The real-life crime behind ITV's drama The Secret has gripped the nation as the details behind one of Norther Ireland's most notorious double murders has been laid bare.

Based on the so-called Castlerock Suicides, the true story behind these horrifying murders starring James Nesbitt , have enraptured and disturbed viewers.

Set in the Baptist community in Coleraine in Northern Ireland, the drama centres around the deadly affair between dentist Colin Howell and Sunday school teacher Hazel Buchanan , but far from being a work of fiction, it is all based on the true story.

The first episode, also starring Dubliner Genevieve O’Reilly as Stewart, was broadcast 25 years and 11 days after Howell executed the heinous double murder plan.

On the night of 18 to 19 May 1991 – his son’s second birthday – Howell gassed his wife Lesley, 31, and dumped her in the boot of his estate car.

After driving past a police patrol, he arrived at the home of Stewart, then called love rival, police officer Trevor Buchanan.

Howell then gassed and throttled Buchanan, 33, with the help of his blonde lover.

Read more: The real life people behind the chilling story of The Secret

He confessed on January 28, 2009 to a church pastor and implicated Stewart with every detail he could recall.


The story was played out first in court and in the press, then a book followed and has now been portrayed on TV in the drama series.

Here we take a look at what has happened throughout.