Deirdre – The episode opens with Shelly Mohan/Maggie Gallagher (Charlene McKenna) researching the murder of Charlie Lynch/Phil Whelan (Adam Fergus) in 1999. Looking at her photo, she has a flashback of Charlie threatening to find her. Back to the present, a weepy Caitlin Mohan (Katelyn Rose Downey) says the menstrual blood stopped. Shelly assures her that she will be all right.

DCI Crichett (Cathy Belton) reviews a police report about fugitives, Charlie and Maggie.

Jason Mohan (Barry Ward) and Fiona Uba (Jeanne Nicole Ni Ainle) stake out the hotel when the sex worker who visited with Phil is dropped off. They rush into the front lobby to discover the woman isn’t Marianne. Assistant Hotel Manager Wiry Sean (Fergus Mulligan) says she isn’t Marianne.

Derek Mohan (Rhys Mannion) texts Doireann Carrick (Grace Collender) to apologize. He enters the house as Caitlin and Shelly cheer on Niall Mohan (Aidan McCann) as he takes his medicine. Excited, Shelly orders everyone gets dressed, they are going out. Luke (Maeron Libomi) texts Derek to ask if he has spoken with Doireann.

The police raid a flat in search of Marianne. A trafficked victim (Jennifer Kilmurray) claims Marianne hasn’t been there in several days. Fiona orders the women to put on their clothes. The woman says they are prohibited from wearing clothes unless they have a date. Removing her coat, she drapes it over the woman’s shoulders.

Derek pleads with Doireann to talk. Katie Ryan (Aoibheann McCann) and Billy Ryan (Benjamin Bergin) greet Shelly at a restaurant. She asks if Jason is closer to solving the hotel murder. When the waitress (Ebimie Anthony) delivers Caitlin’s waffle, Katie warns the calories will go to her hips. Shelly asks her to let Caitlin enjoy her waffle. Billy mimics Niall coughing. Derek holds out his foot for the boy to fall flat on the floor.

Jason and Fiona discover the human-trafficking victims are marked with tattoos.

After thanking Derek for watching after Niall, she suggests inviting Doireann to Jason’s brother’s barbecue. He demands she minds her own business. She tells him to go stay with his mum or Luke. He grabs his skateboard out of the car before walking away. Caitlin questions why he is so much. Niall says caffeine causes “irritability.”

Crichett reads an article about the death of a baby, born on March 11, 1973. She informs Detective Baxter (Youssef Quinn) that she will stop at St. Mary’s Hospital. Choosing the tombstone of a three-day-old infant, Philip Paul Whelan, Shelly says it is perfect for Charlie. Charlie warns against stealing from an infant. She says it will give the deceased baby a life. Kenneth “Kenny” Doyle (James Craze) gets upset when he discovers they didn’t tell him about her pregnancy. Back to the present, Baxter and Crichett visit the gravesite of Philip Paul Whelan. Baxter suggests it’s “bad karma” stealing from a deceased infant. She asks him to not say anything to Commissioner Garrett. As the drives away, the camera focuses on the tombstone of Deirdre Ann Fallon.

Fiona informs Jason that Garda Pat O’Connor (Sean Duggan) claims Shelly stopped by the police station Friday night. Fiona suggests she contaminated the evidence before asking for Shelly’s DNA and fingerprints. Jason calls Shelly to ask about her visit to the police station. She claims to have felt guilty that he had to work late. He questions why she never informed him when he came home that night. She says O’Connor denied knowing where they went. He assures her that they were working. She tells him about her altercation with Derek. After saying Fiona is using his office to process evidence from Whelan’s murder, he asks her to come into the police station for fingerprints and DNA. She asks if Fiona believes she removed evidence from his office. He warns her evidence could have been left anywhere. He admits to envying her for growing up an orphan with no family to deal with.

After Doireann agrees to a visit, Derek goes to her house to find Brian Carrick (Killian Donnelly) waiting. He demands Derek stop harassing Doireann. Derek demands to see but Brian runs him off.

Shelly researches fingerprints and the impact of calcium oxide on the skin.

A housekeeper at the hotel, Eileen (Orla Casey) claims to have encountered a “white woman” in the hallway on the day Whelan was murdered. She says the woman left through the emergency exit.

Detective Inspector Yeats (Peter McCamley) and Crichett inform Betsy Overton (Elaine Murphy) of Phil’s alias, Charlie Lynch. Crichett suggests Charlie was responsible for the murder of a Belfast drug dealer. Maeve assures them that Phil was law-abiding before telling them that he spoke of Maggie “Magpie.” She claims he said Maggie left him heartbroken. She questions if Maggie murdered Phil. Crichett says Charlie’s brother is Rory Lynch. Maeve says he grew up in foster homes. Laurie (Kiera Crawford) tells Crichett that her sister, Wendy hated Phil before showing her a phone he sent her. She says their last content was last week when he was in Ireland to find Maggie.

Shelly takes Niall and Caitlin to see Jason’s brother, Kevin Mohan (Paul Kennedy), and Maeve Mohan (Fiona Browne). Derek admits to inviting his mum, Grainne (Judith Roddy). Niall follows Derek to a building where he is drinking with some friends. After running Niall off, Derek claims he and Doireann had sex. Caitlin demonstrates how to play camogie for Emma Wilson (Nathara Dayananda). Niall is hiding in the shed when Shelly enters in search of calcium oxide. Jason calls to inform her of Eileen coming forward. When the phone ends, Matt Wilson (Trevor Kaneswaran) enters the shed. After a bit of back and forth, they head back to the barbecue. Niall drinks the rest of Shelly’s wine.

Pam Wilson (Caoimhe O’Malley) introduces herself to Jason. Matt describes Jason as a “peacekeeper” that doesn’t carry a gun. Kevin admits to being proud of Jason for getting his first murder case. They take part in a purification ritual. Emma grabs Caitlin’s hand as they approach the fire.

On the ride home, Jason and Shelly discuss the case. She asks what will happen to the human trafficking victims. He suggests they will be sent home. While she washes her hand, he says Pam claims she and Matt are getting along well. She accuses him of being jealous before questioning how he looks at her. She says he may be interested in what she has to say. He asks if she is having an affair with Matt. She says, “Not yet” before he rushes out of the room.

Crichett informs Baxter of Phil and Laurie’s interaction and phone. He says crime scene investigators discovered a partial fingerprint at Vance’s murder scene.

In a flashback, Maggie and Charlie discover Kenny’s torso and arm are discovered near a marina. She reminds him that Maggie Gallagher and Charlie Lynch are dead. He suggests Kenny may have said something about their aliases.

Back to the present, Jason sleeps at his office. Shelly soaks her hands in the calcium oxide. In a press conference, Jason provides the public with a description of the few suspect. He announces a suspect sketch will be available soon as the episode comes to an end.

 

Clean Sweep Review

DCI Crichett discover Charlie took the name of a deceased infant, Phil Whelan, as an alias. Maggie took an alias as well. Phil and his daughter, Laurie stayed in touch via a mobile phone. She gives the phone to Crichett for forensic testing. Crichett is investigating the case without the Commissioner’s knowledge.

A housekeeper comes forward to provide a description of a woman (Shelly) who visited Phil before he was murdered. After Pat informs Fiona of Shelly visiting the police station, she demands her fingerprints and DNA. An online search reveals calcium oxide can dissolve the epidermis and alters the fingerprints. She removes calcium oxide from Kevin’s shed.

Jason begins to question Shelly’s relationship with Matt.

The story constantly steers in a different direction than the plot. Too many scenes are irrelevant, adding nothing to the story. The screenplay is confusing, possibly to build suspension. Four episodes would have eliminated the fluff and irrelevant scenes. The episode deserves a 6. Get more Clean Sweep recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Our onsite advertising builds online awareness, learn more by contacting our customer support.