Ireland

Book sheds new light on suspected Irish serial killer Kieran Kelly

The new book, The Secret Serial Killer: The True Story of Kieran Kelly, details three years of investigations into the claims
The new book, The Secret Serial Killer: The True Story of Kieran Kelly, details three years of investigations into the claims The new book, The Secret Serial Killer: The True Story of Kieran Kelly, details three years of investigations into the claims

SKELETAL remains were unearthed at the one-time home in Co Laois of a convicted double killer suspected of dozens more murders, according to a new book investigating the case.

The discovery in 1993 at Kieran Kelly's former home in Rathdowney was revealed to author and journalist Robert Mulhern during his research.

The Secret Serial Killer: The True Story of Kieran Kelly documents years of investigations into claims that Kelly murdered up to 31 people after emigrating to London.

Kelly died in prison in England in 2001, having been found guilty in 1984 of the murder of Hector Fisher and manslaughter of William Boyd.

Both victims, like Kelly himself, were homeless alcoholics living transient lives in south London.

But while being questioned over Boyd's killing, Kelly confessed to upwards of 10 murders – including victims being pushed into the paths of London Underground trains.

In 2015, former police officer Geoff Platt claimed the Irishman could be responsible for up to 31 murders – prompting the Metropolitan Police to commit to revisiting the investigation.

Mr Mulhern described the Kieran Kelly case as "one of the most compelling and intriguing crime stories you probably don't know".

"Kelly was an Irish labourer, convicted of two killings but whose wider confession of a 30-year killing spree remained a secret for decades," he told The Irish Post.

"Evidence has come to light in recent months that has dramatically advanced the assertion that Kelly killed more than two people."

He said the question of what action was taken after his testimony led to the investigation as laid out in The Secret Serial Killer.

"At almost every stage along the way new evidence has emerged – most recently at the site of his one-time Irish home in Co Laois."

The newly released book follows an award-winning 2016 RTÉ radio documentary on Kelly entitled Anatomy of an Irish Serial Killer.

Mr Mulhern's investigations have also spawned a Netflix documentary available in America, Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer, as well as a six-part RTÉ podcast series due for release in January 2020.