?24 Hours to Kill? concludes with the untimely death of Alan Higgins.

TV3 GROUP RELEASE

IMMEDIATE: Friday 21st February, 2014.

 

 ‘24 Hours to Kill’ concludes with the untimely death of Alan Higgins.

 

Two north Dublin teenagers, who could not have been more different, crossed paths leading to fatal attack.

 

On October 12th 2002, Christopher Dunne and his friends Michael Maher and Anthony Whelan were intent on a violent path of destruction. Drinking beer and smoking joints from early in the day, they came across Alan Higgins who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

24 Hours to Kill Series Finale airs Monday 24thFebruary 2014 at 9pm on TV3.

 

The fourth series of TV3’s compelling 24 Hours to Kill concludes this Monday night at 9pm. The series examined a selection of Ireland’s most shocking murders, which in turn produced some of the most recognised murder trials since the founding of the State. Monday night’s episode retraces the footsteps of two north Dublin teens whose unfortunate and fatal encounter changed the lives of all involved forever.

 

On October 12th 2002, Alan Higgins had spent the Saturday evening with his girlfriend at the cinema. Described as a well-behaved and friendly teenager, he had beaten leukaemia as a child leaving his parents to believe they had been given a second chance.

 

At the other side of the tracks, Christopher Dunne, Michael Maher and Anthony Whelan were intent on causing trouble, drinking beer and smoking cannabis from early on in the day. After engaging in a series of robberies and attacks, Dunne returned home in search of a weapon. When his older brother stopped him from taking a baseball bat from the house, Dunne stole two steak knives which would result in fatal consequences.

 

At the same time Alan kissed his girlfriend goodbye and walked home along the pathway between the Tonlegee Road and the UCI cinema complex. It was here he came face to face with Dunne who was eager to continue his evening of escalating violence, drink and drugs. When Dunne bumped into Alan and called him a dope, Alan kept walking as he was brought up to do but 15-year-old Dunne pursued him. Stabbing Alan three times, the gang then robbed his wallet and phone. Alan later died in hospital surrounded by his family.

 

With reconstructed footage of the crimes and commentary from Crime Reporters Alison O’Reilly and Michael Doyle, UTV Court Correspondent Sarah O’Connor and  Criminologist John O’Keeffe and retired Superintendent Noel McLoughlin, 24 Hours to Kill retraces the steps Christopher Dunne and how was sentenced to life in prison despite being just 15 at the time of the murder.

 

24 Hours to Kill Series Finale airs Monday 24thFebruary 2014 at 9pm on TV3.

 

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