David Malone - The Boy in the Attic: The Chilling, Real-Life Story of a Satanic Murder and the Truth that Haunts

Contents

To all who have loved
and to those who can forgive.

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Epub ISBN: 9781780571621

Version 1.0

www.mainstreampublishing.com

This edition, 2012

Copyright David Malone, 2011

All rights reserved

The moral right of the author has been asserted

First published in Great Britain in 2011 by

MAINSTREAM PUBLISHING COMPANY

(EDINBURGH) LTD

7 Albany Street

Edinburgh EH1 3UG

ISBN 9781780575292

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any other means without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for insertion in a magazine, newspaper or broadcast

The author has made every effort to clear all copyright permissions, but where this has not been possible and amendments are required, the publisher will be pleased to make any necessary arrangements at the earliest opportunity

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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This book was built with tea. Lots of it. The story in the pages that follow is told largely from the insights gained in many spoken interviews, both on and off the record. Where possible real names are used; a small number of witnesses asked that their names not be included. Without the testimony of each one of these people, this book would never have been completed. Thank you all.

As this is my first book, I have sought guidance from a range of people more expert in the business of publishing than myself: Bill Campbell at Mainstream Publishing, who commissioned The Boy in the Attic; his editorial co-ordinator, Graeme Blaikie, who steered me through the many hoops involved; and also publicists Fiona Atherton and Declan Heeney for ensuring that this story reaches the widest possible audience. Six months ago I did not know what a literary agent does. Now I do. Thanks to Patricia and Yvonne at Prizeman & Kinsella for their continued support.

I am forever indebted to my researcher, Sara Malone, whose damning yet word perfect criticism of my first draft made me write it again. Saras insight and analysis are on every page of this book. It would be a far poorer read without her work and I know her skills will be put to great use by other authors in the future.

I have never met Eleanor Collins, who edited the final draft, though I did briefly talk to her delightful two-year-old daughter on the phone. It is a pity that modern communications can so effectively remove the need for face-to-face meetings. However, if her personality is as sharp as her editing, Eleanor is truly a bright spark. Im sure well meet someday and I look forward to it.

A few people asked hard editorial questions at the outset of this project and, in doing so, set it on its way. Dr Betty Moran, an octogenarian retired GP who lives in the area where the events in The Boy in the Attic took place, has probed the story to its core, taking it down some unexpected alleyways. Undercover journalist Donal MacIntyre and his brother, BBC TV Panorama reporter Darragh, know a good story when they see one and provided encouragement all the way. Their sister, psychologist Dr Deirdre MacIntyre, offered useful insight and is quoted in the book. In Dublin, factual television producer Adrian Lynch encouraged me to dig further when I first came across this extraordinary case, and for that I am grateful. Niall Meehan, head of journalism at Griffith College in Dublin, has offered wise counsel throughout, as have journalist Fionuala Boyd, media lawyer Paul Tweed and documentary cameraman David Barker.