Wife killer who faked his death and fled to Majorca was caught after big mistake

24 February 2024 , 19:26

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Colin Whelan killed wife Mary Gough before fleeing to Majorca, where a simple mistake landed him in prison

A wife killer who faked his own death and fled to Majorca after the grim killing made a simple mistake which led to his capture.

Colin Whelan got himself a fake passport and ran off to the Spanish island after strangling his wife of six months, Mary Gough, to death. Killer Whelan had made it look as though his 27-year-old wife had fallen down the stairs and made his disappearance from Dublin to Majorca soon after.

He ditched his clothes and car near Howth Head's cliffs to trick police into believing he had died by suicide. But Whelan had fled to Majorca with a fake passport and, under the identity of Cian Sweeney, began working behind a bar on the island. But he was rumbled when an Irish tourist recognised him and reported him to Gardaí.

He was extradited back to Ireland in July 2004, where he has been imprisoned ever since. Now 52, Whelan has served 20 years behind bars and will remain in the lock up for longer. The decision to keep him behind bars comes from objections from Mary's family, who wish to keep him behind bars.

Whelan is still behind bars and will remain there for at least four more years (TV3 Publicity <[email protected]>)

A prison source said: "Whelan is a model prisoner and has not caused any trouble behind bars. He has served 20 years for this callous crime but he won't be getting out any time soon. He is not on any early release programme and is facing a few more years in custody. The Independent Parole Board will decide when he gets out but there is no sign of it happening any time soon. He could end up doing another four or five years.

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"We understand the victim's family are vehemently against it, especially since he is still relatively young. Normally, a fella like him would be in an open prison by now and allowed day releases but it has not happened." Whelan is still housed in Wheatfield Prison, where he has worked as a chef, the Daily Star reported.

Scheming computer scientist Whelan believed he had gotten away with the perfect murder back in 2001 but admitted his guilt and apologised to Mary's family at trial after he was returned to Ireland. He labelled himself a "coward" as details of his escape were aired. He had been seeing another woman from Wales and had planned to live with her, cashing in the 400,000 euros life insurance policy on Mary. Internet search records confirmed Whelan had researched how to carry out the perfect murder.

Ewan Gleadow