The Vanishings true story as crime thriller shines light on real-life mystery
The Vanishings, a chilling new series airing on Channel 5 this week, is based on the true and harrowing tale of several Irish women who mysteriously disappeared in the late 80s and 90s. The six-part crime thriller features India Mullen in the role of Lisa Wallace, an investigative journalist.
After penning an article about her mother's murder, the murderer re-emerges, suggesting a kidnapping. Lisa, along with Detective David Burkely (played by Allen Leech), delve into the case, linking the killer to the vanishing of a woman named Amy Reynolds.
The term 'Ireland's Vanishing Triangle' was coined by the Irish press to describe a series of high-profile female disappearances in the eastern part of Ireland. These unsettling events occurred within the borders of Leinster, in an area spanning 80 miles outside Dublin.
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All the cases bore striking similarities, including the victims' ages - all were in their late teens to late 30s. Each woman vanished abruptly, without any clear reason, leaving no significant clues as to what happened to them.
The Irish police theorise that the bodies were concealed in remote fields, bogs and forests. Given the parallels between the cases, it was suspected that a serial killer may have been at large during this period.
In September 1998, police established an investigation task force named Operation Trace, dedicated to solving the mystery of several unsolved disappearances. Despite a €10,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of a body, no significant leads have been found to this day.
The time period also saw a number of homicides. Among the missing women are Annie Bridget McCarrick, 26, who vanished in March 1993, and Eva Brennan, 39, who disappeared four months later.
Imelda Keenan, 22, went missing in January 1994, followed by Jo Jo Dullard, 21, in November 1995. Fiona Pender, 25, disappeared in August 1996, Ciara Breen, 17, in February 1997, Fiona Sinnott, 19, in February 1998, and Deirdre Jacob, 18, in July 1998.
There were also three murder victims - Angie Greene Smith, 27, Patricia Moriarty Doherty, 29, and Marie Kilmartin, 35. Angie was raped and strangled after disappearing following a David Bowie concert.
Patricia was strangled after her husband reported her missing on Christmas Day. Marie was strangled after a man called her landline from a phone box, prompting her to leave her house.
The Vanishings will air on Channel 5 on Thursday, February 6 at 9pm.
