THE DANA IRELAND CASE

Courtesy of John and Louise Ireland
Brutal crime took Dana Ireland's life
on Christmas Eve 1991.

---

Nothing can erase the brutality
that took the life of Dana Ireland,
and the case drags on with little
chance of closure in sight

Star-Bulletin

Evil things aren't supposed to happen in Hawaii. It's paradise, you know.

But the sun-kissed days and tropical nights can't erase the ugliness of what happened here on Christmas Eve 1991.

Dana Ireland had just invited a friend to dinner with her parents, then set out for the seven-mile return bicycle ride to their vacation rental on the Big Island. She never made it.

We don't know if she heard the car that hit her, what went through her mind before impact, or during the nightmare that followed.

We do know that she was run down -- intentionally -- then kidnapped, raped and beaten. And left to die.

Three men have been arrested and indicted in the murder. No one has gone to trial. One of those men, Frank Pauline Jr., was scheduled for trial next Monday.

But another in a series of delays sent the trial to July 19. Brothers Albert Ian and Shawn Schweitzer are scheduled for trial Nov. 15.

Today, in the first part of a three-day special report, the Star-Bulletin examines the people and the events of that fateful Christmas Eve and the 7 years since.

Dana Marie Ireland only wanted a little piece of paradise. What went wrong?

CLICK HERE FOR
THE SPECIAL SECTION

Tuesday, June 8

Blurred through the years is the real Dana. She lives on, though -- beautiful, shy, kind -- in the memories of those who knew her.

The innocent. The indicted. Who's who in the Dana Ireland tragedy.

Anatomy of a murder. The what and where of the attack.

Wednesday, June 9

Help came too late for Dana Ireland. From the moment she was hit by her attackers' car until the time an ambulance reached her, more than two hours passed. Here's how minutes -- and a life -- were lost.

Thursday, June 10

Life has gone on since the Dec. 24, 1991, attack. Memories have faded. Witnesses have scattered. But each twist and turn in the seven-year bid to bring to justice those responsible means fresh injury, not only to Dana's family but to witnesses whose lives have been put on hold by this on-again, off-again case.