Ireland Balbriggan murder man due for release, Meath exclusion ordered
man Colin Whelan, 55, strangled his wife Mary Gough, 27, and pushed her body down the stairs of their Balbriggan, Co Dublin home on 28 February 2001, six months after they married. He fled to Majorca, Spain, under the name Martin Sweeney before a Garda recognised him and he was extradited back to Ireland. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment on 11 April 2005. Having served 22 years, he is now due for release in the coming months and has been ordered not to return to Stamullen or Gormanston, Co Meath, where his victim grew up.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Colin Whelan strangled his wife Mary Gough and pushed her body down the stairs of their home to make it look like an accident.
- Where
- The couple lived in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, and Whelan grew up in Gormanston, Co Meath.
- When
- The murder took place on 28 February 2001, six months after the couple married.
- Cause
- Whelan was having an affair with a woman in Wales.
- Investigation
- Whelan left clothes and his car at Howth Head before fleeing to Majorca, Spain, where he lived under the name Martin Sweeney until a Garda recognised him.
- Charges
- After extradition, Whelan pleaded guilty to murder.
- Sentence
- He was sentenced to life imprisonment on 11 April 2005.
- Other details
- Having served 22 years, Whelan is due for release in the coming months and has been ordered not to return to Stamullen or Gormanston, Co Meath.
- He was moved to Shelton Abbey Open Prison and is on daily temporary release to train as a chef.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMary Gough was 27 and a legal secretary. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe pushed her body down the stairs of their home on 28 February 2001. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereTheir home was in Balbriggan, Co Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereWhelan grew up in Gormanston, Co Meath. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHe left clothes and his car at Howth Head before fleeing the country. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtAfter extradition, Whelan pleaded guilty. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to life imprisonment on 11 April 2005. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherColin Whelan, 55, is due to be freed in the coming months. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe has been told not to return to Stamullen, Co Meath. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe has served 22 years for strangling Mary Gough. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe couple had been married for six months. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherUnder his release licence he will be told not to return to Stamullen or Gormanston. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe Probation Service will deliberately locate him somewhere else. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe built a new life in Majorca, Spain using the fake name Martin Sweeney. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherAn eagle-eyed Garda recognised him in Majorca. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe was moved to Shelton Abbey Open Prison several months ago. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe is on temporary release every day to train as a chef. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherPrison authorities expect him to be released by the Independent Parole Board over the next year. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHis case has been helped by the fact he is a model prisoner. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe was having an affair with a woman in Wales. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 26 Oct2026Computer analyst who murdered wife ordered to stay away from her home village
Reports that Colin Whelan, due for release in coming months, has been ordered to stay away from Stamullen and Gormanston, Co Meath, where his victim grew up and where the couple met, and provides background on the 2001 murder, his 2003 fake suicide and flight to Majorca, and his 2005 life sentence.
victim, Mary Gough, 27, female, irish (judged from name)Mary Goughconvicted, Colin Whelan, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Colin Whelan