103 - A killing at Christmas: The murder of Maire Rankin

On Christmas morning, 2008, 81 year old widow Maire Rankin was not answering the phone. Family members called around to her Newry home to check on her - not only had she been recently ill but it was totally out of character for her to not respond. 

When they arrived at the house on the Dublin Road, Maire was found dead on her bedroom floor. The house was a mess, and it appeared that Mrs Rankin had been subjected to a violent assault of a sexual nature.

No one expected it when Maire's 42 year old neighbour was arrested. Not only was Karen Walsh a woman, she was a wealthy pharmacist who stayed in her second home in Newry on the weekends.

What on earth had happened, and was the mother of one really responsible for the death of the elderly woman? 

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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:

R v Walsh [2015] NICA 46

R v Walsh [2011] NICC 30 (No 2)

R v Walsh [2011] NICC 1

Gerry Moriarty, “Death in Newry treated as suspicious” in The Irish Times (27 December 2008) p 4

“Two questioned over death of Newry woman” in The Irish Times (29 December 2008) p. 4.

“PSNI questioning of pair extended” in The Irish Times (31 December 2008) p. 4.

“Financier's wife accused of Newry murder” in The Belfast Telegraph https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/financiers-wife-accused-of-newry-murder-28460142.html (5 January 2009)

Victoria O'Hara, “Woman, 42, is charged with Maire murder” in The Belfast Telegraph https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/woman-42-is-charged-with-maire-murder-28459665.html  (1 January 2009)

“Hundreds attend funeral of murdered pensioner” in The Belfast Telegraph https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/hundreds-attend-funeral-of-murdered-pensioner-28460427.html  (8 January 2009)

“Murdered pensioner 'victim of sex attack'” in The Belfast Telegraph https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/murdered-pensioner-victim-of-sex-attack-28463968.html  (27 January 2009)

“Bail granted to pharmacist on murder charge” in The Irish Times (13 February 2009) p. 4.

“Sex attack on pensioner 'a possible attempt to fool police'” in The Belfast Telegraph https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/sex-attack-on-pensioner-a-possible-attempt-to-fool-police-28466439.html  (13 February 2009)

“Killing suspect 'face switch' fear” in The Belfast Telegraph https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/killing-suspect-face-switch-fear-28483203.html (17 June 2009)

“Murder accused had plans to buy bogus passport, court told” in The Belfast Telegraph https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/murder-accused-had-plans-to-buy-bogus-passport-court-told-28483390.html (18 June 2009)

“File on pensioner's murder has been prepared, court told” in The Belfast Telegraph https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/file-on-pensioners-murder-has-been-prepared-court-told-28489741.html (6 August 2009)

“Crucifix used in murder of Newry pensioner Maire Rankin, court hears” in The Belfast Telegraph   https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/crucifix-used-in-murder-of-newry-pensioner-maire-rankin-court-hears-28515405.html (2 February 2010)

'Pharmacist faces trial for murder of Newry granny” in The Belfast Telegraph https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/pharmacist-faces-trial-for-murder-of-newry-granny-28535405.html (13 May 2010)

“Pharmacist faces trial for OAP's murder” in The Belfast Telegraph https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/pharmacist-faces-trial-for-oaps-murder-28657540.html (14 September 2011)

for a full list of sources please see mensreapod.com