The Irish Serial Killers Who Sold Their Victims’ Bodies

The Irish Serial Killers Who Sold Their Victims’ Bodies

From Red Room by Jenny Claffey

April 12, 2026 · 33 min · Season 9 · Episode 2

About this episode

This episode explores the infamous Burke and Hare murders and the underground body trade in 19th century Edinburgh.

Burke and Hare are two of the most infamous serial killers in history, but they weren’t typical murderers. In 1828, Edinburgh, they killed at least 16 people and sold their bodies to medical schools in a booming underground body trade. This episode explores the real story behind the murders, the anatomy trade, and how they were finally caught. This episode was written & hosted by me, Jenny Claffey. Researched by Karl O’Reilly. Links Fever & Famine 1817-18 – In The News | Co. Tyrone People From The Past . 21 May 1947 - GRIM MURDER PARTNERSHIP HELPED MAKE EDINBURGH'S MEDICAL FAME - Trove The Burke and Hare murders Life in Ulster in the 1800s The Perpetrators, Burke and Hare The Story of Burke and Hare - Edinburgh . The William Burke Museum | The Cadies & Witchery Tours Bodies and bureaucracy: The demise of the body snatchers in 19th century Britain - Philp - 2022 - The Anatomical Record - Wiley Online Library Burke and Hare: The body snatchers - BBC Bitesize Procuring Corpses: The English Anatomy Inspectorate, 1842 to 1858 - PMC The gruesome true story of the bodysnatchers who robbed graves and resorted to murder in 18th-century Britain The untold story of serial killer…

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Host: Jenny Claffey

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Places: Edinburgh

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