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Aidan Joseph Patrick "JP" Maguire, is an ex-cellmate of Phil Mitchell's, from 2003. He made his first appearance on 27 November 2017 and last appearance on 9 March 2018. He was portrayed by Patrick Bergin.
Backstory[]
Aidan Joseph Patrick Maguire was born in Ireland and his father was Joseph Patrick Maguire, hence why Aidan had his middle names. Nothing is known about Aidan's mother. Aidan had a brother Connor Maguire. Aidan moved to London, England and became a criminal. Aidan was in prison with Phil Mitchell, while Phil was also serving time in prison, for the robbery, he was set up for by Den Watts, during November 2003, after Aidan got out of prison, his wife left him for a younger man and took half of his money. He then sent thugs round to beat him up. In 2010, Aidan's brother Connor killed himself after two months in prison after Vincent Hubbard told the police about his part in a crime, Aidan would get his revenge in 2018 when he killed Vincent off-screen, Aidan also killed Luke Browning in 2017 and it is implied that Aidan has also killed others.
Storylines[]
2017-2018: Arrival, feuds with Mick and Phil and departure[]
Aidan arrives in Albert Square to see his old cellmate, Phil Mitchell, whom he was in prison with in 2003, after Den Watts set Phil up for robbery, and sees Keegan Baker arguing with his sister, Bernadette Taylor, regarding missing money. He tells Keegan that he should not display anger publicly, as it is a weakness. Aidan then meets Phil and Phil later sees him shaking hands with Vincent Hubbard. Following this, Aidan tells Phil about his plan with Vincent and Phil asks to be involved. The three then meet up to discuss the plans but Phil does not want to work with Vincent, but he later agrees. Aidan is later mugged and his phone is taken off him, leaving him injured. Vincent's friend, Mick Carter, helps him. Aidan lets it slip about the robbery and Mick is interested, as he could do with the money. Keegan later hands his phone back to Aidan, revealing that the mugging was a plot to get Mick and Aidan talking. Aidan then also recruits Keegan's half-brother, Keanu Taylor, in the robbery. They later have a meeting in Vincent's bar, The Albert, where Bernadette walks in when they are discussing the plan. She insists she heard nothing though.
Phil's son, Ben Mitchell, is later beat up by his ex-boyfriend, Luke Browning. Phil asks for Aidan's help in getting revenge, and Luke is taken in the back of a van and never seen again. Vincent is later upset by the meetings taking place in The Albert and tells Aidan that he no longer wants to be involved. Aidan convinces him that he is the right person for the job and Vincent comes back on board. Mick later misses a meeting and Aidan later gives him a gun. Mick hides the gun from his wife, Linda Carter, and when she later discovers it, he tells Linda the truth about the robbery. Linda gives him a ultimatum to return the gun to Aidan or their marriage is over. Mick decides to return the gun to Aidan, and refuses to take part in the plan. Aidan later meets Phil's relative, Billy Mitchell, and considers him a replacement for Mick. Aidan later gives Mick's daughter-in-law, Whitney Carter, a Christmas present for Mick. The present is a gun which Aidan tells Mick is in Mick's pub, The Queen Victoria (also known as The Queen Vic), and he claims to have told the police about this. Mick manages to hide the gun and when the police arrive, it is revealed Aidan only called them regarding a fight in the pub. The police leave. Aidan later meets Mick and wants him back on the team, with a chance to earn £150,000. The day before the heist, Mick asks Aidan permission to rejoin the gang and he is resorted to begging to Aidan, but Aidan refuses. When the others get drunk, Mick is allowed back on the gang.
Aidan talks Phil, Mick, Vincent and Keanu through his final heist plans and when the heist begins, he tells them to enter their positions. After Mick's mother, Shirley Carter, learns of the heist, she locks him in the Queen Vic's barrel store. Keegan helps Mick escape and Linda and Shirley then track his phone to try and find him. Mick and Keanu stop and divert a van onto Albert Square and the gang all use a fake gun to intimidate the men into opening the back of the van. Mick is then shot by Callum Highway, who is in the back of the van. Bernadette calls the police about the information she gained earlier, and Aidan sends Keanu away. Aidan later reveals to Vincent that he sent his brother, Connor Maguire, to prison when he was a police informant and threatens him, blaming him for his brother's suicide. Phil stops Aidan from shooting Vincent and Vincent promises to sell The Albert to Aidan. Aidan's ex-wife, Ciara Maguire, tells the police that she owned the van involved in the robbery and she had staged the robbery, as she noticed a detail which suggests that Aidan was involved. Vincent later worries that the money from the robbery is gone, but Aidan reassures them that the money will come through. Ciara later accuses Aidan of being apart of the robbery but he denies his involvement. Phil later recognises Ciara and confronts Aidan. He tells Phil that they are returning the money and tells Phil to find it.
Aiden offers to share the money with Ciara and when the gang meet up and arrange to get the money from the coffin that they stored it in, it is missing. Billy then says there has been a mix-up and the money is in another coffin. Aidan then makes them dig the coffin and later misses a meeting with Ciara. Ciara goes to see Aidan at the funeral parlour, Coker & Sons, where Billy works. Billy's fiancée, Honey Mitchell, assumes she is a customer and takes her to The Queen Vic. Ciara then overhears Honey on the phone to Billy and discovers Aidan is at a church and goes to find him. When the men open the coffin, the money is not there. Aiden then hears sirens and tells the gang to run.
The gang go into hiding for a couple of weeks and when they return, Phil sees his ex-wife, Kathy Beale's, necklace, which Ben had stolen, and assumes Ben and his friend, Jay Brown, stole the money. The men gather at 55 Victoria Road and accuse each other of stealing the money. Aidan later assures the gang that the women they robbed do not have the money as a 'blonde bombshell' had been looking for it. Aidan later offers money to Mick to help buy his share of The Queen Vic back. Mick then calls Aidan a liar and refuses his help. Billy later tells Phil that the 'blonde bombshell' was Phil's ex fling, Mel Owen. Aidan then discovers that Mick has bought The Queen Vic back and Mick's son, Johnny Carter, tells Aidan that they sold a family member's war medal, when it was actually a ring that Callum stole during the robbery. Aidan believes this until Mel later tells Aidan that Callum told her that they won the money on a scratchcard, and is furious, knowing he was lied to. Phil later sees Vincent being nice to a police officer. This is after a fake break in at The Albert, staged by Aidan. Aidan later sees Mick celebrating in The Queen Vic and as a result, Aidan and Phil decide that either Mick or Vincent are guilty of taking the money. Mick is then kidnapped and taken to a garage by Aidan's associates. The gang then confront them and he says The Queen Vic was returned to them for nothing. Aidan then turns his head to, Vincent who accuses Ben, and Phil accuses Mel. Mel later hears Phil telling his wife, Sharon Mitchell, that there would be a bloodbath if Aidan knew where the money was. Mel later discovers Sharon took the money and it is returned to Ciara.
Vincent then tries to rush the sale of The Albert and tells Aidan that he will have the money within four weeks. Aidan then demands a immediate bank transfer and Vincent is beaten up when he refuses. Aidan then buys the bar for £1. Following this, Aidan has a drug dealer, Cal, work in the Vic. Mick attempts to drop Carl and when Aiden discovers this, he threatens to take The Queen Vic and harm the Carter family. Linda later discovers the drug dealing and Mick explains they have no choice, due to Aidan. Linda wants to report Aidan to the police but Mick says it would endanger their lives. Aidan gives Mick money for silence and Linda returns it. Mick nearly goes to the police himself, but stops himself, when he finds out that Aidan is capable of contacting his daughter, Nancy Carter. Linda then calls the police. Aidan gives Keanu a box to hide in a coffin, when Keanu works at Coker and Sons. The next day, The Queen Vic is raided and Cal is arrested. Aidan then confronts the Carter family, as he knows that one of them called the police. Shirley and Mick both try and take the blame, but Linda confesses that it was her and Aidan threatens her. Aiden then covers The Queen Vic's barrel store in petrol with Mick and Linda's son, Ollie Carter, sat in it as a warning. The week later, the Carter family prepare to leave Walford to escape Aidan. Mick later confronts Aidan and Aidan beats Mick up, and he allows the drug deals to continue. Linda and Jack Branning then find Mick and are surrounded by thugs, whom threat to burn the pub down. Mick apologises and sees no way out, Aidan then is attacked by Phil, who says that he has gone too far. Aidan is devastated at Phil's betrayal and calls off the gang, before leaving Walford.
Kill count[]
Murders/manslaughter victims[]
- Luke Browning (5 December 2017, revealed on 9 March 2018) - Ordered his henchman to kidnap Luke, after Phil Mitchell asked Aidan to have Luke beaten up for attacking his son Ben, Aidan however killed Luke, unknown if Aidan killed him directly or if he got his men to do it either way he is responsible for his death as is Phil (whom unintentionally ordered Luke's death).
- Vincent Hubbard (20 April 2018, revealed on 12 October 2021) - Had his henchman and DCI Alsworth kidnap Vincent after Phil Mitchell told him Vincent was planning to tell the police about their crimes, Vincent was then shot dead by Aidan or on his orders.
It has been implied in dialogue with Aidan and Phil that Aidan had killed more people we don’t know about.
Attempted murder victims[]
- Vincent Hubbard (2 January 2018) - Prepares to shoot Vincent for getting his late brother sent to prison, but is stopped by Phil.
- Vincent Hubbard (4 January 2018) - Aidan tries to batter Vincent with his walking stick, Vincent is also trying to kill him but Phil stops both men.
- Mick Carter (9 March 2018) (x2) - Prepares to beat Mick to death, but is stopped by Jack Branning, He also prepares to set fire to The Queen Victoria with Mick, Jack, Linda, Ted, Shirley and Billy inside.
- Jack Branning (9 March 2018) - Prepares to set fire to The Queen Victoria with Mick, Jack, Linda, Ted, Shirley and Billy inside.
- Linda Carter (9 March 2018) - Prepares to set fire to The Queen Victoria with Mick, Jack, Linda, Ted, Shirley and Billy inside.
- Ted Murray (9 March 2018) - Prepares to set fire to The Queen Victoria with Mick, Jack, Linda, Ted, Shirley and Billy inside.
- Shirley Carter (9 March 2018) - Prepares to set fire to The Queen Victoria with Mick, Jack, Linda, Ted, Shirley and Billy inside.
- Billy Mitchell (9 March 2018) - Prepares to set fire to The Queen Victoria with Mick, Jack, Linda, Ted, Shirley and Billy inside.
Employment history[]
| Occupation | Years Active |
|---|---|
| Gangster/Career criminal | prior to 2003- |
| Drug dealer | Unknown to present |
Residence[]
| Address | Years |
|---|---|
| Ireland | Prior to 2003 |
| Prison | 2003 |
| Unknown | 2018- |
Crimes[]
- Murder
- Attempted mass murder
- Gangland actives
- Robbery
- Money laudering
- Vandalism/affray
- Drug dealing
- Assault
- Possesion of a firearm with intent
- GBH and ABH
- Attempted arson
- Stalking
- Incitement to violence
Fight count[]
Punches[]
- Mick Carter (9 March 2018)
- Mick Carter (9 March 2018)
Total: 2
Individual characters punched: 2
Total punches: 2
Slaps[]
- Mick Carter (9 March 2018) (×2)
Total: 1
Individual characters slapped: 1
Total slaps: 1
Quotes[]
- To Keegan Baker (first line): "Oi, thought i recognised the voice." (27 November 2017)
- To Keegan Baker (last line): "Ah, here, its not a big coin but start saving up, get yourself out of this dump." (9 March 2018)
Background information[]
- Aidan has the joint fifth highest confirmed kill count of any Eastenders killer with 2, behind Johnny Allen (6), Phil Mitchell (5) and Nick Cotton (4). Just behind Gray Atkins (3), Janine Carter (3), Lucas Johnson (3) and Ray Kelly (3) and tied with Jack Dalton (2) Ravi Gulati (2).
Note: this is taking all forms of murder into account, it is also worth noting that gangster characters like Johnny and Aidan among others have most likely killed more due to their line of work.
- Aidan's age was never specifically stated on the show, although on 9 March 2022 he told Mick Carter he was a 60 odd year old. Meaning he was between 61-69 in 2018.
- When Aidan was introduced in 2017, many fans thought he was Aidan Brosanan who is also from Ireland. Ironically Aidan's surname is the same as the actor, Sean Maguire, who played Aidan Brosnan. Some viewers on social media thought Aidan Maguire was a recast of the 1993 character Aidan Brosnan until others explained that it is another character with the same first name and the two characters and actors ages did not match up.