They Walk Among Us - UK True Crime
Sep 9, 2026 · 1 hr 7 min · 20 segments
In 1973, ten-year-old Brian McDermott disappeared after leaving his home in East Belfast to go to a nearby park. As the search for him unfolded against the backdrop of the Troubles, investigators were…
Edward and Joan McDermott moved to Belfast just as a 30-year period of violence known as the Troubles broke out.
Their youngest son Brian had been born in Rugby Warwickshire while his father, who was then in the RAF, was stationed there.
Joan and her husband Edward, whom she affectionately called Ted, had five children including Brian, two girls named Isabel and Joan, and two boys William and the eldest Edward.
The family lived on Welsh Street just off Woodstock Road in East Belfast.
By 1973 the violence in Northern Ireland had peaked, with over 500 people killed the previous year, many of whom were civilians.
The community was divided, and sectarian violence was a constant threat.
Scottish native Joan worried for her eldest son Edward, known as Eddie, who was serving with the British Army at the time, but she had no reason to worry about her youngest son.
Brian McDermott was a typical ten-year-old boy.
His mother described him as cheeky and lovable, but always well-behaved.
Like many boys his age he spent most of his free time at home playing with Lego.
The summer holidays were drawing to a close and Brian was due to start at a new secondary school in September 1973.
Still for now he was making the most of not being in the classroom.
At around 11.30am on September 2nd Brian ate some toast his mother had made him.
A short time later she saw him pulling on his coat and asked Brian where he was going.
He told her he wanted to go to the park.
Warmer Park was less than a quarter of a mile from their home and as it was a Sunday afternoon Joan thought there would likely be other families and children there for Brian to play with.
Before he left Joan brushed her son's red hair and told him not to be long as dinner would be ready shortly.
Brian assured his mother he would be back in time, and Joan had no reason to doubt him.
As she plated up dinner, Joan kept an eye on the window for Brian.
When he failed to come home, she sent out her eldest son Eddie and his friend to look for Brian.
Eddie walked through the park calling Brian's name but found no trace of him, so he returned home without his brother.
When their father came home from work, they went back out together.
Hours passed and Brian's bedtime came and went.
Joan McDermott was beside herself with worry as her son had never been out so late before.
By 10pm Edward and Joan knew something was wrong, so they contacted the police.
Edward and Joan McDermott moved to Belfast just as a 30-year period of violence known as the Troubles broke out.
Their youngest son Brian had been born in Rugby Warwickshire while his father, who was then in the RAF, was stationed there.
Joan and her husband Edward, whom she affectionately called Ted, had five children including Brian, two girls named Isabel and Joan, and two boys William and the eldest Edward.
The family lived on Welsh Street just off Woodstock Road in East Belfast.
By 1973 the violence in Northern Ireland had peaked, with over 500 people killed the previous year, many of whom were civilians.
The community was divided, and sectarian violence was a constant threat.
Scottish native Joan worried for her eldest son Edward, known as Eddie, who was serving with the British Army at the time, but she had no reason to worry about her youngest son.
Brian McDermott was a typical ten-year-old boy.
His mother described him as cheeky and lovable, but always well-behaved.
Like many boys his age he spent most of his free time at home playing with Lego.
The summer holidays were drawing to a close and Brian was due to start at a new secondary school in September 1973.
Still for now he was making the most of not being in the classroom.
At around 11.30am on September 2nd Brian ate some toast his mother had made him.
A short time later she saw him pulling on his coat and asked Brian where he was going.
He told her he wanted to go to the park.
Warmer Park was less than a quarter of a mile from their home and as it was a Sunday afternoon Joan thought there would likely be other families and children there for Brian to play with.
Before he left Joan brushed her son's red hair and told him not to be long as dinner would be ready shortly.
Brian assured his mother he would be back in time, and Joan had no reason to doubt him.
As she plated up dinner, Joan kept an eye on the window for Brian.
When he failed to come home, she sent out her eldest son Eddie and his friend to look for Brian.
Eddie walked through the park calling Brian's name but found no trace of him, so he returned home without his brother.
When their father came home from work, they went back out together.
Hours passed and Brian's bedtime came and went.
Joan McDermott was beside herself with worry as her son had never been out so late before.
By 10pm Edward and Joan knew something was wrong, so they contacted the police.
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