Murderer Colin Whelan ordered to stay away from Stamullen and Gormanston ahead of release
Colin Whelan, 55, a computer analyst, strangled his wife Mary Gough, 27, a legal secretary, and pushed her body down the stairs of their home in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, on 28 February 2001, six months after their marriage. He left his clothes and car at Howth Head, staged a fake suicide in 2003, and fled to Majorca under the name Martin Sweeney until a Garda recognised him; after extradition he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment on 11 April 2005. Having served 22 years and been moved to Shelton Abbey Open Prison, where he is on daily temporary release to train as a chef, Whelan is due to be freed in the coming months. Under his release licence he has been ordered not to return to Stamullen or Gormanston, Co Meath, where the couple met and where Mary Gough grew up, and the Probation Service will deliberately locate him elsewhere.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Mary Gough, 27, a legal secretary, was strangled by her husband Colin Whelan, 55, a computer analyst, six months after their marriage.
- Whelan pushed her body down the stairs of their home to make the murder look like an accident.
- When
- The murder took place on 28 February 2001.
- Where
- The couple lived in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, and Whelan grew up in Gormanston, Co Meath, where the couple met.
- Cause
- Whelan was having an affair with a woman in Wales.
- Investigation
- Whelan left his clothes and car at Howth Head, staged a fake suicide in 2003, and fled to Majorca, Spain, where he lived under the fake name Martin Sweeney until a Garda recognised him.
- Charges
- After extradition, Whelan pleaded guilty to the murder.
- Sentence
- Whelan was sentenced to life imprisonment on 11 April 2005.
- Other details
- Whelan has served 22 years and was moved to Shelton Abbey Open Prison, where he is on daily temporary release to train as a chef.
- Whelan is due to be released in the coming months and, under his release licence, has been ordered not to return to Stamullen or Gormanston, Co Meath, with the Probation Service to deliberately locate him elsewhere.
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