Below is the list of notes taken by Tony Batters
during his interview with Christine Holohan. He identifies
the date as "..on or about Thursday 17.2.1983" (confirmed by Holohan).
The body of Jacqueline Poole had been discovered
the previous Sunday. The notes have been numbered by Tony Batters
for reference and this version is reproduced here
but I have removed these intially to improve clarity of
reading.
Tony Batters marked certain sensitive comments 'Not
for Publication' and I have indicated where comments have been removed.
It should not be inferred from this that I regard these pieces of text
as being highly accurate. Indeed I think most of the comments could easily
been inferred from the nature of the crime. Holohan did not give details
about the sexual assault and also missed out various other pieces of information.
She doesn't mention that Ruark used a "light cord" - something
that wasn't disclosed at the time. However since the publication
of her book she claims she did mention the light cord. If she did then
is surprising that Tony Batters didn't record the fact in his notes.
Since Sun “Jacqui Hunt”. Saying shouldn’t have been there. Wasn’t well. Prescription. Murdered. Late Sat night. Knows socially. Not X- boyfriend. Friend of friend. Early 20’s. She’s going thro divorce. Person responsible.
Not a proper job. Dk skin. Known about 6 mths, part of group
of friends. Not a friend. Friend of friend. Tattoo. Snake
on arm + Rose. Not sure about letting him in. She’s
showing me a chain. Door chain. Hallway. Side cupboard. Seemed
know what looking for.. After spent 10 mins looking around.
Dk skinned. Coloured. Envelope - letter. Bathroom. Happened
Bathroom. 3 pubs. Back to bathroom. [TEXT
REMOVED] Keeps asking Terry.Personal life. Wanted keep
quiet. Friend in nick. Guy who used to visit. Not nick - bird.
She would’ve visited 2 wks before. She was expecting
message that’s why let him in.Expecting message to go
work. Back to nick. It’s a local man. He’s visited
her at work. Chap responsible working recently. Tattoo - sword?
She knew lot people. Keeps saying Terry.
Bar
work. Now. that’s where she lives. Car park. He parked
on corner. 2 lots of flats. She wasn’t supposed to
be there. Plans changed. Afro-wavey hair - Someone you’ve
had in. Not tall. He’s looking at clock. Name Stone.
Barbara Stone. Barbara. Person who came in. She knew.
thro someone in nick. Someone knows about jewellery. She
had some stolen.Some left. He has a nickname. Not a proper
name. Can’t
understand saying. Grease monkey she calls it. Car, tools.
Link with nick. Terry again. Name of road starts with
L. I get 8 o’clock. Had experience about 9. I changed
my clothes twice. Back to bathroom. Now living room. Nice.
Compact. Settee. Come in a bit. You found it different.
Furniture re-arranged. The cushions moved.
They
knew where they were. Newspapers. Not read. He was cool. [TEXT
REMOVED] Not much more than 5’8. Age 22. [TEXT
REMOVED] She’s sending out pictures. 5’8
ish. Dark. Early 20’s. He’s got girlfriend. Knew
Jackie. Dk haired small pretty. When you find him, his friends
will be surprised. He’s still around. drinking with
friends. April May Bday. He’s Taurus. Likes to drink.
Police have seen him. Girlfriend alibi. A Name Tony. She’s
got C in initial. She knew Jackie. Drinking with group of
friends night before. Keeps mentioning Terry. Sylvia. She’s
afraid to say something. Now, something about Ins. Claim.
After
murder - v cool type. Looking at window ledge. 2 cups in
kitchen . 1 washed up. She made cup of coffee. Robbery she’s
talking about. Jewellery. Showing me a St Christopher. Her
granny gave her something. Her mother gave her something
for Xmas. v nice. Says Hillingdon. She was with wrong people
in past. Thinking about her husband. Blk addess book. small.
Mirror.
2 men called earlier. Didn’t want to go. Terry. She
keeps saying. [TEXT REMOVED].
Now into hallway. Lounge. Phone. Couldn’t get to phone.
I get feeling she was being pestered. Told him she would tell
someone else. [TEXT REMOVED]
Hung about for 10 mins. Is he still about? Jealousy was a
lot of it. Did anyone see him leave? Lady across the road
might. Lady with dog. Now someone called Betty. Her mum’s
friend? Going for another job. Interview.
She
going to break with past. He was clever with cars. Cool. Crafty.
Got into places before. Done something a job for her in past.
Got a funny name. Decorating. he was painter - decorator.
Not called by a proper name. The name of a thing. He’s
sly. You are close. The guy lives on an estate - council house
or flat. She never liked this bloke. She thought he had a
message. She had pills. A prescription. Fits of depression.
She was drinking more than should. [TEXT
REMOVED]. No feelings when walked away. Try his alibi.
Friends not believe he could. Keeps on about Terry. This bloke
would’ve done jobs on a friends car. There’s someone
living in a flat over a shop, this friend. Newspaper shop?
[TEXT REMOVED]. Was there another
ring apart from these 2 ? Chunky bracelet. [TEXT
REMOVED]. He did most damage. [TEXT
REMOVED]. She’s wearing jeans. A jumper. She’s
still ...?... from what happened. [TEXT
REMOVED]. Keep in direction you’re going. You
have got the right group.
At some point Holohan wrote down the name "Pokie"
and "Garden" and other information.
Here
is the numbered version compiled by Tony Batters. I'm
still updating this - a very laborious job.
Holohan
as quoted by Tony Batters
How
Tony Batters links it to the crime
My
comments
1.
Since Sun “Jacqui Hunt”
Maiden
name of victim. Found Sun.13.2.83
The
name 'Hunt' could have been mentioned by others.
2.
Saying shouldn’t have been
Was
due to do bar work that evening at ‘Whispers’.
3.
there. Wasn’t well. Prescription.
Complained
same day re effects of heavy period.
4.
Murdered. Late Sat night.
No.
Friday 11th Feb. ’83
Holohan admits this was a mistake
but now says Jacqui made the mistake.
5.
Knows socially. Not X-
Correct.
6.
boyfriend. Friend of friend.
Friend
of her boyfriend 'G'.
7.
Early 20’s.
22
correct.
8.
She’s going thro divorce
Divorce
pending from estranged husband Malcolm
Mentioned in the paper.
9.
Person responsible. Not a proper
Mixed
parentage. Dark side of half-caste.
If Ruark had been known to be
a suspect any description on him is really not that surprising.
10.
job. Dk skin
11.
Known about 6 mths
Since
Aug.’82 (to
Feb.’83)
12.
part of group of friends.
13.
Not a friend. Friend of friend.
14.
Tattoo. Snake on arm + Rose
See 9.
15.
Not sure about letting him in
16.
She’s showing me a chain
17.
Door chain
18.
Hallway. Side cupboard.
19.
Seemed know what looking for.
Jewellery also taken from
bedroom.
20.
After spent 10 mins looking around.
21.
Dk skinned. Coloured.
See 9.
22.
Envelope - letter.
23.
Bathroom. Happened Bathroom
24.
3 pubs.
25.
[TEXT REMOVED]
26.
[TEXT REMOVED]
27.
[TEXT REMOVED]
28.[TEXT
REMOVED]
29.
[TEXT REMOVED]
30.
Keeps asking Terry.
31.
Personal life. Wanted keep quiet.
Batters
does mention some very personal facts for this [TY]
32.
Friend in nick. Guy who
33.
used to visit. Not nick
34. - bird. She would’ve
35.
visited 2 wks. before
36.
She was expecting message
37.
that’s why let him in.
38.
Expecting message to go work.
39.
Back to nick.
40.
It’s a local man. He’s
See 9.
41.
visited her at work.
42.
Chap responsible working
43.
recently.
44.
Tattoo - sword?
See 9.
45.
She knew lot people.
46.
Keeps saying Terry
Impossible to verify. The only
information required is to know her brother was called
Terry
47.
Bar work.
On
regular basis.
48.
Now. that’s where she lives
49.
car park. He parked on corner
Impossible
to verify.
50.
2 lots of flats.
51.
She wasn’t supposed to be
52.
there. Plans changed
53.
Afro-wavey hair - Someone you’ve had in.
See 9.
54.
Not tall.
See 9.
55.
He’s looking at clock
Impossible
to verify.
56.
Name Stone. Barbara Stone
57.
Barbara.
58.
Person who came in. She knew
59.
thro someone in nick.
60.
Someone knows about jewellery.
Of course.
61.
She had some stolen.Some left.
Mentioned in newpaper.
62.
He has a nickname. Not a
See 9.
63.
proper name.
See 9.
64.
Can’t understand saying.
65.
Grease monkey she calls it.
66.
Car, tools.
67.
Link with nick.
68.
Terry again.
See 46.
serif">72. I changed my clothes twice.
73.
Back to bathroom.
Impossible
to verify.
74.
Now living room. Nice
Impossible
to verify.
75.
Compact.
76.
settee. Come in a bit
77.
You found it different.
From what? Ambiguous.
78.
Furniture re-arranged.
Can be guessed.
79.
The cushions moved.
Can be guessed.
80.
They knew where they were.
81.
Newspapers. Not read.
82.
He was cool. [TEXT REMOVED]
83.
[TEXT REMOVED]
84.
[TEXT REMOVED]
85.[TEXT
REMOVED]
86.
Not much more than 5’8
See 9.
87.
Age 22.
See 9.
88.
[TEXT REMOVED]
89.
[TEXT REMOVED]
90.
[TEXT REMOVED]
91.
[TEXT REMOVED]
92.
“What a bloody way to go”
Impossible
to verify.
93.
She’s sending out pictures. 5’8 ish
See 9.
94.
Dark. Early 20’s
See 9.
95.
He’s got girlfriend. Knew
See 9.
96.
Jackie. Dk haired small pretty
See 9.
97.
When you find him, his friends
98.
will be surprised.
99.
He’s still around. drinking with
See 9.
100. friends.
See 9.
101.
April May Bday. He’s Taurus
See
9.
102.
Likes to drink.
See
9.
103.
Police have seen him.
See
9.Probably common knowledge.
104.
Girlfriend alibi.
105.
A Name Tony. She’s got
106.
C in initial.
107.
She knew Jackie.
108.
Drinking with group of friends
109.
night before.
110.
Keeps mentioning Terry.
See
46.
111.
Sylvia. She’s afraid to
112.
say something.
113.
Now, something about Ins. Claim.
114.
After murder - v cool type.
115.
Looking at window ledge
Impossible
to verify.
116.
2 cups in kitchen . 1 washed
117.
up.
118.
She made cup of coffee.
119.
Robbery she’s talking about
In local newspaper.
120.
Jewellery. Showing me a St Christopher
In
local newspaper.
121.
Her granny gave her something.
122.
Her mother gave her something
Obviously.
123.
for Xmas. v nice.
124.
Says Hillingdon.
125.
She was with wrong people in past.
126.
Thinking about her husband.
Impossible
to verify.
127.
Blk addess book. small.
128.
mirror.
129.
2 men called earlier.
130.
Didn’t want to go.
131.
Terry. She keeps saying.
See
46.
132.
Back to bathroom.
Impossible
to verify. Not really a statement that tells us very much.
133.
[TEXT REMOVED]
134.
She keeps drawing me in there
Impossible
to verify.
135.
Now into hallway.
Impossible
to verify.
136. Lounge. Phone. Couldn’t
Impossible
to verify.
137.
get to phone.
138.
I get feeling she was being
139.
pestered. Told him she
140.
would tell someone else.
141.
[TEXT REMOVED]
142.
[TEXT REMOVED].
143.
Hung about for 10 mins.
Impossible
to verify.
144.
Is he still about?
Question.
145. Jealousy was a lot of it.
Motive
has not been verified.
146.
Did anyone see him leave?
Question.
147.
lady across the road might.
148.
Lady with dog.
149.
Now someone called Betty.
150.
Her mum’s friend?
151.
Going for another job. Interview.
152.
She going to break with past.
153.
He was clever with cars.
154.
Cool. Crafty. Got into
157.
her in past.
158.
Got a funny name.
See
9.
159.
Decorating. he was painter - decorator.
See
9.
160.
Not called by a proper
See
9.
161.
name. The name of a thing.
162.
He’s sly.
163.
You are close.
164.
The guy lives on an estate
165.
-council house or flat.
166.
She never liked this bloke.
Quite
possibly but not known.
167.
She thought he had a message.
Impossible
to verify.
168.
She had pills.
A prescription.
Re
menstruation pains and depression.
In handbag. Obtained from GP same week.
169.
Fits of depression. She was
She
stated re rent arrears & boyfriend in custody.
170.
drinking more than should.
N/K.
Certainly regular social drinker
171.
[TEXT REMOVED]
172.
[TEXT REMOVED]. No feelings
Impossible
to verify.
173.
when walked away.
Of course.
174.
Try his alibi. Friends
175.
not believe he could .
176.
Keeps on about Terry.
See 46.
177.
This bloke would’ve done
178.
jobs on a friends car.
179.
There’s someone living in a
180.
flat over a shop, this friend.
Both
would apply to Gloria R., victim’s closest
friend .
181.
Newspaper shop?
182.
[TEXT REMOVED]
183.
[TEXT REMOVED]
184.
[TEXT REMOVED]
185.
[TEXT REMOVED]
186.
[TEXT REMOVED]
187.
Was there another ring
A little
ambiguous and also a question not a statement.
188.
apart from these 2 ?
189.
Chunky bracelet.
190.
[TEXT REMOVED]
191.
He did most damage.
192.
[TEXT REMOVED]
193.
[TEXT REMOVED]
194.
She’s wearing jeans.
195.
A jumper.
196.
She’s still ...?... from what
197.
happened. Horrible fight.
Could be inferred
from information in public domain.
198.
Keep in direction you’re going.
What direction is
that? I thought they sprang into action on Holohan's
information.
199.
You have got the right group.
Enquiries
were then being focused on her social group.
