University News Last updated 05 May 2017
Birmingham Criminologists are starring in a new TV show examining hitmen in the Republic of Ireland, after figures revealed that five per cent of all murders in the Republic are contract killings.
David Wilson, Emeritus Professor at Birmingham City University, Emma Kelly, Criminology Programme Director at Birmingham City University and Donal MacIntyre, Visiting Professor at Birmingham City University, all feature in the show Assassins: Ireland’s Contract Killings, which debuted on Ireland’s TV3 this week (April 3).
Co-hosted by Professor Wilson and top investigative journalist Donal MacIntyre, the show focuses on specific cases and hitmen, after an academic paper put together by then pair discovered that Ireland had one of the highest proportions of hired killings in the developed world.
The paper also highlighted the four different types of hitmen, something which is further explored through the documentary.
The opening episode of the programme focussed on Dublin based assassin Paddy ‘the Whack’ Doyle, examining his upbringing, personality traits and experiences which led his to his involvement in hired killings.
Alongside the two hosts a series of expert guests support the documentary and help detail the case studies and profile the criminals. Among the experts is Emma Kelly who leads Birmingham City University’s Criminology, Policing & Investigation and Security Studies programmes.
She said: “The research which David and Donal carried out threw up some genuinely fascinating and surprising findings, not least the fact that five per cent of all murders in Ireland are carried out by hitmen.
“As a University we are extremely fortunate to have such experienced and talented professionals as David and Donal not only researching with us, but also teaching our students. And the skills they demonstrate in the show underpin the knowledge they pass on to the next generation of Criminologists.”
Assassins: Ireland’s Contract Killingswill be running over the six weeks, concluding on June 7.