New RTÉ doc on the most shocking case you’ve never heard of airs this week

"How does a young girl die and no one notices?"

The Girl in the Water follows one family’s search for answers after Kelly Lynch's body was discovered in Monaghan on Patrick's Day weekend in 2024.

Kelly's heartbroken mum Julieanne is desperate to know the circumstances surrounding her daughter's final hours.

The initial post-mortem report by the state pathologist’s office concluded that Kelly Lynch had died by drowning. A review by a second pathologist disagreed and said it was likely hypothermia. 

A further review from Dr. Fintan Garavan, an Irish-trained pathologist concluded it was neither, and Kelly had most likely died after a violent attack.

“I have concerns because there are injuries here that don’t make any sense," Dr Garavan said.
Set against the borderlands of Northern Ireland and the Republic, the documentary examines questions raised by the family and explores the differing interpretations of evidence and post-mortem findings that have emerged during their search for answers.

The documentary comes from the director and team behind "Bad Nanny", RTE's hit documentary on the scam-artist Samantha Cookes.

Director Alan Bradley said he was shocked at the family's treatment by Gardai.

"For me, I'm from Cavan, only down the road, and I heard nothing about it," he told JOE. 

"I was scrolling on Tiktik and saw Julieanne's videos about the case, I couldn't believe no one was investigating this.

"How does a young girl die and no one notices?

"When I saw the problems in the case and the questions the family had, i thought it needed to be in the national conversation.

"When I told people about the lapses in the investigation they thought it was a cold case from the 1970s, it as only in 2024.

"Kelly's clothes were handed back in a box to her family eight days after she died. It's unthinkable."

The Girl in the Water will air on Wednesday, 8 July 2026 at 9.35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.