On the night of September, the 4th 1992, Esther and Jessica McCann went to sleep and never woke up.

The 36-year-old mother and her 18-month-old-toddler died when a fire swept through the house. It was a tragic loss of life.

The young mother had been trying to adopt the little girl she had fostered since her birth. They were inseparable. And it followed a series of events in the home that baffled Esther, her husband, and her family.

Was there something more sinister at play here?

In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John Sweetman takes us through the events leading up to that tragic house fire and how a dark secret from the past lurked in the corner.

We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/

Presented by John Sweetman

Created by Darren Cleary

Episode Written by Siobhan Maguire

Script Edited by Eoin Brennan

Produced by Siobhan Walsh

Produced by Siobhan Maguire

Executive Produced by Eoin Brennan

Executive Produced by Ruth Fitzsimons

Sound Design and Editing by Neil Kavanagh

Audio Editing Support by Ed Smith

Marketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín Reilly

Social Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree

Artwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

In this episode of Lines of Enquiry: Case Notes, John Sweetman is joined by one of Ireland’s leading true crime podcasters, Nules Ní Chléirigh, creator and host of Ireland Crimes and Mysteries.

John and Nules reflect on what draws them to the stories of some of Ireland’s biggest crimes, the realities of working on cases with no clear resolution, and the importance of ethical storytelling when dealing with victims and their families.

They share some of the most impactful cases they have worked on, including those where the smallest detail made a critical difference, and others that have stayed with them long after recording.

The conversation also explores how true crime has evolved as a genre, and the role it can play in prevention, awareness, and in keeping the memory of victims alive.

If you’d like to get in touch, you can email the show at LinesOfEnquiry@goloudnow.com and follow @linesofenquirypodcast on Instagram.

28 year old mother of two Jasmine McMonagle loved to write and longed to be a children's author one day.

In 2019, a letter she wrote was sent to the Garda Technical Bureau for examination. In the letter, Jasmine wrote of being held hostage in her own home, of threats against her and her daughters, and of how she would no longer live in fear.

In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John explains how that letter ended up on his desk, and he looks back on a tragic story of rage, loss and bravery, and of a family torn apart by violence.

We now have an instagram page, we would appreciate if you could please follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/

Presented by John Sweetman

Created by Darren Cleary

Episode Written by John Sweetman

Script Edited by Eoin Brennan

Produced by Siobhan Walsh

Produced by Siobhan Maguire

Executive Produced by Eoin Brennan

Executive Produced by Ruth Fitzsimons

Sound Design and Editing by Neil Kavanagh

Audio Editing Support by Ed Smith

Marketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín Reilly

Social Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree

Artwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

When Antra Ozolina was found dead in her home in Kilnaleck, Co Cavan in June 2014, from the outset, the explanation seemed straightforward and the case moved quickly towards closure.

But small details did not sit comfortably. The circumstances raised quiet questions. The timeline felt too neat and the version that was accepted left little room for doubt or for scrutiny.

In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John Sweetman revisits the death of Antra Ozolina, examining how early assumptions can shape an investigation, how quickly a version of events can become fixed, and how the how the easy answer is not always the right answer.

We now have an instagram page, you can follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/

Presented by John Sweetman

Created by Darren Cleary

Episode Written by Darren Cleary

Script Edited by Eoin Brennan

Produced by Siobhan Walsh

Produced by Siobhan Maguire

Assistant Produced by Aoife Plunkett

Executive Produced by Eoin Brennan

Executive Produced by Ruth Fitzsimons

Sound Design and Editing by Neil Kavanagh

Audio Editing Support by Ed Smith

Marketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín Reilly

Social Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree

Artwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

The arrival of two detectives with very different backgrounds reinvigorates the search for Seamus Ruddy. As the new investigators search the darkest corners for information, they do it with a set of forensics skills never before seen in Ireland.

The Ruddy family hold on to hope of finally ending their long nightmare, and a new source of information could prove to be the key. But there will be many false dawns, before what could be their final chance to bring Seamus home.

Presented by John Sweetman

Created by Darren Cleary

Episode Written by Eoin Brennan

Produced by Siobhan Walsh

Produced by Siobhan Maguire

Executive Produced by Eoin Brennan

Executive Produced by Ruth Fitzsimons

Sound Design and Editing by Neil Kavanagh

Audio Editing Support by Ed Smith

Marketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín Reilly

Social Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree

Artwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

We now have an instagram page, you can follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/

In May of 1985, Seamus Ruddy went to meet three men in Paris. They were men he knew from a past life, in Ireland. Seamus had left that life behind, to start a new one in the French capital. His family had asked him not to go to the meeting, but Seamus had been assured he would be safe.

He was never seen again after that night, and his disappearance would lead to a search spanning decades. The Ruddy family refused to give up their hunt for answers, facing down intimidation and holding out hope even against the most insurmountable odds.

This story would eventually join others, as the Ruddy family realised they were not the only ones searching for their missing loved ones, and pushing for answers from a dark period in Irish history. Seamus was eventually considered one of The Disappeared, the group of people suspected of being kidnapped, killed and secretly buried by Republican paramilitary groups during The Troubles.

Presented by John Sweetman

Created by Darren Cleary

Episode Written by Eoin Brennan

Produced by Siobhan Walsh

Produced by Siobhan Maguire

Executive Produced by Eoin Brennan

Executive Produced by Ruth Fitzsimons

Sound Design and Editing by Neil Kavanagh

Audio Editing Support by Ed Smith

Marketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín Reilly

Social Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree

Artwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

We now have an instagram page, you can follow the podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/linesofenquirypodcast/

Jastine Valdez was abducted in broad daylight on a rural road in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, in May 2018. The 24-year-old had just stepped off a bus that dropped her only a few minutes’ walk from her home. Just moments later, a woman driving along that quiet country road spotted a man seemingly trying to force a young woman into his car.

What followed was a frantic garda manhunt, as they realised Jastine had been abducted in broad daylight – but without any idea who may have done it, or why. What was to follow would be a tragic, terrifying case that would shock all of Ireland.

In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John Sweetman takes us through that frenetic investigation by gardai moments, and their efforts to seek justice for Jastine, and her family in Ireland and the Philippines.

Presented by John Sweetman

Created by Darren Cleary

Episode Written by John Sweetman

Script Edited by Eoin Brennan

Produced by Siobhan Walsh

Produced by Siobhan Maguire

Executive Produced by Eoin Brennan

Executive Produced by Ruth Fitzsimons

Sound Design and Editing by Neil Kavanagh

Audio Editing Support by Ed Smith

Marketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín Reilly

Social Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn Ree

Artwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

In this, Lines of Enquiry’s inaugural ‘Case Notes’, John Sweetman introduces a new strand of his hit true crime podcast series. Stepping away from any one specific case in detail and instead revisiting past investigations and responding to listener questions, John takes us behind the scenes of Lines of Enquiry.

This first episode of ‘Case Notes' is also the last in Season 1 of Lines of Enquiry. Reflecting on his first season, John is in conversation with Darren Cleary, creator of Lines of Enquiry and Head of Digital Audio at Bauer Media, who hears all about Season 2, which goes out on January 6th, 2026, with further 'Case Notes' also on the way.

Remember, you can contact the show at LinesOfEnquiry@goloudnow.com