Lines of Enquiry

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 SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Eoin BrennanProduced by Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan MaguireExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

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 SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Eoin BrennanProduced by Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan MaguireExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree

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 SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by John SweetmanScript Edited by Eoin BrennanProduced by Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan MaguireExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork 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 [email protected]

When Anne O'Sullivan was diagnosed with terminal cancer, tensions within her family about who would inherit her substantial plot of farm land came to the surface.Soon, Anne would find herself awake before dawn, running through fields and ditches to a neighbour's house to get help as a terrible darkness descended on the family farm. This is a tragic story that saw a family torn apart as their home became consumed by fear and threats of violence towards Anne and her eldest son, Mark. Those rising tensions would lead to the most unfathomable and shocking moment of hatred and rage.In this episode of Lines of Enquiry, John tracks the descent into violence and revisits his case notes on the letters that proved crucial to any understanding of events of that tragic day.Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Eoin BrennanScript Edited by John SweetmanResearch by Siobhan Maguire & Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsProduced by Siobhan WalshProduced by Siobhan MaguireSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing Support by Ed SmithMarketing Support by Bríd Walsh and Róisín ReillySocial Support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and Graphics by Eric Rowntree