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The Heroin Kingpin

When ambitious criminal Larry Dunne introduces heroin to Dublin in the late 70s, he devastates communities. A young detective goes undercover to dismantle the illegal operation.

In the late 70s and early 80s, Ireland battles a growing heroin epidemic, leaving devastation in its wake. Stable, working-class communities collapse, becoming hotspots of addiction and crime.

At the heart of this turmoil is Larry Dunne, a petty criminal from Dublin’s inner city, who has big ambitions. He rises to power, building a vast heroin trafficking empire and amassing incredible wealth as the city’s streets descend into chaos.

Detective Michael O’Sullivan, who only recently joined the Irish police service, is tasked with being the first detective to go undercover in the fight against drug crime. Michael assumes the guise of an addict, infiltrating the violent underworld controlled by Dunne’s network. He recounts the twists and turns of a high-stakes, four-year long game of cat and mouse to bring down Ireland’s first heroin kingpin.

Anna Buckley is a local community journalist who describes how her community was ravaged by the drugs sold by Dunne's operation. Journalist and reporter Brendan O’Brien also shares how his work turned the issue into national outrage.

11 months left to watch

49 minutes

Last on

Thursday 23:00

Credits

Role Contributor
Series Producer Mary McBrien
Director David Allen

Broadcasts