THE family of a woman who was killed by Ireland’s first serial killers are calling for a cold case review, the Dail heard today.
In 1976, 23-year-old Elizabeth Plunkett from Ringsend in Dublin was murdered by John Shaw and Geoffrey Evans.
The sickos had also killed a second woman named Mary Duffy and they are widely considered Ireland’s first ever serial killers.
While Shaw was convicted of Mary Duffy’s murder, he was never convicted of Elizabeth’s killing.
The shocking case is at the centre of a new RTE podcast called Stolen Sister.
Elizabeth’s sisters Kathleen and Bernadette are calling for a cold case review by gardai and legislative reform to address a problem with the Parole Board which means they are not regarded as victims.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik today raised the issue with the Taoiseach in the Dail as she called on the Justice Minister to speak with the family.
She said: “They are not legally regarded as victims within the Parole Board process. This only came to light in 2023. The Justice Minister is aware of this.
“An inquest was delayed for 50 years. I raised this issue in the Dail last year. The inquest was finally held in January. I am glad about that.
“However, their solicitor, who wrote a follow-up letter to the Justice Minister, the Garda Commissioner and others on 28 May has not yet received a response.”
Taoiseach Micheal Martin promised that he would raise the issue with the Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan.
He said: “I thank the Deputy for raising this very serious and sensitive issue for the families concerned.
“I will ask the Minister for Justice to deal directly with Deputy Bacik and with the family as well in respect of endeavouring to bring closure to this for all concerned and a resolution of the issues outstanding.”
