S2 Ep7: Michael Ryan, the perpetrator of The Hungerford Massacre
Helen and Danni take a look at The Hungerford Massacre, a day of death and destruction that rocked the nation. The country went into a state of shock when, one morning, a lonely young man named Michael Ryan woke up and, seemingly on a whim, decided to murder as many people in the quaint English village of Hungerford as possible. It was a day that led to huge gun reform in the United Kingdom, but the horrors of what unfolded on the 19th of August, 1987 can still be felt to this day. Expect destruction on an enormous scale, the government actually doing something right for once, and the absolute worst journalist of all time. Devils in The Dark contains graphic details of violence and mentions of suicide, and is not intended for all audiences. Listener discretion is strongly advised. 00:00 - Introduction 07:20 - Who was Michael Ryan? 13:13 - The murder of Susan Godfrey 14:19 - Michael attempts murder at a petrol staton on the A4 15:35 - Michael loses it back at home 21:51 - The murder of Kenneth Clements 26:34 - The murder of PC Roger Brereton 28:05 - The murders of George White and Abdul Khan 37:39 - Officer Trevor Wainwright receives a harrowing phonecall 42:00 - The murders of Eric Vardy, Sandra Hill, Victor Gibbs and Myrtle Gibbs 42:37 - Michael Ryan heads to The John O’Gaunt Community College 45:08 - Michael Ryan takes his own life 52:56 - A perfect example of horrible journalism 57:00 - Gun reform in the UK 01:01:00 - Outro This episode is sponsored by… BetterHelp: For 10% off your first month, head to www.betterhelp.com/DITD StitchFix: To try StitchFix for free, visit www.stitchfix.co.uk and use the code DEVILS20, and take 20% off your order when you keep all 5 items in your fix. Beer52: Head to www.beer52.com and use the code DEVILS22 for a free case of beer! For updates on Devils in The Dark and all things true crime, head to @devilsinthedark on Instagram! You can also follow Helen Anderson at @helenanderz and Danni Howard at @thatdannihoward. Special thanks to Woodcut Media. Produced by Alexandra Jueno at Audioboom Studios. If you have been affected by any of the themes in this week’s episode please consider contacting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Confidential Emotional Support Line: 01708 765200 See audioboom.com/about/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.