Special Australian Story episode to air on Gympie mum Kirra McLoughlin’s death

The episode will go to air in the wake of Deputy State Coroner Jane Bentley’s determination in June that Kirra’s de facto partner Paul McDonald caused the injuries that killed her – finding he beat and choked her and then waited hours to call an ambulance.

Paul McDonald, who a coroner determined killed his de facto partner Kirra-Lea McLoughlin. Picture Supplied

A special update episode of Australian Story exploring the suspicious July 2014 death of young Gympie region mother Kirra McLoughlin will air on the ABC next week.

Beenham Valley Road writer and producer Mayeta Clark confirmed the special episode would be coming to Australian TV screens next Monday night (August 16) in the wake of Deputy State Coroner Jane Bentley’s determination in June that Kirra’s de facto partner Paul McDonald caused the injuries that killed her – finding he beat and choked her and then waited hours to call an ambulance.

Homicide detectives launch review into alleged killing of Queensland mother-of-four Kirra-Lea McLoughlin

It was announced this week that homicide detectives were reviewing the alleged killing of Kirra, who died after suffering more than 100 injuries all over her body.

Coroner Bentley’s findings went into shocking detail of McDonald’s 70-plus domestic violence convictions, including that he’d choked, bashed and threatened multiple women, telling one of his victims he’d “got away with murder” and “I’ll kill you if you ever say anything to anybody”.

The Queensland Coroner’s Court last month refused to answer questions about why Coroner Bentley did not recommend McDonald be charged in connection with Kirra’s death.

Like their podcast namesake created by two former Gympie police officers, the Beenham Valley Road episodes of Australian Story were wildly successful when they aired last September.

Regional news at the heart of our best journalism

Part 1 has since racked up almost 500,000 views on YouTube.

High profile criminal lawyer Peter Boyce, acting on behalf of Ms McLoughlin’s grieving mother Alison Russell, said they met with senior police on Monday to discuss a way forward with the case.