Stolen Sister

On the last weekend of the summer of 1976, a young woman named Elizabeth Plunkett went away for a night with friends to Brittas Bay in county Wicklow. Nobody knew it then, but that was the last time she would leave home. Elizabeth was brutally murdered by two men who would go on to continue to rape and kill until they were stopped. Episode 1 available Friday 30th May 2025. Credits: Stolen Sister is hosted by Roz Purcell. It's written and produced by Nicoline Greer. Production assistance is by Shauna McGreevy. Original music soundtrack is performed and composed by Oscar-winning composer Stephen Warbeck, together with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Sound design and orchestra recording is by Ciarán Dunne. The executive producer is Liam O’Brien. Audio Product Support by Nigel Wheatley. Marketing by Maria Buckley and Christopher Hayes. Design and creatives by Darragh Treacy. Publicity by Sarah Neville. Sales by Graeme Bailey. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UPDATE: Samantha Cookes pleads guilty to fraud. She appears in court for her sentencing but all does not go smoothly. There's an outcry. A shout from the public gallery halts proceedings and Samantha is taken from the dock while the Judge takes stock... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the search site turns into a dig site, Jón’s family await news of the search. If Jón is found, it will end all hope and a new chapter of grief begins. And as we near the end of this series, new tips continue to emerge. With everything that has been uncovered, Jón’s family ask that his case is now upgraded to a murder inquiry in the hope that they finally get some answers. Credits: Where is Jón? / Hvar er Jón? is written, reported and produced by Liam O’Brien and Anna Marsibil Clausen. Original music soundtrack is performed and composed by Úlfur Eldjárn, with special guest Unnur Jónsdóttir on cello. Sound design is by Peadar Carney. Production assistance from Johannes Olafsson, Þorgerður E. Sigurðardóttir and the RTÉ Documentary On One team. Audio Product Support by Nigel Wheatley. Marketing by Amy O’Driscoll, Maria Buckley and Kolbrún Vaka Helgadóttir. Design and creatives by John Kilkenny and Darragh Treacy. Publicity by Jilly McDonough. Sales by Graeme Bailey and Einar Logi Vignisson. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce. Episodes released weekly, each Monday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the first five years of Jón’s disappearance, through to February 2024, there was no indication of where Jón’s remains might lie. But behind the scenes, two anonymous notes had been handed into the authorities. The first was handed into a Garda station in 2022 - and the second to a priests house in 2023. Both indicated Jón was buried in a specific location. Could this be the first real breakthrough in the search for Jón? Credits: Where is Jón? / Hvar er Jón? is written, reported and produced by Liam O’Brien and Anna Marsibil Clausen. Original music soundtrack is performed and composed by Úlfur Eldjárn, with special guest Unnur Jónsdóttir on cello. Sound design is by Peadar Carney. Production assistance from Johannes Olafsson, Þorgerður E. Sigurðardóttir and the RTÉ Documentary On One team. Audio Product Support by Nigel Wheatley. Marketing by Amy O’Driscoll, Maria Buckley and Kolbrún Vaka Helgadóttir. Design and creatives by John Kilkenny and Darragh Treacy. Publicity by Jilly McDonough. Sales by Graeme Bailey and Einar Logi Vignisson. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce. Episodes released weekly, each Monday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As all the first firsts begin to pass by, Jón’s birthday, Christmas, family events - everyone in Jón’s circle struggles with his loss. With no concrete information emerging to explain his disappearance, some sinister rumours begin to emerge. And then, more than a year later, some of Jón’s family members are told he was killed in Dublin… Credits: Where is Jón? / Hvar er Jón? is written, reported and produced by Liam O’Brien and Anna Marsibil Clausen. Original music soundtrack is performed and composed by Úlfur Eldjárn, with special guest Unnur Jónsdóttir on cello. Sound design is by Peadar Carney. Production assistance from Johannes Olafsson, Þorgerður E. Sigurðardóttir and the RTÉ Documentary On One team. Audio Product Support by Nigel Wheatley. Marketing by Amy O’Driscoll, Maria Buckley and Kolbrún Vaka Helgadóttir. Design and creatives by John Kilkenny and Darragh Treacy. Publicity by Jilly McDonough. Sales by Graeme Bailey and Einar Logi Vignisson. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce. Episodes released weekly, each Monday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the first weeks turned into the first months since Jón’s disappearance, his family struggle to come to terms with what’s going on. There were only four possibilities to explain Jón’s disappearance - he took his own life, he was involved in an accident, someone killed him or he intentionally vanished. As we begin to examine each possibility, things start to become a little clearer… (Ep4/6) Credits: Where is Jón? / Hvar er Jón? is written, reported and produced by Liam O’Brien and Anna Marsibil Clausen. Original music soundtrack is performed and composed by Úlfur Eldjárn, with special guest Unnur Jónsdóttir on cello. Sound design is by Peadar Carney. Production assistance from Johannes Olafsson, Þorgerður E. Sigurðardóttir and the RTÉ Documentary On One team. Audio Product Support by Nigel Wheatley. Marketing by Amy O’Driscoll, Maria Buckley and Kolbrún Vaka Helgadóttir. Design and creatives by John Kilkenny and Darragh Treacy. Publicity by Jilly McDonough. Sales by Graeme Bailey and Einar Logi Vignisson. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce. Episodes released weekly, each Monday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The vast majority of missing persons are found within 72 hours of being last seen. But if someone is not found within that timeframe, the chances of discovering what happened to them become less and less as time slips by. When Jón’s family arrived to Ireland in the days after he disappeared, they all felt something had gone very wrong for Jón. They just needed everyone else to believe them… (Ep3/6) Credits: Where is Jón? / Hvar er Jón? is written, reported and produced by Liam O’Brien and Anna Marsibil Clausen. Original music soundtrack is performed and composed by Úlfur Eldjárn, with special guest Unnur Jónsdóttir on cello. Sound design is by Peadar Carney. Production assistance from Johannes Olafsson, Þorgerður E. Sigurðardóttir and the RTÉ Documentary On One team. Audio Product Support by Nigel Wheatley. Marketing by Amy O’Driscoll, Maria Buckley and Kolbrún Vaka Helgadóttir. Design and creatives by John Kilkenny and Darragh Treacy. Publicity by Jilly McDonough. Sales by Graeme Bailey and Einar Logi Vignisson. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce. Episodes released weekly, each Monday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Jón left the Bonnington hotel, his partner Jana didn’t initially think too much about him walking away. But, as that day moved on, she began to get worried. And by the morning after, she knew something had gone really wrong for Jón. As Jana begins to raise the alarm, we start searching for clues in Jón’s past, in Iceland, to find out who he was - before he disappeared… (Ep2/6) Credits: Where is Jón? / Hvar er Jón? is written, reported and produced by Liam O’Brien and Anna Marsibil Clausen. Original music soundtrack is performed and composed by Úlfur Eldjárn, with special guest Unnur Jónsdóttir on cello. Sound design is by Peadar Carney. Production assistance from Johannes Olafsson, Þorgerður E. Sigurðardóttir and the RTÉ Documentary On One team. Audio Product Support by Nigel Wheatley. Marketing by Amy O’Driscoll, Maria Buckley and Kolbrún Vaka Helgadóttir. Design and creatives by John Kilkenny and Darragh Treacy. Publicity by Jilly McDonough. Sales by Graeme Bailey and Einar Logi. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce. Episodes released weekly, each Monday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Icelander Jón Jónsson arrived to Dublin in February 2019, he came for 10 days of fun - to play at the Dublin Poker Festival and to do some sightseeing with his partner, Jana. But within a day of landing here, Jón disappeared. With unique access into this story, we begin investigating Jón’s disappearance by examining the 48 hours before he was last seen alive. Will we find any clues to indicate what might have happened to him? (Ep1/6) Credits: Where is Jón? / Hvar er Jón? is written, reported and produced by Liam O’Brien and Anna Marsibil Clausen. Original music soundtrack is performed and composed by Úlfur Eldjárn, with special guest Unnur Jónsdóttir on cello. Sound design is by Peadar Carney. Production assistance from Johannes Olafsson, Þorgerður E. Sigurðardóttir and the RTÉ Documentary On One team. Audio Product Support by Nigel Wheatley. Marketing by Amy O’Driscoll, Maria Buckley and Kolbrún Vaka Helgadóttir. Design and creatives by John Kilkenny and Darragh Treacy. Publicity by Jilly McDonough. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce. Episodes released weekly, each Monday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Jón Jónsson flew into Dublin in February 2019, he was in good spirits and looking forward to playing at the Dublin Poker Festival. However, within just 24 hours, Jón walked out of his hotel and disappeared. So what happened to him? Over the last 18 months, we’ve been working with exclusive access to Jón’s family and friends as we go in search of answers to this bizarre and baffling case. If you know anything about Jón’s disappearance – please email us in the strictest of confidence - documentaries@rte.ie or hvarerjon@ruv.is Credits: Where is Jón? is written, reported and produced by Liam O’Brien and Anna Marsibil Clausen. Original music soundtrack is performed and composed by Úlfur Eldjárn, with special guest Unnur Jónsdóttir on cello. Sound design is by Peadar Carney. Production assistance from Johannes Olafsson, Þorgerður E. Sigurðardóttir and the RTÉ Documentary On One team. Audio Product Support by Nigel Wheatley. Marketing by Amy O’Driscoll, Maria Buckley and Kolbrún Vaka Helgadóttir. Designer and creatives by John Kilkenny and Darragh Treacy. Publicity by Jilly McDonough. Sales by Graeme Bailey and Einar Logi. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce. Episodes released weekly, each Monday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Ep2/2) With Gadaffi’s first shipment of weapons to the IRA now landed into Ireland and dispersed around to hiding places, in this second and final part of this series, we hear how the IRA trained on these weapons. We then travel north, to Northern Ireland where on Tuesday, November 28th 1972, the IRA carried out ten rocket attacks injuring, maiming and killing. As we complete this story, we meet with the son of the first victim to be killed by these rockets, RUC Constable Robert Keys, a 55yr old father of six who was just finishing up his night shift at Belleek RUC station in Co. Fermanagh. Credits: Narrated by Liam O’Brien and Conor Keane. Produced by Liam O’Brien. Readings were by David Nelligan and Joe Garry – with special thanks to Colin Barker, production engineer in RTÉ Limerick. (2024) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(Ep1/2) In the summer of 1972, Libya’s Colonel Gaddafi approached the Provisional IRA with an offer of weapons. A few months later, this first ever shipment of arms landed into Ireland. Fifty years after all of this took place, those centrally involved in the mission finally tell a story that has never been told before. In this first part, we follow these weapons from their point of manufacture in Russia, through to their highly secretive arrival on Irish soil. Credits: Narrated by Liam O’Brien and Conor Keane. Produced by Liam O’Brien. Readings were by David Nelligan and Joe Garry – with special thanks to Colin Barker, production engineer in RTÉ Limerick. (2024) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just as we thought this series was complete, Irish Police confirm that yesterday, Friday, 12th July 2024 in County Kerry, "Gardaí arrested a woman in her 30s as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged welfare fraud in Tralee. She is currently detained at a Garda station in the Southern Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. Investigations are ongoing.” UPDATE: On Saturday afternoon, July 13th, 2024, Samantha Cookes was remanded in custody after being charged with the alleged theft of €59,094 from the Department of Social Protection - and further “serious charges” may follow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our final episode, TikTok bites back! Carrie Jade’s online supporters find out they've been played. And they're angry. They dig into Samantha's past and discover more victims. As her most famous alias is finally exposed, Samantha Cookes disappears, leaving behind thousands in unpaid rent. And then Sadie Harris shows up... As our series concludes, we also reveal new tips that have come in since we began - and we hand this story over to film producers we’ve been working with. Watch out for an upcoming TV documentary on Samantha Cookes due to air on RTÉ One in autumn 2024! ... Credits: The Real Carrie Jade is written, reported and produced by Ronan Kelly. Narrated by Justine Stafford. Original music soundtrack by Fergal O'Connor. Sound designer is Ruth Kennington and the executive producer is Liam O’Brien. Production assistance by Nicoline Greer. Legal advice from Darren Lynch and Deirdre Ann Kelly. Marketing and promotions are by Maria Buckley, Amy O'Driscoll and Fiona Burke. Press and Publicity by Jilly McDonough. The designer is Niamh McKeown. Audio Product Support by Nigel Wheatley. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce. Contact us documentaries@rte.ie Episodes released weekly, each Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By 2020, Samantha Cookes has spent the last 6 years of her life moving around Ireland from coast to coast, pretending to be someone she’s not, before being rumbled and moving on. But now, she’s about to take things to a whole different level with a new identity that she wants the whole world to know about. What could possibly go wrong?... (Ep 5/6) Credits: The Real Carrie Jade is written, reported and produced by Ronan Kelly. Narrated by Justine Stafford. Original music soundtrack by Fergal O'Connor. Sound designer is Ruth Kennington and the executive producer is Liam O’Brien. Production assistance by Nicoline Greer. Legal advice from Darren Lynch and Deirdre Ann Kelly. Marketing and promotions are by Maria Buckley, Amy O'Driscoll and Fiona Burke. Press and Publicity by Jilly McDonough. The designer is Niamh McKeown. Audio Product Support by Nigel Wheatley. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce. Contact us documentaries@rte.ie Episodes released weekly, each Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Knowing she’s been rumbled in Dublin, 'Lucy' (aka Samantha Cookes) disappears before showing up on the opposite side of the country, at a small village on the West Coast of Ireland. She begins work as an au pair and moves into the home and lives of another unsuspecting family, caring for their children. It’s only when she leaves that the family begin to find out the truth about who they've really had staying in their house. But by then Samantha has morphed from 'Lucy' into ‘child psychologist, Rebecca Fitzgerald' and is moving on to her next set of victims… (Ep4/6) Credits: The Real Carrie Jade is written, reported and produced by Ronan Kelly. Narrated by Justine Stafford. Original music soundtrack by Fergal O'Connor. Sound designer is Ruth Kennington and the executive producer is Liam O’Brien. Production assistance by Nicoline Greer. Legal advice from Darren Lynch and Deirdre Ann Kelly. Marketing and promotions are by Maria Buckley, Amy O'Driscoll and Fiona Burke. Press and Publicity by Jilly McDonough. The designer is Niamh McKeown. Audio Product Support by Nigel Wheatley. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce. Contact us documentaries@rte.ie Episodes released weekly, each Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Samantha Cookes is now living as Lucy Fitzwilliams. She’s moved to Dublin and begins to settle into a new community in the affluent south side, quickly becoming a friendly face. Lucy begins working with children. But then things start to unravel when two local women begin to question who they’ve left into their lives. And they’re not going to give up until they find out… (Ep3/6) Credits: The Real Carrie Jade is written, reported and produced by Ronan Kelly. Narrated by Justine Stafford. Original music soundtrack by Fergal O'Connor. Sound designer is Ruth Kennington and the executive producer is Liam O’Brien. Production assistance by Nicoline Greer. Legal advice from Darren Lynch and Deirdre Ann Kelly. Marketing and promotions are by Maria Buckley, Amy O'Driscoll and Fiona Burke. Press and Publicity by Jilly McDonough. The designer is Niamh McKeown. Audio Product Support by Nigel Wheatley. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce. Contact us documentaries@rte.ie Episodes released weekly, each Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having found out that Carrie Jade Williams never existed, we go in search of the real person behind it all, Samantha Cookes. And we go right back to where this story all began, in the West of England. Following Samantha’s life story takes us all over the UK and across the Irish sea as we begin to get inside a much bigger story than we thought possible… (Ep2/6) Credits: The Real Carrie Jade is written, reported and produced by Ronan Kelly. Narrated by Justine Stafford. Original music soundtrack by Fergal O'Connor. Sound designer is Ruth Kennington and the executive producer is Liam O’Brien. Production assistance by Nicoline Greer. Legal advice from Darren Lynch and Deirdre Ann Kelly. Marketing and promotions are by Maria Buckley, Amy O'Driscoll and Fiona Burke. Press and Publicity by Jilly McDonough. The designer is Niamh McKeown. Audio Product Support by Nigel Wheatley. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce. Contact us documentaries@rte.ie Episodes released weekly, each Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When we first went to meet Carrie Jade Williams in 2021, we were blown away by her strength, her vision, her determination and her untold story. She was a young woman on a pioneering journey, not only to help herself, but to help others. We wanted to help her tell her story, from the inside out. But then we slowly began to realise that all was not as it seems and we were becoming a pawn in her game… (Ep1/6) Credits: The Real Carrie Jade is written, reported and produced by Ronan Kelly. Narrated by Justine Stafford. Original music soundtrack by Fergal O'Connor. Sound designer is Ruth Kennington and the executive producer is Liam O’Brien. Production assistance by Nicoline Greer. Legal advice from Darren Lynch and Deirdre Ann Kelly. Marketing and promotions are by Maria Buckley, Amy O'Driscoll and Fiona Burke. Press and Publicity by Jilly McDonough. The designer is Niamh McKeown. Audio Product Support by Nigel Wheatley. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce. Contact us documentaries@rte.ie Episodes released weekly, each Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long before anyone ever heard of this story, 3yrs ago, in 2021, a 32-year-old English woman approached us with a heartbreaking story. She was dying from a terminal illness. But she thought she might have a lifeline through lifesaving brain surgery, and she'd like us to record her final hope. What followed was an unraveling of the most unusual of stories, of a life where nothing is as it seems. With exclusive access to those involved and to victims who continue to be scammed to the present day, if you think you know this story, think again... A new multi-episodic series from RTÉ Documentary On One in Ireland. Starts June 7th 2024. Credits: The Real Carrie Jade is written, reported and produced by Ronan Kelly. Narrated by Justine Stafford. Original music soundtrack by Fergal O'Connor. Sound designer is Ruth Kennington and the executive producer is Liam O’Brien. Production assistance by Nicoline Greer. Legal advice from Darren Lynch and Deirdre Ann Kelly. Marketing and promotions are by Maria Buckley, Amy O'Driscoll and Fiona Burke. Press and Publicity by Jilly McDonough. The designer is Niamh McKeown. Audio Product Support by Nigel Wheatley. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce. Contact us documentaries@rte.ie Episodes released weekly, each Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.