John Sweetman
speaker
14,905 appearances
34 recordings
2 series
first heard Dec 2025
last heard today
John Sweetman’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.
Trend
recordings per month · last 12 monthsRecordings per month over the last 12 months — 34 in all, peaking in Jul 2026 with 8.
Appearances
He had remained beyond the reach of the authorities.
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But now, for the first time, returning carried far less risk than staying away.
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In may twenty twelve, Gallagher made his move.
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Crossing the border, he presented himself at the Central Mental Hospital and surrendered himself into their custody.
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It was a gamble.
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He was betting that the mental health review board would conclude that he was no longer mentally ill, no longer dangerous, and no longer subject to detention.
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For the Gillespie family, the news came as another devastating blow.
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It was only through media reports that Gardy and Dunnegal first learned Gallagher had returned to Ireland.
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And only through these local guardi did the Gillespie family discover that the man who had killed Anne and Annie was once again in state care.
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The circumstances prompted an apology from the Minister for Justice, but at the same time, Garda Commissioner Martin Callanan announced that the original file would be re examined.
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Six weeks later, Gallagher's gamble paid off.
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The mental health review board concluded that he was sane.
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It further found that he posed no danger to himself or to the public.
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The decision cleared the way for his release.
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On Friday, twenty-ninth of june, twenty twelve, twenty-four years after Anne and Annie Gillespie were murdered in the car park of Sligo General.
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John Gallagher walked free, with no further restrictions.
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Because the jury had found him insane at the time of the murders, he will never have a conviction placed against his name for the murders of Anne and Annie Gillespie.
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Thank you for listening to this episode of Lines of Inquiry.
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If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, help is available.
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Contact details for Samaritans and women's aid are in the episode description.
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Showing 1081–1100 of 14,905 · page 55 of 746
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