One of the most mysterious jewel heists of the early 20th century - which threatened to unleash an extraordinary gay scandal involving Ernest Shackleton's brother Frank and the King of England.

On the eve of the King's royal visit to Ireland in 1907 the Irish Crown Jewels were stolen from Dublin Castle - Britain's most impregnable Irish stronghold. It couldn't have been more personally embarrassing for the monarch. The priceless gems were a symbol of unity between the British Crown and loyal Ireland. Now those symbols had disappeared.

But as King Edward VII personally oversaw a massive investigation into the robbery, an even greater scandal threatened to emerge which would have rocked the Royal Family to the core. Homosexuality stalked the corridors of power in Ireland and led right to the King's Palace in London. What was to have been a showcase pursuit of the guilty became an exercise in cover-up. The jewels were never found, a suitable fall guy was disgraced and the likely perpetrator - Frank Shackleton - brother of the polar explorer Ernest got off scot-free.

While the theft continued to cause uproar, far more sensational were the rumours of cover up & sodomy in Royal Circles... The true story of the Irish Crown Jewels was never meant to be told.

Filmed by Ross Bartley
Directed by Gerry Nelson
Produced by John Murray

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