Documentary On One - Rté Documentaries

The Irish Civil War was shrouded in silence for decades. From June 1922 to May 1923, families, friends and neighbours took opposing sides as the new Irish State was being formed. In one of the last atrocities of the war, we tell the story of Maggie Doherty and through her witness testimony explore the rarely discussed aspect of sexual violence in the Irish Civil War. (2023) Contributors incl Edel Doherty, Professor Linda Connolly, Frank Fagan and Tom Doherty. Produced by Orla Higgins and Sarah Blake. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you bring a third person into your relationship?  Polyamorists do. They say having other romances actually strengthens their main relationship. But there are risks…and jealousies. And, practicalities: How to schedule your dates? Who minds the kids? (2023) Credits: Produced by Mary-Elaine Tynan and Ronan Kelly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1984 was a defining year in the history of the Irish Troubles. On the 12th October the IRA bombed the Brighton Hotel narrowly missing the British Prime Minister. Meanwhile a Manchester band called The Smiths were stunning the world with a unique sound. They played community centres around Ireland and a music band became part of a political storm. (2023) Credits: Narrated by David Coughlan. Produced by David Coughlan and Donal O'Herlihy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The cycle of Samantha offending, being jailed, then released and re-offending seems never ending. So as we reach the conclusion of our series, and in an attempt to understand just what exactly is going on for Samantha and how her behaviour might be understood, and treated, we make an application to the courts in search of answers. (Ep 7/7) 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 with title song sung by Amelie Flynn and Mary Clare Wolly. Sound Engineer is Damian Chennells. Executive Producer is Liam O’Brien. If you have any further tips on this story email documentaries@rte.ie For further information on the series visit www.rte.ie/findingsamantha Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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/findingsamantha Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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 O’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   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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 O’Flynn. Sound Engineer is Damian Chennells. Executive Producer is Liam O’Brien.If you have any in

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 6-part podcast series from RTÉ Documentary On One unravelling the wild world of Samantha Azzopardi... Episodes 1 & 2 available from April 25th 2023 from wherever you get your podcasts (Search for Finding Samantha) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shane Dunphy goes in search of the truth behind one of Ireland's worst maritime disasters. The Saint Patrick, a Rosslare to Fishguard passenger ferry, was bombed and sunk by the Luftwaffe on 13th of June 1941, resulting in the deaths of 30 people. What puzzled Shane was why: the ship was not a military vessel, and Ireland as a neutral country was not at war. Yet the St Patrick was targeted not once but twice – the year before it was sunk a German plane had opened fire on the ship. (First Broadcast 2012) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1967, Mary Folan, who had long emigrated to America made a dying wish to be buried 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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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 by Ronan Kelly and Lisa-Marie Berry. If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast, please visit www.rte.ie/support for helpline contact details.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reg Byrne was born with spina bifida into a violent, alcoholic home. He was also illiterate but despite all this he changed the lives of so many through the most unlikely of avenue, boxing. (2022) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.