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 Irish Serial Killers Who Sold Their Victims’ Bodies