TV special examines shocking killings

TWO shocking killings that occurred on the Southside are to be examined in a TV3 documentary.

In ‘Ireland’s Teen Killers’, the brand new TV3 special looks at what is going on in our society that makes the most vulnerable turn into the most violent.

The TV programme examines some of the most horrific cases in Ireland including teen killers Daniel McDonnell who shot Melanie McCarthy in Tallaght, and David Curran from Drimnagh.

The eye-opening TV3 documentary examines the modern phenomenon of teenagers who kill. Between 2003 and 2013, 16 teenagers were convicted of killing on the island of Ireland – some were guilty of manslaughter, some of killing in cold-blood and others even murdered while working as teenage hitmen.

But there was one thing they had in common: they were all male.

Some of Ireland’s leading professionals in the area of juvenile criminology offer their opinions on a selection of shocking crimes. Former Prison Governor, John Lonergan, psychologist David Carey, Children’s Court Correspondent Tom Tuite and Court Correspondent Natasha Reid, Barrister Seamus Clarke and criminologist John O’Keeffe bring their professional insight and expertise to bear on each case.

The first case looks at Daniel McDonnell who was 17-years-of-age when he shot Melanie McCarthy McNamara with a shotgun on February 7, 2012 at Brookview Lawns in Tallaght.

The Central Criminal Court jury took just four hours and 17 minutes to find McDonnell guilty at his trial two years later.

Another 17-year-old, David Curran, is the perpetrator of an ultra-violent crime that shocked Ireland.

Curran grew up in Drimnagh and had a track record of addiction to alcohol and drugs. On March 19, 2011 members of Curran’s teen gang attacked Polish mechanic, Pawel Kalite, as he returned home from work.

After the scuffle the gang contacted Curran who arrived “hyped” up from taking benzodiazepines and was armed with a screwdriver. 

He led the gang to Pawel’s home that he shared with Marius Szwajkos and began shouting.

Despite his friend’s efforts, Pawel went outside to confront Curran and was immediately stabbed twice in the temple by the teenager.

‘Ireland’s Teen Killers’ airs on Mondays at 9pm on TV3.