In April of 1986, three armed men burst into a lavish home in Howth. When they left, they brought with them Jennifer Guinness, mother of three and wife of the head of a merchant bank. A ransom was demanded for her return. 



Despite the quick mobilisation of gardai all over Dublin, Jennifer's captor would evade capture for over a week. 


********



Join me at CrimeCon UK on September 25th & 26th 2021. For more information and tickets visit crimecon.co.uk. Use the code MENSREA for 10% off. Purchase a ticket with the code and get in touch to get a free Mens Rea T-Shirt (limited to first 10 listeners who contact me)

********



With thanks to our sponsor for this episode:



Try the casual mobile puzzle game Best Fiends today! Find it on the Apple App store and Google Play!

********



Find us on Facebook or Twitter!



With thanks to our supporters on Patreon! Donate today to get access to bonus and ad-free episodes!



Check out the Mens Rea Merch Store!

********



Theme Music:



Quinn’s Song: The Dance Begins Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/



Additional Music:   Allemande (Sting) by Wahneta Meixsell. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

********


Sources:

Sean Flynn, “Gardai await contact with kidnap gang” in The Irish Times (11 April 1986) p. 1, 6.



Sean Flynn, “Kidnappers at Howth home for two hours” in The Irish Times (11 April 1986) p. 1, 6.



“Guinness family have kept an open door for friends” in The Irish Times (11 April 1986) p. 1.



Sean Flynn, “News blacked out to protect victim” in The Irish Times (11 April 1986) p. 6.



John Stanley, “Guinness role in bank 'that of figurehead'” in The Irish Times (11 April 1986) p. 6.



Sean Flynn, “Descriptions of suspects issued” in The Irish Times (11 April 1986) p. 6.



Sean Flynn, “Family calls in British security firm on kidnap” in The Irish Times (12 April 1986) p. 1, 5.



Sean Flynn, “Guinness family may make reward offer” in The Irish Times (14 April 1986) p. 1, 9.“Man being questioned” in The Irish Times (14 April 1986) p. 1.



“Dublin churches join in prayers for kidnap woman” in The Irish Times (14 April 1986) p. 9.



Sean Flynn, “Gardai deny any contact made with kidnappers” in The Irish Times (14 April 1986) p. 1.



“Man held over Howth gun inquiry, court told” in The Irish Times (15 April 1986) p. 10



Sean Flynn, “Victim held by gunmen in siege at Ballsbridge” in The Irish Times (16 April 1986) p. 1, 9.



“Luxury home was 'hide-out'” in The Irish Times (16 April 1986) p. 1.



“Family chose low profile” in The Irish Times (16 April 1986) p. 9.



Sean Flynn, “Buoyant Mrs Guinness tells of her ordeal” in The Irish Times (17 April 1986) p. 1, .



“No hate for my captors – Mrs Guinness” in The Irish Times (17 April 1986) p. 9



Carol Coulter, “I had no doubt that my life was in danger” in The Irish Times (17 April 1986) p. 9.



Sean Flynn, “Close surveillance of car was key to kidnap breakthrough” in The Irish Times (17 April 1986) p. 9.



“Moment I have been waiting for” in The Irish Times (17 April 1986) p.



“Dublin men on kidnap charges” in The Irish Times (18 April 1986) p. 1.



“Gardai question three over kidnap” in The Irish Times (18 April 1986) p. 8. 



“Fourth man charged in kidnap case” in The Irish Times (19 April 1986) p. 1.



“No charge as man and woman released” in The Irish Times (19 April 1986) p. 19.



“Further remand in Guinness kidnap case” in The Irish Times (25 April 1986) p. 10.



“Steering clear of trouble” in The Irish Times (5 May 1986) p. 8.



“Bail refused to man on Guinness charge” in The Irish Times (10 May 1986) p. 20.



“Further remand in Guinness case” in The Irish Times (14 May 1986) p. 7.



“Four in court on Guinness charge” in The Irish Times (24 May 1986) p. 20.



“Two remanded on Guinness charge” in The Irish Times (21 June 1