TOSH LAVERY INTERVIEW: DANGER, DEATH & DRAMA (EP69)

Tosh Lavery, a former member of the Garda Sub-Aqua Unit, spent over three decades confronting some of Ireland’s most harrowing tragedies, from the Whiddy Island disaster and the assassination of Lord Mountbatten to the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin. Known for his gravelly voice and sparkling blue eyes, Tosh was a fearless maverick who found his calling in the darkest of waters—recovering bodies, bringing closure to grieving families, and tirelessly pursuing justice in missing persons cases. His career, though marked by heroism and dedication, took a heavy personal toll, contributing to a long battle with alcoholism and the breakdown of his marriage. Despite the trauma, Tosh found a way forward and has been sober for nearly three decades, channelling his energy into advocacy work for families of the missing.

Born and raised in Waterford, Tosh’s childhood was grounded in community and modest means, shaped by a strong work ethic inherited from his parents. Joining the Gardaí at just 18, his early years were spent policing during the height of the Troubles, and later, diving in some of the most perilous and emotional conditions imaginable—all without proper training in the beginning. Yet Tosh’s resilience and raw commitment made him a key figure in Ireland’s most difficult investigations. Now living in Dublin with his partner and two sons, he remains deeply connected to the past, returning regularly to places like Whiddy Island and Donegal.

Through his book, Tosh: An Amazing True Story of Life, Death, Danger and Drama, and his ongoing work with “Searching for the Missing in Ireland and International,” Tosh continues to give voice to the voiceless and dignity to the disappeared.

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Radio Espial: Episode 23: Missing - The Annie McCarrick Case

Annie Bridget McCarrick (born March 27th, 1966), an American woman from Long Island, New York, went missing under suspicious circumstances in 1993 while she was residing in Ireland. Radio Espial's Mick Rooney explores the timeline and events surrounding her disappearance. McCarrick was born on Long Island, New York and she grew up and lived in Bayport until her move to Ireland in January 1987, aged 19, to study at St Patrick’s College for Teacher Training in Drumcondra. She later switched colleges and instead decided to study Irish Literature at Maynooth University for three years. For two years she was in a relationship with Dermot Ryan, a period when Annie was renting and sharing a small cottage with a female friend in Ballyboden, Dublin. In 1990, she returned to New York and after a four-month period, the relationship with Ryan petered out. He returned to Ireland and later decided to move to Italy. Annie instead remained in New York and spent two years in the US studying for a m...

The Disappearance of Alpho O’Reilly | Ireland’s Unsolved Mystery (E77)

In January 1996, Alpho O’Reilly — one of Ireland’s most celebrated designers and a respected figure in Dublin’s theatre world — vanished without a trace. Last seen in the early hours of the morning at a petrol station in Co. Wicklow, the 73-year-old drove off in his green Mitsubishi Colt and was never seen again. His car has never been recovered. His passport remained at home. His bank account was never touched. Nearly 30 years later, his disappearance remains one of Ireland’s most baffling cold cases. Who was Alpho O’Reilly, and what really happened on that winter night in 1996? This video explores the life, career, and mysterious disappearance of Alpho O’Reilly — from his groundbreaking work at RTÉ and in Dublin theatre, to the unanswered questions that still haunt this case.

MURDERED: THE CASE OF MARILYN RYNN (E81)

In the early hours of December 22nd, 1995, a 41-year-old woman stepped off a night bus just minutes from home. She had been laughing with friends only hours earlier, celebrating Christmas in the heart of Dublin. But in a dark shortcut through Tolka Valley Park, Marilyn Rynn’s journey ended in brutal violence. Her murder would shock Ireland—and quietly change criminal investigations forever, becoming the first case in the country to be solved by DNA. Radio Espial presents the first ever comprehensive timeline of her case.

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