finding Samantha is written, recorded and produced by Sharon Davis in Australia and Tim Desmond and Nicoline Greer in Ireland. Soundtrack composed by Paddy Flynn. Sound Engineer is Damian Chennells. Executive Producer is Liam O’Brien.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sharon receives a strange phone call from a mystery woman with something to give her. Samantha receives her first full jail sentence as we hear from the Appeal Court Judge who decided on her case. And we receive an insight into how Samantha uses other people as she appears tries to play with us. (Ep 5/7) Credits: Finding Samantha is written, recorded and produced by Sharon Davis in Australia and Tim Desmond and Nicoline Greer in Ireland. Soundtrack composed by Paddy Flynn. Sound Engineer is Damian Chennells. Executive Producer is Liam O’Brien.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Samantha Azzopardi continuing to face police and judges, she fails to heed their warnings to change her behaviour. Instead, she continues to target people in Australia, then returns to Ireland before moving to another continent. And all the time, she’s creating new characters, new aliases and leaving new victims in her wake. Where is this all going to end up? (Ep4/7). Credits: Finding Samantha is written, recorded and produced by Sharon Davis in Australia and Tim Desmond and Nicoline Greer in Ireland. Soundtrack composed by Paddy Flynn. Sound Engineer is Damian Chennells. Executive Producer is Liam O’Brien. If you have any information or tips on this story, email us documentaries@rte.ie For further information on the series visit www.rte.ie/findingsamanthaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 15 yr old Russian gymnast turns up hoping to be adopted by a new family. A Police Prosecutor in Perth is not quite sure what kind of an individual he's dealing with. One Samantha Azzopardi actually reaches out to us - and we get to meet another. This journey is getting deeper and wilder than we could have ever imagined... (Ep3/7)Credits: Finding Samantha is written, recorded and produced by Sharon Davis in Australia and Tim Desmond and Nicoline Greer in Ireland. Soundtrack composed by Paddy Flynn. Sound Engineer is Damian Chennells. Executive Producer is Liam O’Brien. If you have any information or tips on this story, email us documentaries@rte.ie For further information on the series visit www.rte.ie/findingsamantha See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we follow the trail of the Girl at the GPO – who we now know is Australian woman Samantha Azzopardi - we dive into a surreal world where fact and fiction are often blurred. Samantha has connections to Ireland and a seemingly long and troubled back history in Australia. To begin to understand where this all started, we travel to Australia, to the suburbs of Sydney, where journalist Sharon Davis comes on board. Samantha’s trail leads us into the Blue Mountains in New South Wales and to a small Christian community. (Ep 2/7) Credits: Finding Samantha is written, recorded and produced by Sharon Davis in Australia and Tim Desmond and Nicoline Greer in Ireland. Soundtrack composed by Paddy Flynn . Sound Engineer is Damian Chennells. Executive Producer is Liam O’Brien.If you have any information or tips on this story, email us documentaries@rte.ie For further information on the series visit www.rte.ie/findingsamantha  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new 7-part podcast series from RTÉ Documentary On One. To listen to the series in full, subscribe to 'Finding Samantha' from wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes released weekly, on Tuesdays.EP1: 2013 - A distressed teenage girl is found wandering in front of the General Post Office (GPO) in Dublin city centre. As suspicions rise that she’s the victim of serious crime, everyone scrambles to help her and to get to the bottom of her story. But a massive month long investigation by the Irish authorities reveal nothing about her. In desperation, the Gardaí (Police) release a photograph of the girl to the public with spectacular results. And the story of who the GPO Girl is takes us far beyond the streets of Dublin. (Ep 1/7) Credits: Finding Samantha is written, recorded and produced by Sharon Davis in Australia and Tim Desmond and Nicoline Greer in Ireland. Soundtrack composed by Paddy Flynn. Sound Engineer is Damian Chennells. Executive Producer is Liam O’Brien.If you have any info

A woman who has created more than 100 fake identities. A young girl found wandering the streets of Dublin. A teenager deported from Canada. Stories of sustained sexual abuse at the hands of many. Kidnapping charges, prison time, lies, fraud and deceit. Could all of these stories go back to just one person? A new 7-part podcast series from RTÉ Documentary On One unravelling the wild world of Samantha Azzopardi... Episode 1 available from April 25th 2023 from wherever you get your podcasts (Search for Finding Samantha)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the ages of 12 to 17, two brothers, Mark and David Ryan, were both repeatedly sexually abused in Blackrock College in South County Dublin. Their abusers were from the Spiritan community at the school. Several court cases ensued as David and Mark fought for justice. Now grown men, David and Mark are ready to publicly tell their story for the first time. (2022) If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast, please visit www.rte.ie/support for helpline contact details. The Spiritans have asked that, should you wish to raise a concern to contact liam.lally@spiritanplt.ie head of their Safeguarding Office. Credits: Narrated and produced by Liam O’Brien. Executive producers were Seán Mac Giolla Phádraig and David Nally. Legal advice from Deirdre Ann Kelly and Eleanor Bleahene with further production assistance from the wider RTÉ Documentary On One team. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mary Folan, long emigrated to America, made a dying wish to be buried back home on her native island of Inis Meáin. But after Mary’s death, the unthinkable happened when an attempt was made to transfer her coffin from Shannon airport to the Aran island in a cargo sling attached underneath a helicopter. And that was only the start of things to come… (2022) Narrated and produced by Sarah Blake and Treasa Bhreathnach. Mix engineering by Peadar Carney. Readings by Karl Quinn and Roger Gregg. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A devastating fire at a halting site in South County Dublin on October 10th 2015 led to multiple members of three families losing their lives. We delve into the events of that night and travel to Bray, Co. Wicklow and to Carrickmines where, for the first time, all the families involved and some of those who tried to help speak about what happened. (2022) Narrated by Lisa-Marie Berry. Produced Lisa-Marie and Ronan Kelly. If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast, please visit www.rte.ie/support for helpline contact details. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In September 1985, a riot erupted on Spike Island Prison in Cork Harbour. The island fort had been turned into a prison for 'joyriders', but within months, they rebelled against the regime and set the prison on fire. During that chaotic night there were reports that prisoners who had escaped found they couldn’t get off the island and had to break back into the prison they had just escaped from. The Army was sent for and then sent away again. Civilian islanders were taken hostage by prisoners but then protected by them. So what really went on - and why? (2022) Narrated by Peter Mulryan. Produced by Peter Mulryan and Ronan Kelly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reg Byrne grew up in Monkstown Farm, Dublin in the 1970s and was born with spina bifida, affecting his legs. Which makes what Reg Byrne is doing now all the more remarkable. His early family life was difficult. By the age of 8, he was sniffing glue and by 9, he was in a drug rehabilitation programme. He left school early – but then encountered a local man who changed his path in life. Today, Reg is a first class boxing coach in demand. He travels the world, but never forgets his roots. Reg runs a boxing club including a class which specialises for children with autism and disability - a place where Reg aims to give back some of what he has learned in life. (2022) Narrator: Megan Byrne. Producer: Donal O’Herlihy. Mix engineer: Peadar Kearney.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the 11th of January 2021 the body of a homeless man was found on the grounds of University College Dublin’s Belfield campus. His passing was widely mourned because Michael Byrne, or ‘Old Man Belfield’ as he was known, had a huge impact on the lives of tens of thousands of people. He left behind him some abiding questions like, who was he? And where did he come from? Intriguingly, nobody seems to know… (2022) Narrated and produced by Donal O’Herlihy with sound supervision by Peadar Kearney.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In July 2021, a 27-year old woman, Noor Mukadam, was violently murdered. Noor grew up in South County Dublin as her father established the Pakistani Embassy in Ireland. Noor loved Ireland and could never have imagined that her murder would make global headlines, not only in Ireland but also in her native Pakistan where it became a huge news story. And the reason it became a huge news story is because those who loved Noor began a fight for justice. Noor was part of elite Pakistani society. And she was killed because she turned down a marriage proposal from a son of one of the wealthiest families in Pakistan. (2022) Narrated and Produced by Nicoleen Greer. Reporting by Hannah McCarthy and Hamza Azhar Salam. Additional recordings by Tim Desmond and Saxon Baird. Sound by Peadar Carney.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Susan and Ray were sweethearts in the early 1950’s. They broke up and Susan made a life for herself in Dublin; having five children, a divorce in 1960’s Ireland and a career as a tour guide. Ray meanwhile married and had a family in the US. Then, almost 40 years later, a bequest from Ray’s brother brought Susan and Ray back together. Falling in love again, they married and are now determined to live out their lives at home in Dublin. (2022) Produced by Mary Elaine Tynan and Tim Desmond.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The discovery of six bodies in a house at Malahide in County Dublin in 1926 led to a sensational trial and the execution of one man for the crime of murder. It remains the largest mass murder in the Irish state outside of political violence. In this true crime story the question remains; why did Henry McCabe commit Murder At La Mancha? (2022) Readings by Patrick Dunne. Narrated and produced by Tim Desmond. Contributors include Mary Francis (Grandchild of Henry McCabe), Jaqueline Gates-Baston (Forensic psychologist), Tom Hannigan (Forensic Science Ireland), Patrick Gageby (Barrister), Paul Connolly (Historian), Tim Carey (Historian) and Brian Scanlon (Ballygar).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three women describe the effects of the 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan on their work, and on their lives. An Afghan judge who fled to Ireland, an Irish aid worker who stayed in Afghanistan, and another who returned home to Ireland. Featuring on-the-ground reporting and interviews from Kabul by journalist Hannah McCarthy who travelled to Afghanistan during the making of this documentary/podcast. (2022) Narrated by Hannah McCarthy. Produced by Hannah McCarthy and the RTÉ Documentary On One team.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nancy Murphy owned a dancehall in Claremorris, Co. Mayo. But its business started to fail, so Nancy pursued a “unique marketing strategy”.  “Dancing Nancy” – the woman who bombed a ballroom. NB: Since this documentary was first broadcast in August 2022, some new information on Nancy has come to light, which is now included at the end of this documentary. Narrated by Sean O'Rourke. Produced by John Corless and Ronan Kelly. (2022)   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story of a shocking and harrowing incident of cannibalism in 1835 aboard Limerick ship, the Francis Spaight, which floundered in the freezing North Atlantic on a return journey to Ireland from Canada. After a number of weeks at sea, starving and without food or water, the captain had a decision to make - whether one or all of the crew would die. He made his choice and lots were drawn as to who would be sacrificed to save their own crewmates. Contains details listeners may find distressing. (2022) Narrated by Andrew Bennett. Produced by Marc McMenamin and Sarah Blake with sound supervision by Peadar Carney. Re-enactments by Diarmuid de Faoite (Captain Gorman), Ian McGlynn (Newspaper Reporter), Wally MacKinnon (John Palmer) and Tim Desmond (Crewman). Contributors include Dr. Matthew Potter (Limerick Museum), Arlene White (Killaloe Ballina Local History Society), Dr Richard Mc Mahon (Mary Immaculate College, Limerick), Prof Rainer Baehre (Cornerbrook University, Newfoundland) and Sharon Slater (Historia

The so-called Zodiac Killer terrorised the San Francisco community in the 1960s. Fifty years later, a man from county Louth is joining hundreds of online sleuths to try to crack the notorious unsolved case. Can he crack the alibi of one of the main suspects? When his alibi is hanging out with anarchists in Derry, maybe he can. (2022). Narrated and produced by Nicoline Greer with sound supervision by Ciarán CullenSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.