106 - Unintentional: The murder of Ann Walsh

In August of 2005, 23 year old Ann Walsh was found dead in the grounds of the parish church in Kilrush, Co Clare. Gardai made an arrest shortly after the discovery - Raymond Donovan, Ann's former boyfriend.

Donovan admitted to gardai that he had killed Ann, but denied her murder. Would the jury agree?

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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:

“Man charged with assault in Kilrush case” in The Irish Times (26 August 2005) p. 1.

“Tragic smile of church death Ann” in The Evening Herald (26 August 2005) p. 1, 2.

Gordon Deegan, “Man (23) charges with Kilrush assault” in The Irish Times (26 August 2005) p. 3.

Mick McCaffrey, “Family braced to bid farewell to tragic Anne” in The Evening Herald (27 August 2005) p. 4.

Gordon Deegan, “Man appears in court over death of Kilrush woman” in The Irish Times (27 August 2005) p. 4

Gordon Deegan, “Man (23) in court after woman's death” in The Irish Independent (27 August 20050 p. 7

Pat Flynn, “Pals bid farewell to Anne” in The Sunday World (28 August 2005) p. 6

“Heartbroken scenes as Anne laid to rest” in The Evening Herald (29 August 2005) p. 6.

Gordon Deegan, “Mourners at Kilrush told of 'a great sister and daughter'” in The Irish Times (30 August 2005) p. 2.

“Man charged over Kilrush death remanded in custody” in The Irish Times (30 August 2005) p. 4

Gordon Deegan, “Judge flees as court onlookers attack death case accused” in The Irish Independent (24 September 2005) p. 3.

Gordon Deegan, “Judge leaves bench amid court disturbances” in The Irish Times (24 September 2005) p. 2

Gordon Deegan, “Clare man charged with court assault” in The Irish Times (29 September 2005) p. 9.

Gordon Deegan, “Man faces charge over threatening behaviour in court case” in The Irish Independent (29 September 2005) p. 12.

“Further remand in case over death of woman in Kilrush” in The Irish Times (22 October 2005) p. 2.

Gordon Deegan, “New charge of murder in death of Clare woman” in The Irish Independent (12 November 2005) p. 11.

Gordon Deegan, “Man charges with Kilrush murder” in The Irish Times (12 November 2005) p. 2

Gordon Deegan, “Family faces ban over murder trial” in The Irish Times (26 November 2005) p. 4.

Gordon Deegan, “Clare man denies murder of ex-girlfriend” in The Irish Times (24 May 2006) p. 2.

Gordon Deegan, “Murder accused told me of row, says brother” in The Irish Times (25 May 2006) p. 2.

“Ex-boyfriend denies strangling woman” in The Evening Herald (24 May 2006) p 16.

“I thought Ann was messing after she went quiet” in The Evening Herald (26 May 2006) p. 26

Gordon Deegan, “Accused told gardai he 'didn't mean' to kill woman” in The Irish Times (26 May 2006) p. 2.

“Trial told force used to break tracksuit cord” in The Irish Independent (27 May 2006) p. 11

Gordon Deegan, “Jury told victim was strangled to death” in The Irish Examiner (31 May 2006) p. 13.

Gordon Deegan, “Man did not intend to kill ex-girlfriend” in The Irish Examiner (1 June 2006) p. 11

“Man sentenced to life in prison for murder” in The Irish Times (2 June 2006) p. 4.

Cathal O'Shea, “Evil Killer placed on suicide watch” in The Sunday World (4 June 2006) p. 25.

Gordon Deegan, “Mum dreams of killed Ann” in The Irish Mirror (18 April 2007)

DPP v Donovan [2009] IECCA 9“Murder conviction rejected” in The Irish Times (27 January 2009) p. 9.

Gordon Deegan and Pat Flynn, “Shotgun killing after two week-dispute” in The Irish Times (30 July 2009) p. 2.

David Kearns, “'Life should mean life. He can still speak to his family, I can never talk to Ann again' – Mother's fury as daughter's killer gets one-day release” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/life-should-mean-life-he-can-still-speak-to-his-family-i-can-never-talk-to-ann-again-mothers-fury-as-daughters-killer-gets-one-day-release-34512092.html (4 March 2016)

Jennifer Ryan, “She wanted to do hairdressing. She would get along with anyone” from The Journal https://www.thejournal.ie/ann-walsh-bearing-witness-domestic-violence-3111133-Nov2016/ (30 November 2016)

Dan Danaher, “16 years for taking a life akin to a 'slap on wrist'” in The Clare Champion https://clarechampion.ie/ann-walsh-murder/ (21 December 2021)

Sylvia Pownall, “Family of Clare woman Ann Walsh strangled to death by ex plead for him to be kept behind bars” in The Irish Mirror https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/family-clare-woman-ann-walsh-22076510 (24 May 2020)

Louise Roseingrave, “Family of murdered Ann Walsh fear killer Raymond Donovan may be on verge of release” in The Irish Mirror https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/family-murdered-irishwoman-fear-killer-25241471 (19 October 2021)

Louise Roseingrave, “Family of Ann Walsh furious that murdering ex-boyfriend is getting day release from prison” in The Irish Mirror https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/crime/family-ann-walsh-furious-murdering-25530009 (24 November 2021)

Louise Roseingrave, “Family of woman brutally strangled in churchyard devastated as killer gets out for Christmas” in The Irish Mirror https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/family-woman-brutally-strangled-churchyard-25756190 (22 December 2021).

Patrick O'Connell, “Murderer Raymond Donovan among 70 prisoners granted temporary release for Christmas” in The Sunday World https://www.sundayworld.com/crime/irish-crime/murderer-raymond-donovan-among-70-prisoners-granted-temporary-release-for-christmas-41179052.html (23 December 2021)

Dan Danaher, “Ann Walsh's killer moved from open to closed prison” in The Clare Champion https://clarechampion.ie/raymond-donovan/ (6 February 2022)