In The News
The Irish Times
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In The News is a daily podcast from The Irish Times that takes a close look at the stories that matter, in Ireland and around the world. Presented by Bernice Harrison and Sorcha Pollak.
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Available episodes
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21 hours ago
The feis-fixing scandal that rocked Irish dancing
In July 2022 a very public scandal erupted in the normally relatively closed world of Irish dancing. An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG), the oldest and largest governing body for competitive Irish dancing, was informed of allegations that at least 12 Irish dancing teachers in Ireland and overseas were involved in the “fixing” of competitions.
And that was the tip of a very grubby iceberg as further allegations emerged – including stories of “unwanted behaviours”, tales of sexual impropriety among the adults and a lack of trust among dancers, parents and teachers. Now 44 individuals are facing disciplinary hearings as the global organisation tries to rebuild trust in the highly competitive world of Irish dancing.
Irish Times reporter Shauna Bowers spoke to North Carolina-based Sandra Connick who has taken over as chair of CLRG. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Declan Conlon.
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1 day ago
Asylum seekers now face sleeping rough amid high tensions
Once again the State has run out of places to put asylum seekers. Those newly arriving face the prospect of sleeping rough as temperatures fall and with tensions high after recent riots. Nick Henderson of the Irish Refugee Council explains how we got here, how the system could never keep up with the pace of arrivals and why help from the Defence Forces may be needed to handle the crisis.
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2 days ago
Are sinister conspiracies behind the Dublin riots? Yes, say 'alternative' media stars
US commentator Tucker Carlson interviewed MAGA figurehead Steve Bannon about Irish society and politics in the wake of the Dublin riots. The men agreed Ireland is a ‘powder keg’ ready to explode thanks to a sinister globalist conspiracy.
Then comedian Russell Brand tackled the subject on his online show, touching on the same themes and coming down heavily on Ireland’s proposed new hate speech laws.
The three alternative media stars also focussed on the role and influence of MMA fighter Conor McGregor in recent events. Could McGregor become a political leader - or perhaps a political influencer like them?
On today’s In the News podcast Irish Times writer and Inside Politics host Hugh Linehan separates the kernels of truth from the misinformation and explains why it all matters.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.
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5 days ago
Napoleon is riddled with historical howlers say academics; so what?
Ridley Scott’s Napoleon is a “breathless rollick” says Irish Times chief film correspondent Donald Clarke; Joaquin Phoenix makes the character his own and Vanessa Kirby is a terrific Josephine. But since its release, historians have been carping from the aisles pointing out the inaccuracies in the sprawling blockbuster. Among other things they point out that Napoleon didn’t fire on the pyramids; he wasn’t at Marie Antoinette’s execution and he did not, when general, participate in cavalry charges. But so what? Does it matter? How faithful does an historical biopic be to the facts?
Clarke, who has interviewed the veteran British film director many times, including most recently to discuss Napoleon, gives his take.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.
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6 days ago
Why is an oil CEO leading the UN's climate talks?
COP28, the UN’s annual climate change summit kicks off today in Dubai. This year the COP President is Sultan Al Jaber, who is both the UAE’s special envoy on Climate Change and the CEO of the State’s oil and gas company Adnoc. Campaigners have likened his appointment to a tobacco CEO chairing a forum on cancer cures. So how damaging is this to the credibility of COP and how can this conflict of interest be reconciled? Sorcha Pollak speaks to Patrick Galey, journalist and senior fossil fuels investigator for Global Witness. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
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Nov 28, 2023
Dublin Riot aftermath: the victims, the investigation and the political fallout
Last week's stabbing attack on primary school children and subsequent riot have left Dublin city shaken. One child and her after-school carer are still in a serious condition, as is the man who is suspected of attacking them. Street violence has left immigrants and city-centre workers fearful. And the political fallout is serious - especially for Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. Conor Gallagher and Pat Leahy report.
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Nov 27, 2023
'I go up the stairs on all fours to conserve energy' - Ireland's ignored health crisis
When musician and therapist Ailie Blunnie first caught Covid in 2021, she expected to recover quickly. Yet, more than two years later, the once active 38-year-old has never returned to full health and lives with symptoms of long covid, including chronic fatigue and exhaustion. In this episode, Blunnie talks to Sorcha Pollak about how she manages this debilitating illness. We also hear from long covid specialist Dr Jack Lambert, who says the State funding of long Covid services needs to be allocated differently.
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Nov 24, 2023
Can Patrick Kielty pass the Toy Show test?
RTÉ’s TV advertisements have been good fun with new Late Late host Patrick Kielty getting advice from some very opinionated children on how he should present The Late Late Toy Show. The bottom line – don’t mess up. The station bosses will be hoping the same thing when the razzamatazz kicks off tonight. There’s a lot at stake – not least the fact that the annual toyfest is a cash-cow for the cash-poor station. Irish Times media columnist Laura Slattery explains why the seasonal show is now such a key programme for the station.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.
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Nov 23, 2023
Dublin stunned after dark day of violence
The streets of Dublin city centre were ablaze on Thursday night, with at least one Garda vehicle, a double-decker bus and a Luas tram set alight and several shops looted.
In the wake of the stabbing attack on several schoolchildren on Parnell Square, a major riot broke out on O’Connell Street, the city centre’s main thoroughfare, and surrounding streets.
Large numbers of gardaí were mobilised in an attempt to restore order, clashing with large groups of rioters. The shops broken into and looted include Arnotts and Footlocker.
Crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher and reporter Jack Power covered the stabbing attack and witnessed the riot. They talk to In the News producer Declan Conlon.
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Nov 23, 2023
Who is Javier Milei, "The Madman" elected president of Argentina?
Javier Milei will be sworn in as president of Argentina next month. But just why is this political outsider called "The Madman" - and what can Argentinians expect from his administration? Tom Hennigan reports.
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Nov 22, 2023
How Ben Dunne's bad behaviour changed Ireland - with Fintan O'Toole
Last weekend, millionaire businessman and former Dunnes Stores chief executive Ben Dunne died suddenly in Dubai. He was 74 years of age,
In 1992, Dunne made headlines again when he was arrested in his Florida hotel room for cocaine possession. Shortly afterwards, back in Ireland, Dunne’s siblings moved against him to wrest control of
Dunnes Stores from him. It was this intense family feud that led to journalists exposing Ireland’s deeply entrenched political and financial corruption in the 1980s and 1990s.
Had it not been for Dunne’s cocaine-fuelled psychosis in Florida, would the revelations of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey’s secret financial dealings ever have happened?
On today’s podcast, columnist Fintan O’Toole reflects on Dunne’s eventful life and the extraordinary impact he had on Ireland.
Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon.
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Nov 20, 2023
Inside the Martens Trial (Part 2): Molly Martens according to the Corbetts
Documentary maker and journalist Brian Carroll was in court for the sentencing hearing of Molly Martens and her father Thomas for the killing of Molly’s husband Jason Corbett.
For two weeks the strategy of their defence team was to paint the brutal killing that took place in the bedroom of the couple’s home in August 2015 as an act of self-defence.
In episode two we hear how the Limerick man’s family, including his two children, finally had their day in court to tell the world about their loving father and what their lives were like with their manipulative stepmother. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
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Nov 19, 2023
Inside the Martens Trial (Part 1): The carefully planned character assassination of Jason Corbett
Documentary maker and journalist Brian Carroll was in court for the sentencing hearing of Molly Martens and her father Thomas for the killing of Molly’s husband Jason Corbett.
For two weeks the strategy of their defence team was to paint the brutal killing that took place in the bedroom of the couple’s home in August 2015 as an act of self-defence.
In episode one we hear how the Limerick man’s character was assassinated as the pair sought to present what they claimed were mitigating circumstances, all in a bid to have their jail-time minimised. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
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Nov 17, 2023
Will Hong Kong's freedom survive China's clampdown?
When Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 it was under a ‘One Country, Two Systems’ governance model that guaranteed the continuation of a free press, an independent judiciary and the capitalism that underpins the former British colony’s wealth.
The agreement was to stay in place until 2047 but in the past decade China has begun stamping out key freedoms, with XI Jingping apparently intent on undermining Hong Kong’s independence and on bringing the determinedly capitalist country more under its control.
Irish Times China correspondent Denis Staunton explains how a security law introduced in 2020 is being used to stifle debate and press freedom and explores how far China is willing to go tear up the 1997 deal.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.
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Nov 15, 2023
Leaked docs reveal Russian oligarch Abramovich's secret Chelsea deals
For decades, a flood of foreign money has poured into the island of Cyprus, bringing extreme wealth to a few, but leaving the EU member status with a reputation as a shady financial hub.
On Tuesday, the eight-month Cyprus Confidential investigation, carried out by dozens of journalists across the globe, revealed the sheer scale of dirty money that has been moved through Cyprus for oligarchs, tyrants, criminals and Russian president Vladamir Putin in recent years.
Among them is billionaire and former owner of Chelsea FC, Roman Abramovich, who like many oligarchs was sanctioned in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
But how did Abramovich funnel money through Cypriot financial institutions and what does he buy with these vast sums of cash?
Did Abramovich’s funding of Chelsea FC breach financial fair play rules? And, what financial investments did the Russian football club owner have in Ireland?
Irish Times journalist Colm Keena, who is also a member of the…
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Nov 14, 2023
David Cameron's shock return to UK politics
Why has UK prime minister Rishi Sunk brought former prime minister David Cameron in from the cold after all these years? And what will Stella Braverman, fired as Home Secretary but still powerful on the right of the Conservative Party, do next? We ask London correspondent Mark Paul.
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Nov 13, 2023
Why BSE in one Irish cow worries China - and spells trouble for farmers
For Irish beef producers, China is a prize – capture that vast market and the troubled sector is secure. And Chinese influence in Asia means cracking that market is the key to opening others in the region such as South Korea.
The Chinese though – mindful of the horrific global health crisis around beef in the 1990s – have a zero tolerance of BSE, a bovine disease that when it enters the food chain causes deadly CJD in humans. It closed its market to Irish beef three years ago when a case of BSE was found and it had only recently reopened when last week it was announced that a case of atypical BSE had been found in an Irish cow.
The Chinese immediately shut down Irish beef imports. As farmer and agri journalist Hannah Quinn-Mulligan explains, it’s a massive reputational blow for Irish beef, and a major worry for Irish farmers. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.
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Nov 9, 2023
Why three Irish nursing homes were forced to close
Since September, three nursing homes have been forced to close – in Kilkenny, Waterford and Cork. The residents, all vulnerable and elderly have had to be placed in new care facilities. All were private nursing homes, run by Aperee Living, part of a group of 10 such homes.
The move follows highly critical reports by Hiqa which found serious issues in each of the homes. In some, the issues included financial irregularities. It’s a move the HSE does not take lightly. Irish Times reporter Jack Power has seen the Hiqa report and he explains what happened – and what next for Aperee Living. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
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Nov 8, 2023
Will Irish citizens be allowed to leave war-torn Gaza?
Around forty Irish citizens remain trapped inside Gaza after their names were not included on the list of foreign nationals allowed to leave the besieged area.
On today’s podcast, Ibrahim Alagha, who usually lives in Blanchardstown with his wife and three children, describes the danger and hunger his family are facing on a daily bases.
And Mark Weiss, who reports for The Irish Times in Israel, reflects on why most Israelis do not support calls for a ceasefire and discusses the efforts being made to secure the release of Irish-Israeli girl, Emily Hand, who was captured on October 7th.
Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan.
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Nov 6, 2023
How to talk to your children about war
A child’s understanding of war, and why it happens, begins and ends with their parents. But as a parent, knowing the right thing to say is not always easy.
Should we shield our children from the news coming out of war zones like Gaza or Ukraine? Or should we just explain, as best we can, what is unfolding in these countries?
As part of her parenting series for The Irish Times, columnist Jen Hogan has been investigating how we should talk to our children about difficult subjects. In this episode, she speaks to Sorcha Pollak about how we can help our children process the enormity and brutality of war.
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Nov 6, 2023
Why Irish criminals turned to Chinese restaurants to hide their money
An investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) unearthed an underground “banking” network offering an international money transfer system to Irish criminals. It allowed Irish drug gangs to move cash to continental Europe at low risk and without trace. The first step in this process was to bring the ill-gotten money to a local Chinese restaurant.
Irish Times Crime Editor Conor Lally interviewed the head of Cab, who told him about the newly uncovered methods of hiding the proceeds of crime - and about how Instagram and reality TV are influencing the way criminals spend their money.
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Nov 3, 2023
Molly and Thomas Martens killed Jason Corbett. How much time will they serve?
Molly Martens and her father Thomas Martens have agreed a plea deal with prosecutors in the United States to accept a lesser manslaughter charge over the 2015 killing of Molly’s husband, Limerick man Jason Corbett. The pair were convicted of second-degree murder in 2017 but were successful in having the conviction overturned.
Irish Times Washington correspondent Martin Wall has been in court all week in Lexington, North Carolina for the sentencing hearing. He describes the extensive video evidence shown to the court and the disturbing statements given by the Martens as they attempt to convince the judge that they deserve a sentence at the lower end of the scale. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.
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Nov 1, 2023
Horror on the M50: Why Dublin’s food delivery riders have had enough
On Saturday, Brazilian Deliveroo rider João Ferreira was hit by a Garda car on the M50, while attempting to recover a stolen motorcycle. The 23 year-old lost part of his right leg in the incident. In this episode journalist Isabella Boechat tells Sorcha Pollak how the events unfolded as a group of riders tracked down the missing vehicle and explains how the Brazilian community in Ireland is calling for a full investigation and more protection for delivery riders.
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Oct 31, 2023
When the IRA kidnapped Don Tidey
On December 16th, 1983, after 23 days in captivity, kidnapped supermarket executive Don Tidey was rescued. He had been taken by members of the Provisional IRA posing as gardaí while driving his daughter to school in Dublin. With the whole country transfixed by the kidnapping, Garda intelligence tracked the culprits and their victim down to Derrada Wood outside Ballinamore in Co Leitrim. And while the release of Tidey safe and well was a success, the day was shrouded in tragedy because during the rescue his captors shot dead Private Patrick Kelly and recruit Garda Gary Sheehan.
The murders shocked the country and no one has been brought to justice for them. Most of the kidnappers got clean away. While the event has been the subject of much media attention over the years, Tidey has never spoken about it – until now when he talked to Tommy Conlon and Ronan McGreevy for their new book, The Kidnapping, A Hostage, a Desperate Manhunt and a Bloody Rescue. They talk to In the News about th…
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Oct 30, 2023
Drama on the picket lines: why Hollywood is on strike
Hollywood is on strike. It’s about money of course, but at its heart is changing technology: the way streamers, such as Netflix and Apple TV have altered the way actors and writers work and are paid, and how AI is set to curb the income potential of many in the film and TV business.
Irish Times chief film correspondent Donald Clark explains just why the industry is on the picket lines, what it means for upcoming TV and film schedules and why actors are no longer promoting their movies or even appearing on the red carpet. And as he explains, the strike shows no sign of ending.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.
This episode was originally published in July 2023.
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Oct 27, 2023
Why China’s falling birth rate means job losses for Limerick
Earlier this month multinational food giant Nestlé announced the shocking news that it is to close its Wyeth Nutrition plant in Askeaton, Co Limerick with a loss of 540 jobs. And the blame? China’s falling birth rate.
The plant which has been providing steady employment in the region for decades produces one thing – baby formula. The company stated: “The number of newborn babies in China has declined sharply from some 18 million per year in 2016 to fewer than nine million projected in 2023.”
So, while the falling birth rate in China has led to a decision to close a major employer in Limerick, Beijing correspondent Denis Staunton explains it also has massive implications globally and for China itself as the country tries to boost birth rates and reverse the “one child policy” implemented for 35 years. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.
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Oct 24, 2023
Jailed for life: who is homophobic killer Yousef Palani?
Earlier this week, Yousef Palani was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering two men and seriously assaulting a third during a spree of violence in Sligo town in April 2022. In the space of just two days, Michael Snee and Aidan Moffit were found murdered in their own homes. A third man, Anthony Burke, had been viciously attacked and blinded in one eye a few days earlier.All three victims were gay men and had met Palani online through a dating app.In this episode, presenter Sorcha Pollak speaks to Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher about the Sligo murders that shocked the nation. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and John Casey.
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Oct 24, 2023
How Paddy Cosgrave lost his grip on Web Summit
Web Summit co-founder and now ex-CEO Paddy Cosgrave was accustomed to speaking his mind. It never really did him, or his business, any harm, until his remarks about Israel annoyed too many of the wrong people. Now he's out. Can the company he built survive?
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Oct 22, 2023
Week one of the Ashling Murphy murder trial: what the court heard
The Ashling Murphy murder trial began last week at Dublin’s Central Criminal Court. The 23-year-old teacher was killed in 2022 while out for a run on the banks of the Grand Canal near her home in Tullamore, Co Offaly, on a bright January afternoon. Last week, the nine men and three women of the jury listened as the prosecution laid out its case against Jozef Puska, a 33-year-old Slovakian national. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder.
As the trial starts its second week, Irish Times legal affairs correspondent Mary Carolan reports on what the court has heard so far. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
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Oct 20, 2023
Israel-Hamas war: two weeks that shook the Middle East
Two weeks on from the savage assault on Israeli civilians by Hamas that left 1,400 men, women and children dead, Israel’s fierce response continues to ramp up.
3,785 Palestinians have been killed and 12,493 wounded, the health ministry in Gaza said on Thursday.
Hundreds of those were killed at a hospital in an incident that enflamed the Middle East but that Israel denies responsibility for.
With no water, food or fuel getting in, and its citizens having nowhere to go, a dire humanitarian crisis is growing.
On today’s In the News podcast, Tel Aviv-based journalist Hannah McCarthy gives an overview of the Hamas-Israel war.
In a recording interrupted by an incoming missile warning, she explains the current situation, explores the impact of the visit of US president Joe Biden, the likelihood of a planned ground invasion of Gaza and the information war that has been a feature of this bloody conflict.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey.
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Oct 17, 2023
'A battle for the Polish soul' - why Poland voted for change
On Monday, just one day after a record number of Poles voted in their country’s general election, opposition leader and former prime minister Donald Tusk claimed a victory for his Civic Coalition. By Tuesday, it was clear that the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party would not be returning to power for a third term.
The political change marks a massive shift in Poland and an end to PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s eight turbulent years in power which saw huge changes to the country’s rule of law, media freedom, migration policies and LGBTQ+ rights. Opposition parties have vowed to undo these reforms, which critics say undermine democratic standards, while also re-establishing international ties with Brussels.
In this episode, Berlin-based Irish Times journalist Derek Scally speaks to Sorcha Pollak about how Mr Tusk plans to form a new Government, the challenges he faces in reversing PiS policy, and the international implications of what has been described as the most consequential…
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Oct 17, 2023
How one of Ireland’s biggest homelessness charities ran into trouble
As the homelessness crisis has deepened over the last decade, the Peter McVerry Trust, a key pillar in the State’s provision of homeless services, significantly expanded in an effort to tackle the problem.
Now, with more than 600 properties and an annual income of €60 million, the charity finds itself in a major financial crisis, sparking fears of a collapse.
On today’s In the News podcast, Irish Times reporter Jack Power explains what we know about how the charity ran into trouble - and what the crisis says about how Ireland tackles its chronic homelessness issue.
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Oct 15, 2023
Chuck Feeney: the Irish-American billionaire who gave his entire fortune away
Chuck Feeney, the Irish-American philanthropist, died last week at the age of 92. During his lifetime he quietly gave away almost all of his $8 billion fortune. Through his foundation Atlantic Philanthropies he funded massive life-changing education, health and science projects in Ireland, the US and around the world; as a proud Irish-American he helped fund the peace process leading to the Belfast Agreement. He wanted anonymity; he never wanted to be thanked or acknowledged or for his name to be on any of the buildings or institutions his money built.
Journalist Conor O’Clery got to know Feeney when he was based in New York for The Irish Times and he went on to write his biography, The Billionaire who Wasn’t: How Chuck Feeney Made and Gave Away A Fortune Without Anyone Knowing. It was the beginning of long friendship. He tells In the News about this most inspirational, generous and visionary philanthropist whose legacy will live on. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suza…
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Oct 13, 2023
Can Ireland beat New Zealand to make Rugby World Cup history?
Tomorrow in Paris, Ireland will know has the hex been lifted, the bogeyman slain – has the team been able to make it out of the quarter-final stage in a Rugby World Cup? The team made it through the group of death, nailing a fourth win to top Pool B and progress in what has been an exciting tournament in France, characterised by a huge number of travelling Irish fans.
The team has been picked with the same starting XV as faced Scotland last Saturday – but there are some changes on the bench.
Irish Times sports writer John O’Sullivan who is in France for the duration, reporting on all games, talked to In the News at the start of the tournament to analyse Pool B. He’s back now to explain what might happen in the quarter-finals, the Joe Schmidt factor – and what he makes of Andy Farrell’s team selection for Saturday night in Paris. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey
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Oct 11, 2023
Sinn Féin brands it a 'budget for landlords' - but who else does Budget 2024 help?
How will the tax cuts and new spending announced in yesterday's Budget 2024 affect you? Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope is here to tell us.
Plus: As a political set piece, Budget 2024 ticked a lot of boxes, but also handed the opposition some ammunition to attack the Government, especially the generous tax break for landlords, explains political reporter Jack Horgan-Jones.
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Oct 10, 2023
Israel-Hamas war: 'a mega-event in the history of the Middle East'
On Saturday morning, Hamas launched an unprecedented offensive by land, sea and air into Israel. A catastrophic failure by Israeli intelligence, the attack left hundreds dead, even more injured and an unknown number of hostages of all ages taken over the border into Gaza.
One of the missing is a young Irish-Israeli woman, 22-year-old Kim Damti, who was at the festival in the desert on Saturday when it was attacked by Hamas insurgents. By the end of the day the bodies of 260 young festival-goers had been counted.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is at war and that Hamas would pay a heavy price. On Monday, Israel began air strikes on the densely inhabited Gaza Strip. A ground invasion is set to follow.
On today’s In the News podcast, Jerusalem-based journalist Mark Weiss talks to Bernice Harrison about how the attack on Israel unfolded, why the mood within the country means a fierce response is inevitable and how civilians will pay the highest price.
A…
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Oct 9, 2023
Gardaí v Drew Harris: who won in row over rosters?
A threatened “strike” by rank and file gardaí next month has been lifted following a compromise between Garda staff associations and senior management in the dispute over rosters. Rank and file gardaí have dropped plans to refuse overtime over the next four Tuesdays and will not withdraw their service, a strike in all but name, on November 10th.
What happened at that meeting on Friday between the Garda Representative Association (GRA), the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), the Association of Garda Superintendents and the Association of Chief Superintendents and senior Garda management at Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park, Dublin? Security and crime editor Conor Lally explains the background to this bitter dispute and explores how much of this is personal, an antipathy towards Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, an outsider in a force used to their own rising through the ranks to bag the top job.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.
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Oct 6, 2023
How a Nazi fugitive became a French teacher in a prestigious Dublin school
For decades, a prestigious Dublin school knowingly employed a former SS officer, Louis Feutren, as a French teacher. Now, former students of St Conleth's College allege that Feutren subjected them to physical and psychological abuse. The school has expressed 'regret' - but is that enough?
Uki Goñi, who attended St Conleth's, and reporter Ronan McGreevy tell the story on today's In the News podcast.
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Oct 4, 2023
Stardust Inquests: The cross examination of former manager Eamon Butterly
Eamon Butterly, the former manager of the Stardust nightclub on Dublin’s northside, where 48 young people died in a fire in 1981, is one of the most important witnesses appearing before the inquests at the Dublin District Coroner’s Court.
The 78-year-old, whose family owned the building and who was on-site the night of the fire has given evidence for more than a week and will resume his testimony this morning.
Irish Times social affairs correspondent Kitty Holland explains what Butterly has said about how the tragedy occurred including the role of locked doors and flammable carpet tiles.
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Oct 3, 2023
What will Budget 2024 mean for you?
The Republic will run a huge budget surplus this year and next, thanks to bumper corporate tax receipts. So when Budget 2024 is announced next week, can some of that money be spent on easing the cost of living crisis and tackling issues like decarbonisation, housing and health? Some, yes - but the coalition will probably opt for a more conservative set of measures than they did last year, says Irish Times resident economic spoilsport Cliff Taylor.
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Oct 1, 2023
TikTok discovers ‘covert influence operation’ targeting Ireland
A network promoting disinformation to Irish TikTok users with the aim of “intensifying social conflict” has been discovered and removed by the social media giant. The information was disclosed in data reported by TikTok to the European Commission under a new code of conduct that requires major tech platforms to report disinformation on their networks and detail their efforts to combat it. The network originated in Ireland but little else has been revealed by the company. Irish Times Europe Correspondent Naomi O’Leary explains to In the News how disinformation is spreading on social media, how users are resistant to fact checking measures and what it means. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan
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Sep 29, 2023
Ireland's biggest drug bust: 'They didn't know one end of a boat from another'
After a dramatic week in which Gardaí and the Defence Forces thwarted an audacious attempt to import tonnes of cocaine into Europe, Irish Times Crime and Security Correspondent Conor Gallagher tells the whole story of Ireland's biggest ever drugs bust, including how incompetence played a sizeable role in the smugglers' undoing.
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Sep 27, 2023
Murders have doubled - but is Ireland really more dangerous?
The number of murders in the Republic has almost doubled in a 12-month period, according to new Central Statistic Office figures. The figures also show there were more reported assaults and more incidents of shoplifting. Reported sexual crimes are holding steady at a much higher level than they were five years ago. So is Ireland becoming more dangerous? It's not that simple, says Crime and Security Editor Conor Lally, who explains the factors behind some of the statistics.
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Sep 26, 2023
Lough Neagh is dying. Whose fault is it?
Lough Neagh is dying in plain sight; the entire body of water has been contaminated by blooms of poisonous blue-green algae. How has it happened that the largest freshwater lake in Ireland and Britain has become toxic and, as Northern Ireland still does not have a working government in Stormont, what can be done to reverse this disaster?
Northern editor Freya McClements visited Lough Neagh to talk to people whose lives have been impacted and to report on the deadly effects on wildlife and biodiversity and on the water supplies feeding into homes in Belfast and beyond. She explains both the cause and the effect of this toxic disaster.
Eel fisherman Gerard McCourt tells In the News how his business has been drastically curtailed and Fiona Regan of DCU’s Water Institute points to policy decisions around farming as key culprits in this year’s Lough Neagh disaster.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey
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Sep 24, 2023
The Sallins Train Robbery: Will the wrongly accused ever get justice?
The Sallins Train Robbery in 1976 was one of the most audacious criminal acts ever in the State. The Dublin to Cork mail train, carrying £200,000, was robbed with the IRA (much later) claiming responsibility, but only after three innocent men had been jailed.
The men were tried, convicted and imprisoned as part of a convoluted saga involving the non-jury Special Criminal Court, claims of physical assault, forced confessions and a finding by the court that injuries sustained while in custody by some of the men were self-inflicted.
In recent days, four human rights groups have petitioned Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to establish a statutory inquiry into what they say is one of the most significant miscarriages of justice in modern Irish history.
Patsy McGarry, Irish Times contributor and author of While Justice Slept: Nicky Kelly and the True Story Behind the Sallins Train Robbery, tells the story of the crime and the convictions, and says this call for an inquiry is just…
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Sep 22, 2023
Sally Hayden: A 'naval blockade' won't solve the crisis in the Mediterranean
To understand the unfolding crisis on the Italian island of Lampedusa, where a state of emergency has been declared as 7,000 migrants arrived on boats within just 48 hours, it’s crucial to look across the short stretch of the Mediterranean to Tunisia.
Sally Hayden, who has been reporting on the migrant crisis and the EU’s response to it, explains in this podcast why there has been a surge of people arriving on Lampedusa; why she believes Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s proposed “naval blockade” will not work; the controversial €105 million deal between the EU and Tunisian president Kaïs Saïed, who has encouraged violence against black people in the country; and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen’s visit last week to the Italian island.
Hayden also tells In the News the story of Saad Eddin Ismail who she met in Tunisia and who left his home in Darfur, Sudan, six years ago, on a long quest to find safety.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced…
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Sep 20, 2023
Why did spinal surgeries on children fail in one Dublin hospital?
Children suffering from spina bifida have been let down by an under-resourced healthcare system for years.
This week’s news that there are now serious concerns over the safety of surgery performed on children with the condition at Temple Street children’s hospital will only deepen the anxiety and frustration of children and their families left waiting for vital corrective surgery.
A UK expert is to review surgeries carried out by one consultant at the hospital after an internal review identified “serious spinal surgical incidents” in the service.
The shocking allegation that unapproved, non-medical objects were implanted into children during surgery must also be investigated.
On today’s In the News podcast, Irish Times Health Editor Paul Cullen tells Bernice Harrison about a major medical controversy that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has called ‘very alarming’.
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Sep 19, 2023
Can Patrick Kielty save The Late Late Show?
Expectations were high for the start of the 61st season of The Late Late Show, and new host Patrick Kielty delivered on some of them: the comedian delivered a funny monologue and generally seemed comfortable in his new role. But some of the programme’s old problems remained.
On today’s In the News podcast, Irish Times writer, editor and podcaster Hugh Linehan reviews the first episode under new management of what is still RTE’s flagship offering and a TV institution, looking at what went right, what went wrong - and how Mr Kielty can make the show his own.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.
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Sep 18, 2023
Can this plan make Dublin’s north inner city safer?
The hiring of 'community safety wardens' to patrol Dublin’s north inner city was just one of the 50 actions contained in the Government’s latest plan for the area.
But Irish Times Dublin editor Olivia Kelly explains why these wardens' ability to make the community safer will likely be limited.
Meanwhile Peter Evans, a warden in Derry, explains how the system works there and just how effective it has been.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey
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Sep 14, 2023
Too much Tubridy: What Irish teenagers think of the news
This weekend, for the first time, the content of The Irish Times Magazine will be written entirely by teenagers.
The six volunteers tackle subjects including the pitfalls of Tiktok, why many young women drop out of sport and what it is like to be a wheelchair user.
One of their mentors for the project was Patrick Freyne, who recorded a conversation with them about the way their generation consumes news and the issues they really care about.
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Sep 12, 2023
The man sending 'suicide kits' to customers in Ireland
Gardai have confirmed that a poisonous substance sold by an online seller in Canada, was posted to a number of people in Ireland. The man accused of selling these so called ‘suicide kits’ is Kenneth Law, a 57 year old Canadian chef. Law is currently in police custody, charged with 14 counts of counselling and aiding suicide in the region of Ontario. However, he is thought to be linked to more than 100 deaths worldwide, including Ireland. Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally explains the current state of the investigation into Law’s activities in Ireland and, from Canada, CBC News reporter Thomas Daigle, who has been covering the story since Law was taken into custody in May, details the latest in what is set to be a long, involved investigation into a particularly tragic crime. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
The Samaritans can be contacted on freephone: 116 123 or email: jo@samaritans.ie
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Sep 12, 2023
'Hope has died' - have victims of the Troubles been betrayed?
In 1982, Emmett McConomy’s brother, 11-year-old Stephen, was playing in the street near their home in Derry. A shot fired by a British soldier from an armoured car hit him in the back of the head; he died from his injuries days later. Emmett tells In the News about his family’s decades-long fight for the truth about what happened to the child and how the UK government’s Northern Ireland legacy Bill is a betrayal of justice.
_Th_e Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill is set to be passed into law this week and it will put an end to inquests and court cases – and includes a form of limited immunity for some perpetrators of crimes committed during the conflict. The Bill has been universally opposed by both sides of the political divide in the North and by the Irish Government and internationally in the United States, the UN and Europe. In the UK, the Labour Party opposes it. It is supported by the Conservative Party and the British military. Freya McClements,…
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Sep 10, 2023
Behind the scenes of hit Netflix documentary 'The Deepest Breath' with Irish director Laura McGann
Earlier this Summer, a Netflix documentary, all about the hidden world of freediving, catapulted the sport in front of a global audience. The Deepest Breath, tells the story of Alessia Zecchini, a champion freediver from Italy and Stephen Keenan, an expert safety diver from Glasnevin in Dublin. It follows them as they rise separately through the ranks of the sport, before their lives eventually become intertwined. The film was directed by Irish filmmaker Laura McGann and gives an incredible insight into the world of freediving: which sees divers reach depths of more than 100 meters, without any equipment and with one single breath. In this episode, McGann explains how extraordinary archive footage and the generosity of Stephen’s father Peter helped shape the documentary. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
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Sep 8, 2023
Burning Man: how bad did it get? One Irish attendee tells his story
Co Laois man Brendon Deacy (58) arrived at the Burning Man festival in the northern Nevada desert prepared for heat and dust – not the heavy rain that fell on the last weekend of the nine-day counterculture jamboree. The artist and NCAD lecturer tells In the News about arriving in the camper van with his four grown-up children, how the festival lived up to his expectations, and more – and how the media made a drama out of a mini-crisis. Yes, it rained but the festival went on, with mud underfoot and a bit of unexpected discomfort. In the end, the man burned. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.
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Sep 6, 2023
Can Ireland triumph at the Rugby World Cup?
Ireland has a poor history in Rugby World Cup competitions but this year just might be different.
Entering the tournament in France as the number one team in the world is no guarantee of anything – and the big question is whether Andy Farrell’s team can do what previous Ireland teams have never managed; progress beyond the quarter final. That’s if they get there – the way the draw has worked out this year is that the pool is divided into an easy side and a hard one and Ireland is in the hard one alongside reigning world champions South Africa, and Scotland.
As Irish Times sports reporter John O’Sullivan prepares to leave for the team’s first match of the two-month tournament, on Saturday against Romania at 2.30pm in Stade de Bordeaux, he explains all you need to know about the “pool of death” and beyond. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey and Suzanne Brennan.
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Sep 4, 2023
What is behind China's economic woes?
Chinese economic growth is faltering. The biggest drag on the economy is the tanking property market, with prices falling and developers defaulting. Domestic demand is dropping as nervous consumers opt to save rather than spend. That’s bad news too for the vital manufacturing sector. Add double-digit youth unemployment and the problems are piling up for president Xi Jinping.
Beijing correspondent Denis Staunton explains how, after decades of massive growth, China has slowed down and explores what it means for the rest of the world. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.
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Sep 3, 2023
Will the Kinahans ever face justice in Ireland?
The net is closing in on members of the Kinahan Cartel. An investigation into the organised crime gang has been completed by An Garda Síochána and a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The focus of their investigation is the activities of cartel leaders Christy Kinahan and his two sons Daniel Kinahan and Christopher Kinahan Jnr. Now it is up to the DPP to decide if the men should be prosecuted and face trial here in Ireland. Crime and Security editor Conor Lally has the details and explains how the cartel’s operation here in Ireland has evolved in recent years.
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Sep 1, 2023
Fatal journeys: why road safety is going in the wrong direction
It’s been a week of tragedy on Irish roads. Nine people lost their lives in just six days prompting an outpouring of grief, not only in the communities of those who died but across the country.
It’s been a week also when the Road Safety Authority released its figures for road deaths for the year so far and, as Irish Times reporter Mark Hilliard tells In the News, they make for stark and concerning reading.
As of August 29th there have been 124 fatalities on Irish roads in 2023; or 26 more deaths (up 27 per cent) when compared to provisional Garda data for the same period in 2022. The data also shows an increasing number of fatalities among passengers and pedestrians. Almost half of fatalities occurred between 8pm-8am and road deaths are highest in Tipperary, Galway, Mayo and Cork. RIAC boss Conor Faughnan looks at the reasons for the rise in road deaths.
Produced by John Casey. Presented by Bernice Harrison
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Aug 29, 2023
Unwanted kiss: why Spanish women say Luis Rubiales has to go
Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales spoiled the afterparty for Spain's Women's World Cup-winning team, first by giving one of the players, Jenni Hermoso, an unwanted kiss, and then by refusing to accept the consequences.
As Rubiales clings to his job, the controversy has embarrassed Spain's football establishment, incensed Spanish women and brought on a national reckoning with old-fashioned sexism, says Madrid-based reporter Guy Hedgecoe.
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Aug 29, 2023
Why does everything still cost so much?
When it comes to prices there’s no going back, Conor Pope, Irish Times consumer affairs expert and Pricewatch columnist tells In the News. Energy companies are promising some sort of reduction, not as yet revealed; supermarkets say they have dropped prices – but food inflation is still running well into double figures; and it’s a hard time to be both a borrower, with interest rates rising, and a saver with pitiful deposit interest rates.
What can consumers do to help themselves – and will the Government use the budget, now only weeks away, to step in?
Produced by John Casey and Suzanne Brennan. Presented by Bernice Harrison
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Aug 27, 2023
Australia mushroom poisoning: how a family lunch ended in tragedy
In late July, four relatives attended a family lunch at the home of Erin Patterson, a 48 year-old mother of two from Leongatha in Australia. Within days of the lunch, three of the guests were dead, with a fourth fighting for his life in hospital, where he remains today. A beef wellington that was served for lunch on the day is suspected to have contained poisonous death cap mushrooms. But why were they in there? Australian police must now decipher whether it was simply a tragic accident or if there is something more sinister at play?
In this episode, John Ferguson, a journalist with The Australian outlines the details of the case; while retired homicide investigator Charlie Bezzina, who has worked on some of Australia’s most high-profile cases goes through the unanswered questions in this shocking mass poisoning.
Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Presented by Bernice Harrison
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Aug 25, 2023
Deaths at the Youghal Ironman: what went wrong?
Since the announcement of the deaths of two men – Meath native Brendan Wall (45) and Canadian Ivan Chittenden (64), during the swimming stage of the Youghal Ironman – there have been many reports from eyewitnesses and participants about the choppy conditions all 2,000-plus competitors faced.
A key question is why the event was permitted to go ahead – or indeed if it went ahead with or without the approval of the governing body, Triathalon Ireland. As the week has gone on, no clear answers have emerged from that body or Ironman, the international group that organised the event. The answers have wide implications, not least the insurance status of all those who took part.
On this episode of In the News we hear from Ironman participant Stephen Donnelly – who came sixth in the competition on Sunday – and who explains how the day unfolded and how he faced the wild sea conditions; reporter Hugh Dooley who has been in Youghal talking to locals and competitors, and from Irish Times…
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Aug 22, 2023
After a messy split, what now for Ryan Tubridy and RTÉ?
Ryan Tubridy was nearing a return to the RTÉ airwaves, but it all fell apart in spectacular fashion last week after Mr Tubridy issued a statement that, in the eyes of RTÉ head Kevin Bakhurst, reopened some barely-healed wounds. Now there is a lot of figuring out to do. What will Ryan do next? How will RTÉ recover from this crisis? And could a reconfiguration of the Radio 1 schedule be the best way to fill the Tubridy-shaped hole? Irish Times media columnist Laura Slattery talks to Bernice Harrison.
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Aug 22, 2023
When is it right to 'dename'?
In April, it was announced that Trinity College Dublin would 'dename' its Berkeley Library, because of the links to slavery of its current namesake, the 18th century philosopher George Berkeley. The news sparked renewed debate about when it is right to change the historic name of a building or institution, with Irish Times columnist Fintan O'Toole arguing, for example, that the dozen or so GAA clubs named after 19th century Irish nationalist John Mitchel should rename themselves, also due to Mitchel's support for slavery and his trenchant racism. But once we start renaming things, how far should we go? When is it necessary and when is it simply impractical? And why was John Mitchel such a racist, anyway?
Fintan O'Toole talks to Bernice Harrison. This episode was originally published in May 2023.
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Aug 20, 2023
How is cocaine getting into Ireland?
Ireland is awash with cocaine, but how does it get into the country? Crime and Security correspondent Conor Gallagher explains the different methods used by gangs to import the drug into Ireland and what steps are taken by authorities to intercept it. Presented by Conor Pope, produced by Suzanne Brennan.
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Aug 18, 2023
Is Trump going to the big house or back to The White House?
For the fourth time in as many months, former U.S. president Donald Trump is facing a criminal indictment. The indictment, handed down by the Fulton county district attorney on Monday, charges Trump and 18 others, including his former White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and lawyer Rudy Giuliani, for their efforts to overturn the 2020 U.S. presidential election results in Georgia.
The indictment is being viewed as the biggest legal threat to Trump yet, but will it seriously compromise his bid to return to The White House? And has the growing list of criminal charges against him impacted his popularity among Republican voters?
Irish Times Washington Correspondent Martin Wall joins host Conor Pope to sift through Donald Trump’s mounting legal woes.
Produced by John Casey.
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Aug 15, 2023
Could Annie McCarrick's disappearance finally be solved?
Earlier this year, the case of Annie McCarrick’s disappearance was upgraded to a murder inquiry. In this episode, Conor Lally tells Bernice Harrison what prompted this development and whether the 30 year-old investigation could be significantly advanced or even solved. This episode was originally published in May 2023.
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Aug 14, 2023
Is social media making teenagers miserable?
Do teenagers today have it tougher than previous generations? In terms of how well they can develop emotionally and socially, the answer is yes, says Dr Colman Noctor, a psychotherapist who works with adolescents. He tells Irish Times journalist Jen Hogan about how the pandemic years have robbed young people of crucial opportunities for social development, driving them instead into the online world - where many pitfalls await.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. This episode was originally published in May 2023.
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Aug 13, 2023
What's behind the huge drop in Irish gun crime?
Something strange is happening in the Irish gangland scene. After years of escalating violence, gun crime across the country has now reached record lows. What's behind the drop and will it last? Crime and Security editor Conor Lally reports.
Hosted by Aideen Finnegan. This episode was originally published in March 2023.
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Aug 10, 2023
The Russian spy who went to Trinity: 'He was private and had an unusual accent'
Russian spy Sergey Cherkasov spent four years deep undercover as a politics student in Trinity College Dublin. His classmates knew him as Victor Muller Ferreira, a Brazilian national, eager to further his education and his prospects in Ireland. Five years on from his graduation, Cherkasov is in Brazil serving a 15 year prison sentence for several counts of fraud. And now, the Trinity graduate is facing fresh charges in the US, for acting as an illegal agent of the Russian intelligence service; in other words – a spy. Irish Times public affairs editor Simon Carswell explains how Cherkasov was busy making connections but unusually careless about leaving an information trail. A carelessness that finally caught him in the end. This episode was originally published in March 2023.
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Aug 8, 2023
The controversial landlord: How Marc Godart and his family built an Irish rental empire
How did controversial landlord Marc Godart build his extensive portfolio of properties, owned and managed, in Ireland?
Europe correspondent Naomi O’Leary followed the money back to the Godart family home in a leafy suburb in Luxembourg.
Dublin correspondent Olivia O’Kelly explains what might happen next in the disputes between the prolific landlord and tenants who have lodged complaints against him.
Plus: Irene Hayden and Frank Kavanagh expected nothing out of the ordinary when they rented their own property to Mr Godart. They got more than they bargained for.
This episode was originally published in April 2023.
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Aug 7, 2023
"We need guns and men" - inside the group chat of Ireland's new far right party
At first glance, many of the policies of Ireland First seem conservative rather than extreme. But a private, invite-only Telegram group paints a much darker picture of the party’s priorities.
Conor Gallagher talks to Aideen Finnegan. This episode was first published in March 2023.
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Aug 6, 2023
Revolut scam: 'I watched the total go down by another €5,000'
Alice Coyle lost €10,000 in a matter of minutes in a Revolut scam. The Galway woman tells Bernice Harrison how the scam unfolded after she received a text from what she believed was Electric Ireland. We also hear from Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope, who explains what scams to look out for – from e-flow to Hey Mom – and what you should do if it happens to you. Presented by Bernice Harrison. This episode was first published in June 2023.
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Aug 3, 2023
The brutal crimes of IRA double agent Freddie Scappaticci
During the Troubles the IRA set up a unit to find informers within its organisation. Informally called the ‘nutting squad’, it was led by Freddie Scappaticci, the son of an Italian immigrant who grew up in the Markets area of Belfast. Scappaticci, who died earlier this year, was one of the highest ranking men in the IRA. He was also an informer in the pay of British intelligence, operating under the codename Stakeknife.
During his final years, he was being investigated by Operation Kenova, an inquiry set up in 2016. Its findings are due out later this year. But how will his death impact the inquiry and the families of his victims who are still seeking justice?
Hosted by Bernice Harrison. Guests Gerry Moriarty and Kevin Winters. This episode was originally published in April 2023.
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Aug 1, 2023
Ozempic: the reality of the ‘miracle’ weight-loss jab
Ozempic is a drug, designed for diabetics, but which has a game-changing secondary use. It has the power to transform the lives of people with complex obesity. It’s only available in Ireland for people with Type 2 diabetes – and in very limited circumstances for those with obesity. In this episode Bernice Harrison heard from Belinda in Tipperary, who after taking the drug for five months, lost more than three stone. We also heard from Professor Donal O’Shea, HSE lead on obesity, who explained how the treatment works and how access to it has been put at risk by its association with celebrity weight loss, and its popularity on social media. This episode was originally published in March 2023.
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Jul 31, 2023
Bullying in schools: how it’s changed and how to handle it
More than one in 10 teenagers in Irish secondary schools experience bullying. It can happen in school, or outside it, on social media or in person. For her summer-long series, Irish Times parenting columnist Jen Hogan talked to parents of bullied children, adults whose lives have been impacted negatively by school bullying and to the children themselves. For this podcast she also talked to an expert on the ground, a school principal, Craig Petrie from East Glendalough School in Wicklow Town. Presented by Bernice Harrison.
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Jul 30, 2023
Gilgo Beach murders: could a Manhattan architect be the Long Island serial killer?
Last month a New York architect, Rex Heuermann, was arrested in connection with the deaths of three young women whose bodies were found buried in a remote location on Gilgo Beach in 2010. He is also the prime suspect in the death of a fourth victim. Prosecutors now believe they have found the Long Island serial killer. Maria Cramer, NYPD bureau chief at The New York Times has been following the case and tells Bernice Harrison how the police finally found the suspect they spent almost 13 years looking for.
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Jul 28, 2023
Violence on the streets of Dublin: is anyone in charge?
The savage and unprovoked attacks on an American tourist Stephen Termini, from Buffalo, New York, and the Ukrainian actor Oleksandr Hrekov in Dublin’s city centre made headlines – prompting debate around safety on the streets of the capital.
Various reasons have been put forward for the ever-present sense of danger many say they feel in the capital’s centre, ranging from lack of gardaí on the beat to the aimlessness felt by many young people after the pandemic leading to antisocial behaviour.
For Irish Times columnist Una Mullally, the blame must also be shouldered by Dublin City Council, which is charged with the care, planning and development of the city. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.
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Jul 25, 2023
How did Pedro Sanchez pull off an upset in the Spanish election?
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez has a good chance to form a new left wing coalition following a surprise result in last weekend's general election. The result left Spain's right wing parties, who polls suggested should win, wondering where it all went wrong. The ultimate outcome will be hugely consequential, not just for Spain but for all of Europe. Guy Hedgecoe reports from Madrid on how the election went and what the result means.
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Jul 24, 2023
'There's a wildfire outside my balcony' - climate chaos hits tourism in Greece
On a family holiday to the Greek island of Corfu, Irish Times reporter Ronan McGreevy got an unexpected front row seat to one of the big stories of the summer: catastrophic wildfires, to which experts say climate change is a major contributing factor. On Corfu and Rhodes, thousands of tourists have been forced to evacuate. Will the increased frequency and intensity of such events force a rethink of Mediterranean tourism?
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Jul 24, 2023
Drama on the picket lines: why Hollywood is on strike
Hollywood is on strike. It’s about money of course, but at its heart is changing technology: the way streamers, such as Netflix and Apple TV have altered the way actors and writers work and are paid, and how AI is set to curb the income potential of many in the film and TV business.
Irish Times chief film correspondent Donald Clark explains just why the industry is on the picket lines, what it means for upcoming TV and film schedules and why actors are no longer promoting their movies or even appearing on the red carpet. And as he explains, the strike shows no sign of ending.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.
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Jul 20, 2023
Ann Lovett: do her last letters shed light on her tragic death?
The story of teenager Ann Lovett, who concealed her pregnancy and died shortly after giving birth alone in a grotto in Grandard, County Longford, is a defining tragedy of 1980s Ireland.
The circumstances of Ann's pregnancy and death were cloaked in silence for decades.
Three months after Ann died, her younger sister Trisha took her own life.
In a series of reports for The Irish Times, senior features writer Rosita Boland has cast some light on what happened back then, speaking to the Lovett’s friends, Ann’s boyfriend, and the people of Granard – those who are willing to talk.
Now Rosita has written about another side of Ann and Trisha Lovett. An intelligent, warm, and witty side that is revealed in the letters, notes and cards they wrote to their friends, in the months before their tragic deaths.
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Jul 18, 2023
COYGIG: What to expect from Ireland’s Women's World Cup debut
The Women's World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand this week and for the first time ever, the Irish National team will be taking part. Football pundit and former women’s international Karen Duggan has the low down on the Irish team, its star players and strengths and how the controversy around manager Vera Pauw impacted the team before they left for the southern hemisphere. Presented by Bernice Harrison.
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Jul 18, 2023
'Our inaction is causing people to die' - the reality of climate change hits home
Extreme weather events have been taking place this month all over the globe – from flooding in South Korea to record heat in parts of the US and China. In Europe, a third heatwave in a month is expected to hit Spain, Italy and much of the Mediterranean and to last until Wednesday.
Scientists are clear why this happening – climate change. UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk at a recent UN council debate used unambiguous language to predict a dystopian future for the planet, from water shortages to climate migrants, unless we take action now.
What it might mean for Ireland, how we live now and how our lives will have to change, is laid out clearly by In the News guests John Sweeney, emeritus professor at Maynooth University’s geography department and Kevin O’Sullivan, Irish Times environment and science editor. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.
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Jul 17, 2023
Finbar Cafferkey: The life and death of an Irish fighter in Ukraine
Finbar Cafferkey (45) died while fighting in Ukraine, in a battle in the now destroyed city of Bakhmut. The Mayo man has been described as a “veteran activist” and once the war broke out, his family in Mayo knew that it would only be a matter of time before he travelled there to fight against Russia.
His family have now been told that his remains have been found and will be returned to them for burial.
Crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher sat down with Finbar’s younger brother Colm to understand what motivates a man from the west of Ireland to travel to Ukraine to fight in what has been from the beginning, a fierce and bloody war with ever-mounting deaths.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey.
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Jul 13, 2023
Lucy Letby trial: the former neonatal nurse accused of murder
Lucy Letby stands accused of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill ten others while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Manchester. The deaths took place in 2015-2016 when Letby was a young nurse on the neonatal ward. The 33-year-old has denied all charges.
BBC reporter Dan O’Donoghue has attended the trial at Manchester Crown Court every day since it began last October. In this episode, O'Donoghue lays out the prosecution’s case, the defence put forward by Letby’s team and what the jury of eight women and four men must decide. Presented by Bernice Harrison. .
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Jul 11, 2023
Ryan Tubridy at the Oireachtas: what we learned
Ryan Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly appeared at two Oireachtas committees yesterday to answer questions about the RTÉ payments saga. Tubridy was fighting for his reputation and his career at the national broadcaster. How did it go and what did we learn? Jack Horgan-Jones reports.
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Jul 10, 2023
Why is it so difficult to sue the Christian Brothers?
At his sentencing this week a Dublin court heard that retired Christian Brother Paul Hendrick felt 'extreme remorse' for his sexual abuse of Kenneth Grace, who in the early 1980s was a vulnerable schoolboy in Hendrick's care.
Mr Grace is suing the congregation of the Christian Brothers over the abuse he suffered from Hendrick, but the congregation has adopted a legal strategy that has been described as “cynical” and a form of “double abuse”.
Colm Keena explains the Christian Brothers makes life difficult for those wishing to hold them to account in the courts.
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Jul 10, 2023
Hot water: why Ireland's marine heatwave signals danger
Last month saw a spike in temperature in Irish waters, an “unheard of” marine heatwave which raised sea temperatures by four to five degrees.
Hotter seas have already brought previously unknown species to our shores - and driven away the fish that our fishing industry relies on. And that can only get worse as the seas heat.
Environmentalist and activist Saoirse McHugh explains why warming seas is a crisis that needs to be addressed urgently, and Kevin Flannery, marine biologist and founder of the Dingle Oceanworld aquarium, talks about the new species now coming into Irish waters and the severe challenges ahead for our coasts, our coastal communities and our fishing industry. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.
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Jul 6, 2023
How Toy Show: The Musical went wrong for RTÉ
The Late Late Toy Show is Ireland's most popular TV show every year by a distance. But an ill-fated attempt by RTÉ to exploit its valuable 'IP' has ended up the subject of discussion and dissection in multiple Oireachtas committees as a controversy over payments and governance continues to grip the broadcaster. We learned this week that Toy Show: The Musical lost €2.2 million in its first year. How did it go so badly wrong? And what does the story tell us about the organisation RTÉ has become and where it is going? Bernice Harrison asks Hugh Linehan.
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Jul 4, 2023
Report from Ios where tragedy unfolded for two Irish teenagers
Irish teenagers Andrew O’Donnell and Max Wall died in separate incidents on the Greek Island of Ios last weekend. Both were students of St Michael's College in Ballsbridge, Dublin and had recently completed the Leaving Cert exams. Irish Times Reporter Jack Power, who is covering the story from Ios, explains how this tragedy unfolded. Presented by Bernice Harrison.
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Jul 3, 2023
Who was Nahel Merzouk and why did his killing spark riots across France?
The killing by a police officer of a teenager of Algerian and Moroccan descent plunged France into a week of chaos. Rioting, looting and destruction of property spread from the Parisian suburb of Nanterre across France and even to remote Reunion Island. The violence has subsided, leaving France with a huge task to reckon with the underlying tension and dissatisfaction that fuelled it. Lara Marlowe reports from Paris.
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Jul 3, 2023
Is neutrality still the right policy for Ireland? What the security forum heard
The Government hoped that the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy would prompt a national conversation on Ireland’s security and foreign policy.
However, the nation was more than a little distracted by events in Montrose and the RTÉ secret pay deal scandal and the forum may have passed many people by. Not everyone; there were protests that brought attention to the forum in Dublin Castle and, even before it began, President Michael D Higgins caused controversy by his comments on the event.
It was characterised in some sectors as a Government scheme to bounce Ireland into Nato, but according to Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher the forum was in fact a varied discussion on the international security landscape which included strong defences of Irish neutrality. He tells us the key takeaways. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey.
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Jun 29, 2023
RTÉ under fire at the Public Accounts Committee
On Wednesday RTÉ's first of two appearances before a Dáil committee did not quell the scandal enveloping the organisation. On Thursday they were back. What went down? Did the broadcaster's top brass finally manage to provide more answers than raise new questions? Bernice Harrison and Jennifer Bray listen back.
Correction: in this episode, remarks made in the Public Accounts Committee by Colm Burke TD were incorrectly attributed to Colm Brophy TD.
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Jun 27, 2023
Rebellion in Russia: Where does it leave Vladimir Putin?
Why did mercurial warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin start an armed rebellion against Russia's military leadership - and then give up after only 24 hours? And where do the bizarre events leave Russian president Vladimir Putin? Dan McLaughlin reports from Kyiv.
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Jun 26, 2023
The Tubridy payment scandal: what happens next?
Political reporter Jack Horgan-Jones discusses how this hidden payments debacle unfolded, the damage it has already done and what happens next. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
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Jun 25, 2023
What is fuelling Ireland’s cocaine epidemic?
Cocaine has overtaken heroin and other opioids to become the most common problem drug in Ireland, according to the Health Research Board (HRB). Consumption of the drug crosses all age demographics, with people presenting for treatment from as young as 15. In this episode, we hear from Conor Harris, who began taking cocaine at 17 and within two years was seeking treatment for his addiction. Psychiatrist and addiction specialist Prof Colin O’Gara also explains why cocaine use has exploded in recent years and the health impacts for users. Presented by Bernice Harrison.
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Jun 22, 2023
Why can't we protect girls in State care from sexual exploitation?
This episode includes discussion of sexual exploitation and abuse.
A recent study by UCD’s School of Social Policy has revealed that vulnerable girls in State care are being groomed and coerced into sex acts with multiple men, in exchange for goods such as clothes and jewellery, or at the instruction of older men they viewed as their boyfriends.
For Irish Times reporter Jack Power, the harrowing findings reflect what he has been hearing from sources working in the area for the past three years. He tells Bernice Harrison what details the study has uncovered.
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Jun 21, 2023
What happened to George Nkencho?
George Nkencho was fatally shot by gardaí on December 30th, 2020, in the front garden of his family’s home in Clonee, Dublin 15. The 27-year-old was killed after a stand-off developed between him and armed gardaí when the deceased refused to put away a kitchen knife. The incident occurred shortly after an altercation involving Mr Nkencho and a shop assistant at a nearby shop.
The killing has been under investigation by the Garda ombudsman, Gsoc, for the past 2½ years and this week it announced it had concluded its findings and had sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Conor Lally, Irish Times crime and security editor, explains the background to the case and what Gsoc has to do now. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey.
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Jun 20, 2023
Why can't we keep Dublin city clean?
In her recent column Una Mullally pulled no punches about the state of Dublin city centre. It is once again, she says, a dirty old town.
She writes: “It hasn’t rained much recently, so the streets are filthier than normal. I’m not talking about your standard litter here. I’m talking about grime. As the grime piles up, layer by layer – the urine, the bird poo, the chewing gum, the cigarette butts, the filth from people’s shoes and whatever other miscellaneous gunk graffitis the pavements.”
Dublin City Council is charged with cleaning the city but, Mullally argues, its strategy is visibly failing. Irish Times Dublin editor Olivia Kelly reports on all aspects of the city, and she tells what elected councillors can do about it. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.
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Jun 18, 2023
Revolut scam: 'I watched the total go down by another €5,000'
Alice Coyle lost €10,000 in a matter of minutes in a Revolut scam. The Galway woman tells Bernice Harrison how the scam unfolded after she received a text from what she believed was Electric Ireland. We also hear from Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope, who explains what scams to look out for – from e-flow to Hey Mom – and what you should do if it happens to you. Presented by Bernice Harrison.
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Jun 15, 2023
A radical plan to solve the housing crisis
Housing experts Rory Hearne and Phil Murphy believe they have the answers to Ireland’s housing crisis. The solution as they see it, is the establishment of a State-owned sustainable home building agency. But what exactly would it do and how would it work? And is the political appetite there for such a plan. Rory Hearne talks through the details with presenter Bernice Harrison.
Dr Rory Hearne is a lecturer on social policy at Maynooth University and author of Gaffs: Why No One Can Get a House, and What We Can Do About It.
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Jun 13, 2023
What will Nicola Sturgeon’s arrest mean for the SNP?
Former Scotland first minister Nicola Sturgeon spent Sunday in a police station being questioned as part of a criminal investigation into her party’s finances. The investigation concerns the whereabouts of about £666,000 in SNP donations collected after Brexit from supporters of a new independence referendum, which was never held. How has her arrest damaged her reputation, and how will it impact on the SNP a party already showing deep divisions? Mark Paul, Irish Times London editor, assesses the situation in Scotland. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
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Jun 12, 2023
Why is Trump facing federal charges in Miami?
Later today, former president Donald Trump will be arraigned at a Miami courthouse, in connection to the mishandling of hundreds of classified documents. Martin Wall, Irish Times Washington Correspondent, is in Miami to report from the court and he outlines the background to the case and whether it might hinder – or help – him in his bid for re-election in 2024. Presented by Bernice Harrison.
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Jun 11, 2023
Is Ireland ready to become a nation of organ donors?
In 2017, Orla Tinsley’s life was saved when she received a double lung transplant at the age of 31. Today, she is awaiting a kidney transplant and must undergo dialysis treatment three times a week. An activist for cystic fibrosis and organ donation, Tinsley has campaigned for the Dáil to pass the Human Tissue Bill, which would introduce a 'soft' opt-out system for all adults in the country. In this episode, she speaks to Bernice Harrison about the miracle of organ donation and why she believes the laws around organ donation need to be changed. Produced by Suzanne Brennan, with vox pops from Katie Mellett.
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Jun 8, 2023
Liam Byrne arrest: what next for the Kinahan cartel?
Last weekend, senior Kinahan cartel member Liam Byrne was arrested while on a family holiday in Mallorca, on suspicion of serious firearms offences. He now faces extradition to the UK and will be put on trial. If found guilty, the gang member could face a sentence of up to 20 years in jail. Crime and Security editor Conor Lally explains the significance of his arrest and how this will come as yet another blow to the Kinahan organised crime group.
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Jun 6, 2023
Leaving Cert: Why is there so much emphasis placed on points and third level education?
With all the good weather we're having, it can only mean one thing: it’s Leaving Cert season. This morning, around 60,000 students around the country will sit down to English Paper One. For many of them, this marks the beginning of a gruelling CAO points race and a scramble over coveted university places. But with lots of alternative routes into further education available, why is there so much emphasis on the final year exam results? Irish Times education editor Carl O’Brien explains the options available to students, who favour a less stressful route. We also hear from Irish Times intern Katie Mellett, who completed her exams last year.
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Jun 4, 2023
'Hunk correspondent' Patrick Freyne on why we're obsessed with TV dating shows
Love them or hate them, reality TV dating shows are one of the most enduring formats on the small screen. It seems like TV producers will take any concept and turn it into a dating show. But if they didn’t net big ratings for TV execs, they wouldn’t keep making them. So what keeps us going back for more? Self-appointed ‘hunk correspondent’ for The Irish Times, Patrick Freyne, loves to review these shows as Features Writer. In this episode of In The News, he analyses the good, the bad and the ugly and why they make such compelling viewing. This episode was originally broadcast in February 2023.
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Jun 2, 2023
Ireland's vaping legislation: Too little too late?
How dangerous is vaping? Outside every school and college there are clouds of watermelon or strawberry scented steam, while brightly-coloured toy-like used vapes litter parks and playgrounds
Next month the Government will introduce legislation to ban the sale of vaping products to those under 18.
ABC journalist Tom Lowrey explains how Australia already had some of the most restrictive vaping rules in the world when it tightened them even further in May banning all recreational vaping – now vapes are only available on prescription. RCSI professor Donal O’Shea explains how damaging to health this apparently benign looking and smelling product is and why this first legislative step is good but why the Government needs to go much, much further to protect the health particularly of teenagers and young adults.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey with additional research by Katie Mellett.
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Jun 1, 2023
Schofield scandal: ITV launch fresh investigation into 'unwise' affair
Phillip Schofield was TV royalty in Britain, an ITV star who presented the station’s flagship breakfast show, This Morning – as well as several other prime time, family-friendly programmes. His 40-year career imploded in recent weeks amid media headlines about an affair with a younger colleague. In this episode, London Editor Mark Paul talks us through the details of Schofield's spectacular fall from grace and the broadcaster's new investigation into the scandal.
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May 30, 2023
Five numbers that reveal how Ireland is changing
The results of Census 2022 are here. As usual it’s a mine of information, with figures detailing the state we’re in, from our religious affiliations to how many people smoke, how we get to work and the average age. Ronan McGreevy talks us through the headline figures , with vox pops from Catherine Mellett.
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May 30, 2023
Bernard Phelan: 'He told me I'd die in prison'
Lara Marlowe spoke to Bernard Phelan, the Irish man who recently left Iran after being released from over six months in prison. He told her about life in a Tehran jail - with bad food, freezing cold temperatures and a dark atmosphere as beatings and executions took place. He also told her about the dramatic day of his release. Lara shares the story with Bernice Harrison.
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May 28, 2023
'Stardust baby' Lisa Lawlor's 42-year search for answers
Lisa Lawlor was just 17 months old when her parents Maureen and Francis died in the fire at Stardust Ballroom in the early hours of Valentines Day 1981. Orphaned by the tragedy, she has been known throughout her life as the ‘Stardust baby’.
In this episode, Lisa talks to Bernice Harrison about the anguish of losing her family and her 42-year search for answers. We also hear from Social Affairs Correspondent Kitty Holland, who has been attending the inquests in Dublin each day.
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May 25, 2023
Is social media making teenagers miserable?
Do teenagers today have it tougher than previous generations? In terms of how well they can develop emotionally and socially, the answer is yes, says Dr Colman Noctor, a psychotherapist who works with adolescents. He tells Irish Times journalist Jen Hogan about how the pandemic years have robbed young people of crucial opportunities for social development, driving them instead into the online world - where many pitfalls await.
Presented by Bernice Harrison.
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May 24, 2023
Who is Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brückner?
Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are currently searching a reservoir in Portugal, 50km away from the holiday resort where the toddler went missing in 2007. It is believed the area was visited by chief suspect Christian Brückner around the same time that Madeleine disappeared. But who is Christian Brückner, what is his criminal history and how exactly has he become linked to the McCann case? Berlin correspondent for The Irish Times, Derek Scally, brings us the details.
This episode was originally published in October 2022.
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May 23, 2023
How Ireland reluctantly fined Facebook €1.2 billion
The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has hit Facebook owner Meta Ireland with a fine of €1.2 billion – the largest such fine to date under GDPR rules - for its unlawful transferring of user data from the EU to the US. But the DPC didn't want to levy a fine at all - its hand was forced by European counterparts. How did it come to this? To find out Bernice Harrison talks to technology reporter Ciara O'Brien.
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May 21, 2023
When is it right to 'dename'?
It was recently announced that Trinity College Dublin will 'dename' its Berkeley Library, because of the links to slavery of its current namesake, the 18th century philosopher George Berkeley.
The news has sparked renewed debate about when it is right to change the historic name of a building or institution, with Irish Times columnist Fintan O'Toole arguing, for example, that the dozen or so GAA clubs named after 19th century Irish nationalist John Mitchel rename themselves, also due to Mitchel's support for slavery and his trenchant racism.
But once we start renaming things, how far should we go? When is it necessary and when is it simply impractical? And why was John Mitchel such a racist, anyway?
Fintan O'Toole talks to Bernice Harrison.
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May 19, 2023
What will it take for the Inch blockade to end?
In the small townland of Inch, Co Clare, locals have blockaded the entrance to the former Magowna House Hotel, where 34 asylum seekers were sent on Monday. Protestors say they weren't consulted and the location just isn’t suitable. However, critics of the blockade say the alternative for the 34 men is homelessness. In this episode, we hear from Irish Times journalist Rosita Boland, who paid a visit to the small community this week.
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May 18, 2023
With jail looming, is Theranos fraudster Elizabeth Holmes sorry?
The headline on the New York Times interview with the one-time darling of Silicon Valley, now convicted fraudster, said it all: “Liz Holmes Wants You to Forget About Elizabeth.”
Writer Amy Chozick met Elizabeth Holmes, the former media darling, in San Diego where she now lives. Gone is the uniform of black polonecks, driven ambition, the austere manner and weirdly deep voice – done to ape her hero Steve Jobs – instead “Liz” presented as a thirtysomething, cool west coast mom of two, hanging out, going to the zoo, talking about her dog and Burning Man.
But the convicted Theranos founder is awaiting prison – she has been sentenced to 11 years having been found guilty of defrauding investors out of more than $100 million in her blood-testing start-up. She was set to go to prison in April but she has appealed.
Her invention at age 19 when she dropped out of Stanford – a blood test from a finger prick that could diagnose hundreds of conditions including cancers – never…
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May 16, 2023
Why did German police shoot Oisín Osborn dead?
On May 22nd, 2019 Oisín Osborn was shot dead in Hamburg in his own home by German police, 10 days after he had become a father.
On that fateful morning, his schoolteacher wife Nicole had called the police saying her husband had a knife, and within minutes armed police officers in protective gear burst into their home, raced up the stairs and shot the 34-year-old man dead on the landing. Osborn, who was an engineer at Airbus, was clearly in mental distress – he was standing at the top of the stairs, wearing only a loincloth, with a saucepan on his head. He was shot six times.
Did the police use excessive force? The police investigation has judged the event as self-defence. The family say they still have so many unanswered questions.
Irish Times journalist Derek Scally has been following the story since that day, and following Osborn’s parents as they try to find answers. He explains the background and the questions it poses for policing in Germany. Presented by Bernice Harrison.…
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May 14, 2023
Could Annie McCarrick's disappearance finally be solved?
The upgrading of the Annie McCarrick case from a missing persons inquiry to a murder investigation has occurred at the same time two men are being examined as suspects.
The focus on those men is part of the Garda inquiry shifting from sites in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, and Glencullen, Co Dublin, back to Sandymount in Dublin 4.
Conor Lally reports on what we know.
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May 11, 2023
How E Jean Carroll won her case against Donald Trump
This week, a jury in a civil trial in New York found that Donald Trump sexually abused and defaming writer E Jean Carroll. It ordered that the former US president should pay a total of $5 million in damages to the woman – the bulk of the money in compensation for calling her a liar.
The assault took place in the 1990s in the changing room of a department store. The jury found that he did not rape Carroll who bravely withstood three days’ of cross examination in the Manhattan courtroom.
Reporter Molly Crane-Newman was in court for the entire trial – she explains why it took nearly 30 years for Carroll to get justice, how the jury responded to the evidence put before them, including that infamous “grab ‘em by the pussy” 2005 tape. And what happens next.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.
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May 10, 2023
Will prices ever come back down?
Consumer Affairs Correspondent Conor Pope explains why there has been so much controversy about how much we're paying for food in supermarkets recently and which way prices are headed after 18 months of inflation.
He also looks at two other areas where consumers have been hammered: mortgage interest rates and energy bills. Is there any relief on the horizon?
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May 8, 2023
The secret deal for the UK to protect Irish skies
Since the 1950s, a hidden agreement between the Republic of Ireland and Britain has allowed the RAF to enter Irish airspace in the event of security threats that the Irish Air Corp, lacking advanced aircraft, is unable to deal with.
It's a deal that has benefits for both sides - but raises questions about sovereignty, transparency and neutrality.
Irish Times Crime and Security Correspondent Conor Gallagher explains the history and significance of the secret agreement.
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May 8, 2023
Eurovision: Where did it all go wrong for Ireland?
Irish Times media columnist – and diehard Eurovision fan – Laura Slattery is heading to Liverpool this week for the annual song contest.
It’s hard not to feel upbeat in the face of all the positivity, giddiness and glittery glamour that comes with Eurovision but if the past several years are anything to go by, the odds are not in Ireland's favour.
Our entry this year, We Are One by Wild Youth, will be doing well to make it past the the semi-finals. And to think we once ruled Eurovision!
With our glory days firmly behind us, Laura teases out why our success rate is now so dire – but why it’s important that we still try.
And as a seasoned fan, who has actually listened to all the entries, she gives her predictions on who will win, and who should.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
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May 4, 2023
Trump goes on the attack in Doonbeg
Donald Trump was on his best behaviour as he visited his property in County Clare. Political reporter Jack Horgan-Jones was there to report on local attitudes to the former president. But then Mr Trump decided to drop the diplomacy.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon
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May 3, 2023
Did Ed Sheeran copy Marvin Gaye's biggest hit?
The stakes are high for Ed Sheeran this week in a Manhattan courtroom. The family of the late Ed Townsend claim that the singer’s 2014 hit song Thinking Out Loud infringes the copyright of Marvin Gaye’s 1973 hit Let’s Get it On – which Townsend co-wrote. Sheeran and his co-writer Amy Wadge reject the claim in its entirety. Music journalist Zara Hedderman teases out the prosecution’s case, the defence, and the major implications for other songwriters. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
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May 1, 2023
'They have one chance at this' - is a Ukrainian counter-offensive about to begin?
In Ukraine, Russia's invading army has been on the offensive for months - but with little to show for it.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is preparing a counter-attack that must succeed if international support for its armed forces is to continue.
That's why it will do so only when the perfect opportunity arises, says military strategy expert Phillips O'Brien.
Phillips talks to Bernice Harrison about the state of the war today, what a Ukrainian attack could look like and the toll of stress on military leaders and decision-makers.
Phillips P. O’Brien is Professor of Strategic Studies at The University of Saint Andrews. He is the author of two books about military history and is the current Editor-in-Chief of War in History magazine. He is a regular contributor to Atlantic Magazine, and he writes a Substack blog about the war in Ukraine.
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Apr 30, 2023
How wealthy is the British monarchy?
King Charles III's Coronation will take place this Saturday at Westminster Abbey in London. The one-day event is estimated to cost the taxpayer between £50 and £100 million. An eye-watering bill, but one that probably won't make too much of an impact on the monarchy's finances.
The finances of the British monarchy remain, in part, a mystery. Royal wills are never made public, so it’s not quite clear what wealth is passed down to the next generation. So, where does the money come from and how is it managed?
In this episode, Laura Clancy, author of ‘'Running the Family Firm: how the monarchy manages it's image and our money’ tells Conor Pope how the royals operate more like a corporation than a family unit. She also examines what the future of the ‘firm’ might hold after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
This episode was originally published in September 2022.
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Apr 27, 2023
The 65 billion euro question: how to spend the massive budget surplus
Over the next three years the Government is going to have a cumulative budget surplus of a projected €65 billion - the biggest budget surplus in our history. The spending choices are as many and varied but how should the vast pot of money set to roll into the exchequer be spent? To help solve the housing crisis? On money-in-the pocket cost-of-living measures? Or generations-long visionary one-off infrastructure schemes?
Will the spending strategy be long term and structural – or short term and popular with an eye on the next general election.
Cliff Taylor teases out the opportunities such a windfall offers, why it is happening and what the Government should do.
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Apr 25, 2023
Power, ambition and money: Why Sudan's generals are fighting
Why has armed conflict broken out in Sudan?
To answer this question we need to understand the backgrounds of the two generals on opposing sides: Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces, and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, the head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The two men, once comrades, are now enemies motivated by power, identity and money.
Declan Walsh of The News York Times tells the story of these two men and how, thanks to their ambition, Sudan's hope to become a democracy has been replaced by fear for the future.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.
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Apr 24, 2023
Pentagon leaks: How a 21-year-old exposed America's weakness
Classified documents about the war in Ukraine and China’s experimental weapons are just some of files that were recently leaked from the Pentagon, finding their way online, onto chat rooms and YouTube.
But the leak wasn’t the result of a sophisticated spy ring, or backed by Russian or Chinese intelligence. It was an inside job - and the work of 21-year-old air force reservist Jack Teixeira.
But how much damage do the leaks do to Ukraine's war effort, or to the United States' ability to help Ukraine?
We ask UCD's Scott Lucas, who explains who Jack Teixeira is, how he did what he did and exactly how significant the leaks are - including for Ireland.
Scott Lucas is Professor of American Studies at UCD's Clinton Institute.
Hosted by Bernice Harrison.
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Apr 20, 2023
The controversial landlord: How Marc Godart and his family built an Irish rental empire
How did controversial landlord Marc Godart build his extensive portfolio of properties, owned and managed, in Ireland?
Europe correspondent Naomi O’Leary followed the money back to the Godart family home in a leafy suburb in Luxembourg.
Dublin correspondent Olivia O’Kelly explains what might happen next in the disputes between the prolific landlord and tenants who have lodged complaints against him.
Plus: Irene Hayden and Frank Kavanagh expected nothing out of the ordinary when they rented their own property to Mr Godart. They got more than they bargained for.
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Apr 18, 2023
What next for Gerard Hutch and the Regency case?
After his acquittal for murder ‘The Monk’ Hutch emerged from Dublin’s Special Criminal court a free man. He was found not guilty of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016. Swarmed by camera men and photographers, he walked silently to a taxi, ignoring questions about his future plans.
Hutch had spent more than 600 days in prison. Now that’s he free, what will he do and where will he go? Meanwhile, the State now has questions to answer about why the evidence it presented fell so far short of what was needed for conviction.
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Apr 17, 2023
Not guilty: why did the State's case against Gerard Hutch fail?
The State has failed in its effort to convict Gerard Hutch of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel. The conclusion of the dramatic case with a verdict of not guilty leaves a lot of unanswered questions for the Director of Public Prosecutions about why its case failed, and for the GardaI about how it mismanaged evidence at points in its investigation. Conor Gallagher reports.
Presented by Bernice Harrison.
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Apr 16, 2023
The brutal crimes of IRA double agent Freddie Scappaticci
During the Troubles the IRA set up a unit to find informers within its organisation.
Informally called the ‘nutting squad’, it was led by Freddie Scappaticci, the son of an Italian immigrant who grew up in the Markets area of Belfast.
He used kidnap, torture and murder to flush out alleged informers.
But Scappaticci, one of the highest ranking men in the IRA, was himself an informer in the pay of British intelligence, operating under the codename Stakeknife.
Last week, the news broke that the former IRA man had died several days earlier.
During his final years, he was being investigated by Operation Kenova, an inquiry set up in 2016.
Its findings are due out later this year. But how will his death impact the inquiry and the families of his victims who are still seeking justice?
Hosted by Bernice Harrison. Guests Gerry Moriarty and Kevin Winters.
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Apr 13, 2023
Why has the appointment of RTÉ's next leader run into trouble?
The role of RTÉ Director-General, held by Dee Forbes since 2016, is well-paid, prestigious but daunting. The task of finding funding to maintain the broadcaster's output and compete in the era of streaming is a tough one.
Now, leaks to the media, seemingly from within RTÉ's governing board, have revealed internal strife over the appointment of the successor to Forbes. What is going on at RTÉ? Laura Slattery explains.
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Apr 11, 2023
How European policies are causing misery for migrants
On the Mediterranean, migrants face grave danger in the attempt to cross from Africa to their targets in Europe, places like the small Italian island of Lampedusa.
Jade Wilson visited Lampedusa to report on how a new law governing the activities of NGO rescue missions has made the voyage, often on unsafe, overcrowded boats, even more hazardous.
And Sally Hayden looks at a recent UN report on the human rights situation in Libya.
The report adds to the mounting evidence that the EU, through programmes designed to keep migrants away from its borders, has cooperated with groups that have perpetrated human rights abuses including murder, torture and sexual slavery. Within the EU itself there is little outcry.
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Apr 10, 2023
CNN's Donie O'Sullivan on the meaning of Biden's visit
CNN news reporter Donie O'Sullivan doesn't usually cover the White House beat. He's more likely to be seen talking about online political movements or the use of technology to create misinformation. But he insisted on coming along to cover Joe Biden's four day visit to Ireland as the 'token Irishman', he tells Bernice Harrison and Simon Carswell.
With Biden due to arrive today, they discuss past presidential visits and the political significance of this one, both here in Ireland and back across the pond.
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Apr 9, 2023
Revealed: Christy Kinahan's Zimbabwe connection
In contrast with his son Daniel Kinahan, little has been known about the activities of Christy Kinahan snr, the founder of the Kinahan drug cartel.
Irish Times reporters Colm Keena and Conor Lally have now discovered that, along with his partner and three young children, Mr Kinahan snr has been attempting to build a new life for himself in Africa.
These efforts involved an attempt to establish himself there as a player in the humanitarian aviation sector through the purchase of airplanes from the Egyptian military.
The new information about Mr Kinahan snr was revealed in an Irish Times investigation in conjunction with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
Conor Lally and Colm Keena talk to Aideen Finnegan. This episode was originally published in November 2022.
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Apr 6, 2023
"Sean Quinn chooses not to understand" - filmmaker Trevor Birney on the making of Quinn Country
"Sean Quinn knows exactly what he did but chooses not to understand. It’s very easy for him to find others are to blame.”
Enniskillen-born filmmaker, Trevor Birney, has spent five years on his documentary, Quinn Country, which aired on RTE late last year.
The three-part series paints a visceral portrait of a man haunted by feelings of injustice and betrayal; not least in part due to the contributions from the former billionaire himself, from his palatial home in Co. Cavan.
The documentary charts the rise and fall of Quinn and his business empire, with a particular focus on his Anglo Irish Bank gamble and the violent attack on former Quinn executive, Kevin Lunney.
In a story to rival a Shakespearean drama, Birney skilfully pulls all the strands of the complicated story together in one place.
Here he speaks to In The News about his many hours of interviews with Sean Quinn, filming during outbreaks of vigilante violence, and the fatal character flaw that brought down one of the t…
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Apr 5, 2023
Rental crisis: why can't Ireland put limits on AirBnb?
The landlord of a Dublin apartment block, who evicted tenants last year claiming he intended to sell up, has been found by Dublin City Council to be using the property for unauthorised holiday letting.
The rooms began appearing on AirBnB, the holiday rental site. And the price? Up to €100 euro a night for a bunkbed in a shared room, or €280 for a private one.
Bernice Harrison talks to Dublin Editor Olivia Kelly about the case and to political correspondent Cormac McQuinn about why moves to regulate short-term lets - potentially freeing up thousands of properties for long-term housing - have not been realised.
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Apr 2, 2023
Sex education overhaul: 'It’s great that porn is going to be addressed'
Sex education in Ireland is getting a revamp. From September, students in the junior cycle will be taught about consent, relationships, the effects of pornography on sexual expectations and LGBTQ issues as part of their Social, Personal and Health Education curriculum (SPHE). While the proposed changes are largely welcomed, there is still some pushback, specifically on issues relating to gender identity and porn literacy.
Meanwhile, many young people are learning about sex and relationships from friends, the internet and porn.
In this episode, education editor Carl O’Brien explains what to expect from the new syllabus, what impact the objections have had so far and why some schools might opt out of teaching it. While Eoghan Cleary, a teacher in Greystones Co. Wicklow tells host Aideen Finnegan about a wellbeing program in his school that teaches students about consent, respectful relationships and “how to consume porn in a critical manner”.
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Mar 31, 2023
Trump facing trial: How the 2016 election is returning to haunt the former president
Donald Trump is the first ever former president to face criminal charges. To understand how he ended up in that ignoble position, we have to go back to the chaotic events of the 2016 presidential election. Washington correspondent Martin Wall explains.
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Mar 30, 2023
'There's literally nowhere to go' - how Ireland failed renters
The controversial decision to allow the no-fault eviction ban lapse on March 31st has barely left the news cycle since the Minister for Housing announced it three weeks ago. Darragh O'Brien insists that reimposing the embargo would exacerbate the housing supply crisis. Meanwhile, thousands of renters brace themselves for potential Notices to Quit and homeless services voice concerns over their capacity to cope with the fallout. In a country where property has traditionally been seen as a route to financial security, landlords and renters are on a collision course of competing interests. But are the rest of us standing idly by as human tragedies play out, and should they override an investor's right to their asset? Aideen Finnegan speaks to The Irish Times' Patrick Freyne, Jack Horgan Jones and homeless woman and activist, Jessica Freed.
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Mar 28, 2023
The Russian spy who went to Trinity: 'He was private and had an unusual accent'
Russian spy Sergey Cherkasov spent four years deep undercover as a politics student in Trinity College Dublin. His classmates knew him as Victor Muller Ferreira, a Brazilian national, eager to further his education and his prospects in Ireland. Five years on from his graduation, Cherkasov is in Brazil serving a 15 year prison sentence for several counts of fraud. And now, the Trinity graduate is facing fresh charges in the US, for acting as an illegal agent of the Russian intelligence service; in other words – a spy. Irish Times public affairs editor Simon Carswell explains how Cherkasov was busy making connections but unusually careless about leaving an information trail. A carelessness that finally caught him in the end.
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Mar 26, 2023
Why is Tiktok under fire - and should you be worried about it?
With more than half a billion downloads last year, TikTok has become the most popular app in the world. Despite its global popularity, suspicion around the app is growing over privacy and data collection matters. As the US considers an all out ban on the app, and western Governments move to block it on staff devices, we ask, will Ireland be next? Should we be next? In this episode, Forbes technology reporter Emily Baker-White explains how she herself became the target of TikTok surveillance last year, while data protection expert Darragh O Brien analyses the risks for Irish users.
Hosted by Bernice Harrison.
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Mar 25, 2023
Kerry Babies: 'There's no good end to this'
A man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s have been released without charge, following their arrest this week in connection with the death of a newborn baby boy in Kerry in 1984. It's almost 39 years to the day since Baby John, as he was later named, washed up on a beach near Cahersiveen in Co. Kerry. But the delay in making a potential breakthrough in the case is down to the mishandling of the initial garda investigation; where misogyny, harassment and brutality led to the scapegoating of innocent woman, Joanne Hayes. The infamous Kerry Babies case is one of the darker chapters of our social history, and the details can scarcely be believed today. Especially by a younger generation which has grown up in a liberal society where unmarried mothers are no longer incarcerated, LGBT people can marry and divorce and abortion are now allowed. Dr Mary McAuliffe, historian and director of the UCD Gender Studies Programme, outlines the astonishing facts of the case, and believes our legal system s…
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Mar 24, 2023
An apology that came 50 years too late
The St John Ambulance organisation has been rocked by a report into its handling of child sexual abuse allegations. Jack Power tells Bernice Harrison what the report uncovered and where it leaves the century-old volunteer group.
This episode contains descriptions of child sexual abuse.
The Tusla helpline for anyone affected by abuse in St John Ambulance can be contacted on 045 839375
Produced by Declan Conlon.
With additional editing by Bryan O'Brien.
Thanks to Mick Finnegan.
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Mar 23, 2023
Capital murder: the trials of Steven Silver
In June 2020, Garda Colm Horkan was shot and killed while on duty in Castlerea, County Roscommon.
His murder shocked the community and his colleagues in the force.
Steven Silver of Foxford, County Mayo has now been convicted of Garda Horn’s murder, after two trials where jurors had to decide if Silver’s mental health was an excuse for his crime.
To find out what happened in the courtroom, Aideen Finnegan talks to Eoin Reynolds.
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Mar 22, 2023
Could another crisis engulf Irish banks?
Banks in the US and Europe are failing. Why? And could this new banking crisis spread to Irish shores? Cliff Taylor explains what's happening, why it's happening and whether we should be worried.
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Mar 20, 2023
What's behind the huge drop in Irish gun crime?
Something strange is happening in the Irish gangland scene. After years of escalating violence, gun crime across the country has now reached record lows. What's behind the drop and will it last? Crime and Security editor Conor Lally reports.
Hosted by Aideen Finnegan.
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Mar 17, 2023
Will we ever escape the drunken Irish stereotype?
A cringey segment on Saturday Night Live went viral earlier this week ahead of the Oscars; lampooning the Irish accent and playing into the drunken, fighting Irish stereotype. Jimmy Kimmel also relied on the cliché twice during his presenting of the Academy Awards. Eyes rolled all over Ireland. But can we really get offended by the stereotype when our collective drinking habits are baffling to so many other nationalities? Chief Film Critic for The Irish Times, Donald Clarke, says yes. There's a litany of very offensive SNL sketches and a new 'Irish Ancestor Tiktok' phenomenon that's proving just as tone deaf. But comedian and host of the podcast 'An Irishman Abroad', Jarlath Regan, reckons we all need to grow a thicker skin. Presented by Bernice Harrison.
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Mar 15, 2023
Will Lineker vs The BBC go to extra time?
Gary Lineker will return to present Match of the Day on BBC this weekend. While it appears the story is reaching it’s conclusion, many questions still remain about how future issues around impartiality will be handled by the broadcaster, how political interference impacts decision making and how the Illegal Migration Bill, which was the focus of Lineker's original tweet, is progressing through the House of Commons. London Correspondent, Mark Paul and Media columnist Laura Slattery report. Presented by Aideen Finnegan.
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Mar 13, 2023
"We need guns and men" - inside the group chat of Ireland's new far right party
At first glance, many of the policies of Ireland First seem conservative rather than extreme. But a private, invite-only Telegram group paints a much darker picture of the party’s priorities.
Conor Gallagher talks to Aideen Finnegan.
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Mar 9, 2023
Ozempic: the reality of the ‘miracle’ weight-loss jab
Ozempic is a drug, designed for diabetics, but which has a game-changing secondary use. It has the power to transform the lives of people with complex obesity. It’s only available in Ireland for people with Type 2 diabetes – and in very limited circumstances for those with obesity. In this episode Bernice Harrison talks to Belinda from Tipperary, who after taking the drug for five months, has lost more than three stone. We also hear from Professor Donal O’Shea, HSE lead on obesity, who explains how the treatment works and how access to it has been put at risk by its association with celebrity weight loss, and its popularity on social media.
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Mar 7, 2023
The mystery virus: why we still aren't certain where Covid-19 came from
The idea that Covid-19 emerged from a lab in Wuhan was broadly dismissed as a conspiracy theory in the early stages of the pandemic. But experts have examined the possibility the virus escaped - accidentally or otherwise - from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Now the head of the FBI says that's the "most likely" scenario. The scientific community is divided on the whether the virus has an animal origin or whether it was leaked, and reporting on the issue is confusing and often contradictory. So three years later, what can we say for certain? We ask UCD professor of virology, Dr Gerald Barry, to make sense of the claims and counter claims. Presented by Aideen Finnegan.
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Mar 5, 2023
What happened at the Ballyseedy Massacre?
This week marks 100 years since the Ballyseedy Massacre, arguably the worst atrocity of the Irish civil war. On that fateful night, nine Kerrymen were rounded up by the Free State army to be murdered in a revenge killing. The ruthless act saw them tied together around a bomb. Except one man, Stephen Fuller, managed to escape the deadly blast. While the circumstances of that night were covered up by the state, Fuller's account of what happened paints a very different picture. In this episode historian, Owen O’Shea, outlines what happened in the early hours of March 7th, 1923, while Irish Times reporter Ronan McGreevy explains how many believe a state apology and an amended Dáil record is owed.
Owen O'Shea is author of No Middle Path, The Civil War in Kerry.
Ronan McGreevy is author of Great Hatred: The Assassination of Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson MP.
Clips in this episode are with thanks to Pat Butler, from his 1997 documentary 'Ballyseedy.'
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Mar 2, 2023
Sensible urban policy or sinister globalist plot? The uproar over 15 minute cities
The concept of the "15 minute city" is pretty straightforward: designing urban areas so that most of what an individual needs is within a short walk of home.
So why is the idea angering thousands of protestors in the UK, some of whom believe it is a part of a plot to deprive them of their liberty?
Olivia Kelly and Patrick Freyne talk to Aideen Finnegan.
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Feb 28, 2023
Why pharma giant GSK won't pay mother and baby home trial victims
Mari Steed was just five months old when she was subjected to an experimental vaccine trial at Bessborough mother and baby home in county Cork. She was administered a ‘4 in 1’ inoculation, without her mother’s consent. Four decades later, when she gained access to her medical records, she discovered the horrifying truth. Now, survivors just like Mari are looking for answers and for compensation from GSK (GlaxoSmithKleine), the pharmaceutical company responsible for undertaking these medical trials. But GSK won’t pay and the door has been shut on redress negotiations. To understand what took place and why the multi-billion pharma company have taken this firm stance, Bernice Harrison is joined by Current Affairs editor Arthur Beesley, former Special Rapporteur on Child Protection Prof Conor O’Mahony and survivor Mari Steed.
With any subscription you'll get unlimited access to the very best in unique quality journalism from The Irish Times. Subscribe today.
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Feb 27, 2023
Bertie Ahern at the Mahon Tribunal: 'He said "I never lodged $45,000" - but they didn't believe him'
Bertie Ahern is back. But why did he ever leave?
New polling about Mr Ahern, conducted by Ipsos for The Irish Times, suggests there are plenty of people who don't remember much about the former Taoiseach's legacy, either as a contributor to peace in Northern Ireland or as someone whose finances came under scrutiny at the Mahon Tribunal.
So what happened back then? Reporter Colm Keena tells the story.
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Plus: Political editor Pat Leahy on what new polling about Mr Ahern reveals.
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Feb 23, 2023
Controversial sentencing laws: why the focus on Judge Martin Nolan?
Are our sentencing laws too harsh or too soft? Any opinion offered depends on who you ask. International research shows people tend to think sentencing is more lenient than it actually is. Judge Martin Nolan is no stranger to controversy over some of his decisions. Social media users frequently criticise the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court judge for opting to fine some offenders while jailing others. Barristers take a more nuanced view and say much of the criticism is ill-informed. In this episode Legal Affairs Correspondent, Mary Carolan, and Senior Counsel, Tony McGillicuddy, aim to demystify the process. Presented by Aideen Finnegan.
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Feb 21, 2023
It's the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine. Will there be a second?
Dan McLaughlin was in Kyiv on Monday morning when US President Joe Biden arrived for a surprise visit, pledging to support Ukraine against Russia's invasion "for as long as it takes"
But how long will that be?
Dan updates us on the military, political and economic situation in Ukraine as the first anniversary of the beginning of the war approaches.
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Feb 20, 2023
In one of the world’s poorest nations, refugees are welcome
Niger is one of the world'd poorest countries. Like many other places in Africa, it is suffering from the worsening impacts of climate change. On a recent visit, Sally Hayden found poverty and other problems including an enduring culture of child marriage.
But there were also moves underway to tackle those problems by the people of Niger themselves. And despite their relative lack of resources, the Nigeriens she met were happy to welcome refugees, hundreds of thousands of whom are arriving from neighbouring north-west Nigeria, where banditry and lawlessness is out of control.
Sally talks to Aideen Finnegan.
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Feb 16, 2023
How high altitude balloons are taking spying to new heights
Last night the US president said he would make "no apologies" for taking down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the east coast of America earlier this month. Joe Biden told reporters the country is developing “sharper rules” to track, monitor and potentially shoot down unknown aerial objects. But many questions remain about the massive surveillance device, and three other smaller balloons, shot down over the US and Canada. Washington Correspondent, Martin Wall, brings us up to date about what we know so far, as well as explaining how official UFO sightings by the US military have been conflated with the international incident. China Correspondent, Denis Staunton, has the reaction from Beijing and analyses how the row might blow over, as the US and China rescue their stuttering reconciliation. Presented by Aideen Finnegan.
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Feb 15, 2023
The GAA star and the alleged cancer claim fraud
A former leading GAA star has been accused of taking large sums of money from people to pay for cancer treatment - treatment that some of those who gave him money now say they believe never took place.
The prominent ex-player, who cannot be named, has been targeted in a Garda search as part of a criminal inquiry that is now under way.
Aideen Finnegan talks to Simon Carswell about the story.
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Feb 14, 2023
Why are armchair detectives and TikTok sleuths obsessed with the case of Nicola Bulley?
On Friday, January 27th, Nicola Bulley dropped her two children to primary school in a Lancashire village. She walked around the corner to a popular local riverbank where she was in the habit of walking her dog, Willow, after school drop off. And then she disappeared. While the official police search continues, there is a parallel – unofficial - investigation. The puzzling disappearance has prompted a troubling surge in amateur detectives getting involved – online and on the ground. Irish Times London correspondent Mark Paul visited St Michael’s on Wyre, the village where Ms Bulley disappeared – and tells Bernice Harrison that the impact of the amateur sleuths is clear to see.
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Feb 12, 2023
Has Sinn Fein changed under Mary Lou McDonald's leadership?
The weekend marked an important anniversary for Mary Lou McDonald, having been handed the reins of Sinn Fein this time five years ago. In her time as party president, it has faced electoral wipe-out and unprecedented success. But how has she changed in that time? And in a party that so tightly controls dissent, what do her troops really think of her? Political Correspondent, Jennifer Bray, looks back her first five years as Sinn Fein president and how her political long-game might play off. Presented by Aideen Finnegan.
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Feb 9, 2023
Earthquake-stricken Syrians asked for help. Why didn't the world answer?
The deadly earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria in the early hours of Monday morning – along the border of those two countries – has mobilised governments and humanitarian agencies worldwide to respond.
But all week, politics – not need – has dictated aid delivery, with life-saving help arriving in Turkey from around the world within hours, while it took until Thursday for the first UN aid convoy to reach northwestern Syria through Bab al-Hawa border crossing – the UN managed border crossing between the two countries.
In northwest Syria it has mostly been left to local White Helmet volunteers to try to provide emergency assistance.
In the News speaks to White Helmet volunteer Ismail Abdullah who has been rescuing survivors and collecting the dead from collapsed buildings all week; and to Natasha Hall, senior fellow in the Middle East programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC who explains why, in this already devastated region, delive…
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Feb 7, 2023
Who's really benefitting from the Irish 'golden visas' bought by Chinese millionaires?
'Golden visas' give wealthy non-Europeans the right to live in Ireland in exchange for an upfront investment or donation. The scheme enacted in 2012 has since become dominated by Chinese applicants, even though many are not taking up their right to reside here. Irish organisations benefitting from some of the €1.7bn raised include universities, social housing charities and even sporting organisations. They rely heavily on the fund but neither they, nor the foreign donors, are obliged to disclose it. Arthur Beesley reports on the businesses and groups in receipt of money from the Immigrant Investor Programme, the lack of transparency around it, and the disquiet in the Department of Justice at the level of Chinese participation in it; while continuing to grant the visas. Presented by Bernice Harrison.
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Feb 5, 2023
The strange story of the man who spent 18 years in an airport
The man who inspired Steven Speilberg’s 2004 movie The Terminal, died last year at what is believed to be the age of 77. Mehran Karimi Nasseri, or Sir Alfred as he later became known, was an Iranian refugee who spent the guts of two decades, living in Terminal 1 of Charles De Gaulle Airport in France. Despite the global interest in his peculiar living circumstances, much of his story remains unclear. Why did he stay there for so long and what brought him back to the airport in his final days. To look back on his extraordinary existence, Conor Pope is joined by author and journalist Andrew Donkin, who wrote The Terminal Man, the book on Sir Alfred’s life.
With any subscription you'll get unlimited access to the very best in unique quality journalism from The Irish Times. Subscribe today.
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Feb 2, 2023
'Hunk correspondent' Patrick Freyne on why we're obsessed with TV dating shows
Love them or hate them, reality TV dating shows are one of the most enduring formats of the small screen. It seems like TV producers will take any concept and turn it into a dating show. They run the full gamut, from the earnestness of First Dates to the artifice of Love Island and the questionable 90 Day Fiancé. But if they didn’t net big ratings for TV execs, they wouldn’t keep making them. So what keeps us going back for more? Self-appointed ‘hunk correspondent’ for The Irish Times, Patrick Freyne, loves to review these shows as Features Writer. In this episode of In The News, he analyses the good, the bad and the ugly and why they make such compelling viewing.
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Jan 31, 2023
Lismore Protests: 'It would be like if The Shelbourne was used for Direct Provision.'
Last weekend up to 300 people gathered outside the historical Lismore House Hotel in Co Waterford, protesting over plans to use the vacant building as a temporary emergency accommodation centre for asylum seekers. Amongst the protestors were local residents expressing their concern over the lack of guidance from the Government, a group welcoming refugees and a small cohort, who weren't from the area, with an anti-immigration message. In this episode, Bernice Harrison is joined by Irish Times journalist Jennifer O’Connell who has been speaking to people on all sides of the protest.
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Jan 30, 2023
Men with dogs, sticks and baseball bat attack Dublin migrant camp
A number of men with dogs, sticks and a baseball bat attacked a migrant camp in Ashtown, north Dublin, on Saturday, telling the multinational group of men who were living there in tents to move on - which they did.
Irish Times Social Affairs Correspondent Kitty Holland was there at the time, reporting on the homelessness crisis. She talks to Bernice Harrison about what she witnessed.
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Jan 30, 2023
Regency trial: Jonathan Dowdall's credibility is key
After 52 days, 140 witnesses, 10 hours of secret audio recordings, phone call data, hours of CCTV footage, eyewitness testimony from 27 National Surveillance Unit officers and four closing speeches, judgment will be delivered in the trial of Gerard Hutch and his two co-accused on April 17th.
One star witness dominated the trial: former Sinn Féin councillor and convicted criminal Jonathan Dowdall, whose credibility Mr Hutch's defence team attacked from day one.
Court reporter Alison O'Riordan returns to the podcast to explain what happened in court and the most important evidence the three judges will have to weigh up when reaching their verdict.
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Jan 26, 2023
Ireland's Oscar joy: What it takes to turn a nomination into a win
This week, the Irish film industry earned an impressive 14 Oscar nominations. The biggest haul in any one year. But what next?
When a film has an Oscar nomination in the bag, it’s not time to sit back and wait to see if it wins. It’s just the start of an intense campaign to win support from the voting Academy members.
So what does the road to the Oscars look like? To find out Bernice Harrison talks to Irish Times Chief Film Correspondent Donald Clarke and Colm Bairéad, director of An Cailin Ciuin - The Quiet Girl, which was nominated for best international feature.
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Jan 24, 2023
How mental health services fail families across Ireland
This week the Mental Health Commission released its interim report on the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs).
It made for damning reading, painting a picture of a vital service that is not fit for purpose.
For many, access to care is a postcode lottery.
Two mothers talk to In the News about their experience with Camhs and how they feel it failed their children.
Kitty Holland, Irish Times social affairs correspondent and Roisin Clark, interim chief executive of Mental Health Reform, an advocacy group representing organisations throughout the country, explain the background and what the report means for Camhs and the HSE.
In the News is presented by Bernice Harrison and produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan
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Jan 22, 2023
How did mafioso Matteo Messina Denaro evade capture for thirty years?
Despite claims fugitive mob boss, Matteo Messino Denaro, was in Amsterdam, Liverpool and Brazil, the 60 year-old had been hiding in plain sight in Sicily. He was arrested last week after 30 years on the run. Italian criminologist, Dr Anna Sergi, says he was caught after being tracked down through plain old-fashioned detective work. Dr Sergi explains to host, Aideen Finnegan, why the Sicilian mafia boss' arrest is so significant, and what it was like to grow up in a region of Italy marred by terrifying mob violence.
With any subscription you'll get unlimited access to the very best in unique quality journalism from The Irish Times. Subscribe today.
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Jan 19, 2023
Richard Corrigan’s restaurant: ‘I would never work under those conditions ever, ever again'
"Elsa" had decades of experience waiting in restaurants before joining the staff at celebrity chef Richard Corrigan's new Dublin restaurant last year.
Within a few weeks she had joined over a dozen other staff who left.
Many of them spoke to The Irish Times's restaurant critic Corinna Hardgrave about why they did so: Harsh words, a bad atmosphere and rates of pay that were not what was promised.
Many were also critical of the restaurant's system for distributing tips.
And while the tip distribution policy in The Park Cafe is publicly available (as required by law), could it be that many customers have lost track of how tips are shared in a complicated system among restaurant staff - including senior managers?
Elsa and Corinna talk to Bernice Harrison.
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Jan 17, 2023
How the far right spreads misinformation and enflames anger at refugee protests
Ireland’s far-right is mobilising. Heated protests outside buildings used to house asylum seekers in Ballymun, East Wall and around the country show how anti-immigration sentiment is being stirred up by groups who are organised, heavily reliant on social media and increasingly adept at exploiting fears, often with baseless stories.
Irish Times crime correspondent Conor Gallagher has been tracking the rise of the far right in Ireland in recent years and has reported on how misinformation is fuelling these increasingly heated gatherings of locals and far-right groups.
He outlines how these protests are organised, who is behind them, the misinformation spread on social media and the fears being stoked up in communities where asylum seekers are being housed.
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Jan 16, 2023
Religion in schools: What do people really want?
About 90 per cent of primary schools in Ireland are Catholic in ethos. The figure is increasingly out of line with the religious makeup of the population.
Last week, an Athlone primary school switched from Catholic to multi-denominational, the first such change of school ethos in a state-led pilot programme.
But in other areas, like Dublin's Raheny, local opposition to such changes in school ethos has been strong.
So when it comes to religion in schools, what is it that people really want?
Irish Times education editor Carl O’Brien gives the background.
David Graham of lobby group Education Equality and Seamus Mulconry of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association give their sides of a debate that is still divisive.
This episode is presented by Bernice Harrison.
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Jan 12, 2023
Prince Harry: Apparently we do care about the heir and the spare
Just when you thought there was nothing new to learn about Britain's Prince Harry's explosive memoir, it manages to generate even more headlines upon its release this week. 'Spare' is now the fastest ever selling non-fiction book in the English language.
Even the Irish public is divided on whether the prince is a tragic, deluded character or an earnest rebel with a genuine public interest story to expose.
Media columnist, Laura Slattery, and columnist, Finn McRedmond in London, join Aideen Finnegan to discuss the book, its revelations and the global reaction to it.
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Jan 10, 2023
"We need SWAT teams in every ED and CEOs on the frontline"
Despite fears patients may die as a result of delays in our overcrowded Emergency Departments, we are yet again dealing with another trolley crisis this January. The problems beleaguering our health service are well documented, so what changes would meaningfully address them? Former Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Dr Chris Luke, has a number of proposals and wants "Zelensky-like" leadership to bring them about. Starting with hospital CEOs and medical directors on the frontline, SWAT teams to back up staff and a Citizens' Assembly to have a national conversation about what we are willing to fund.
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Jan 9, 2023
How China said goodbye to Zero Covid - and what it means for us
What does China’s exit from its Zero Covid policy mean for Ireland and the rest of the world? The country has fully reopened, ending the requirement for inbound travellers to quarantine. The abrupt exit has resulted in covid ripping through its main cities and struck a defiant tone with the European Union, which has recommended testing for passengers arriving from China. But the reopening will likely be a boost to the world economy and a welcome relief for its citizens and foreigners who felt unable to leave for the past three years. In this episode, presented by Bernice Harrison, we get the latest from our China Correspondent Denis Staunton.
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Jan 5, 2023
What did I miss over Christmas?
In this special episode of In The News we are joined by our new co-host, Bernice Harrison, and departing presenter, Conor Pope. If you opted out of scrolling through news stories over Christmas and New Year, here's a round-up of what you may have missed: hospital overcrowding, the deaths of Pelé, Pope Benedict and Vivienne Westwood, misogynist Andrew Tate's arrest, Republican George Santos' car crash TV interview and Rolling Stone's divisive snub of Celine Dion. Presented by Aideen Finnegan.
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Jan 4, 2023
The tools you need to stay healthy and happy
Looking to feel happier and healthier in life, but don’t know where to start? Clinical Psychologist Dr Trudy Meehan joins Conor Pope to talk about the practical tools we can all start using to bring meaningful change into our lives.
Positive Health: 100+ Research-based Positive Psychology and Lifestyle Medicine Tools to Enhance Your Wellbeing is available now.
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Jan 1, 2023
Best of 2022: Barack Obama’s speech writer takes us behind the scenes of his presidency
In his new book Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America, speech writer Cody Keenan gives readers an intimate portrayal of life inside the White House during some of the most critical moments in American history. In this episode, he talks to Sorcha Pollak about those ten years spent working alongside one of the most important and recognised people on earth, the long days and nights spent crafting the former US president’s statements and the pressure, self-doubt and ultimate sense of accomplishment of holding “the best and the worst job in the West Wing”. This episode was originally published in November 2022.
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Dec 30, 2022
Best of 2022: Tibnin Bridge, the 1982 murder of 3 Irish peacekeeping soldiers.
Since the 1970s, Irish soldiers have served as UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon, a region where complex conflicts ebb and flow. Last week, the tragic death of Private Sean Rooney brought the number of Irish peacekeepers killed in the line of duty to 48. This special three-part series revisits the 1982 murders of Corporal Gregory Morrow, Private Peter Burke and Private Thomas Murphy at Tibnin Bridge, a checkpoint near the Israeli border. In part one, Conor Gallagher and Sorcha Pollak tell the story of Tibnin Bridge, with help from those who lived through it. Artwork by Paul Scott.
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Dec 29, 2022
Best of 2022: The Black Axe gang's Irish recruits
Originating in west Africa the Black Axe gang has quickly become one of the most successful groups in Irish organised crime. In the Republic, the gang has stolen or laundered €64 million, mainly through romance scams and invoice frauds. The Irish cell of Black Axe launders money by using a rapidly growing network of money mules in Ireland. Money mules’ accounts are used to take receipt of, and then disperse, the proceeds of frauds carried out by other Black Axe cells located in countries across the globe. Security and crime editor Conor Lally has the details.
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Dec 27, 2022
Best of 2022: What happens when the fun is taken out of childrens team sports?
There are lots of reasons why team sports are a great activity for children to be involved in. They offer kids a chance to improve fitness, make new friends and learn how to be part of a team. But, on many teams across the country, coaches are leaving less able children on the sidelines, because they value winning above everything else. Irish Times parenting columnist Jen Hogan talks to Conor Pope about the impact this can have on children and why she thinks the culture needs to change. This episode was originally published in October 2022.
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Dec 27, 2022
Best of 2022: Christy Kinahan's secret life in Africa
In contrast with his son Daniel Kinahan, little has been known about the activities of Christy Kinahan snr, the founder of the Kinahan drug cartel. Irish Times reporters Colm Keena and Conor Lally have now discovered that, along with his partner and three young children, Mr Kinahan snr has been attempting to build a new life for himself in Africa. These efforts involved an attempt to establish himself there as a player in the humanitarian aviation sector through the purchase of airplanes from the Egyptian military. Conor Lally and Colm Keena talk to Aideen Finnegan.
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Dec 22, 2022
Why would Irish peacekeeping troops come under fire in Lebanon?
The tragic death of Private Sean Rooney in Lebanon last week marks the first Irish peacekeeper death in combat in the region since 1999. The 23 year old was a member of the UN's 10,000-strong mission, Unifil. It's understood the vehicle became surrounded by an angry mob near the coastal down of Al Aqbieh on the night of Wednesday, 14th December. But why would the UN vehicle be the target of such ire? And what has caused the ratcheting up of tension in the Hizbullah-controlled region? Crime and Security Correspondent, Conor Gallagher, and retired Lieutenant Colonel and military historian, Dan Harvey, frame the conflict and analyse the threat on this episode of In The News.
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Dec 20, 2022
Will Enoch Burke get out of jail for Christmas?
Teacher Enoch Burke could get out of jail today if he chose to.
All he needs to do is say he’ll follow a court order to stay away from the school where he worked until being suspended in a row over his refusal to call a trans student by their preferred pronouns.
In cases of civil contempt there is no clear mechanism for bringing to an end the situation without Mr Burke backing down.
But given his stated intentions, and taking into account his family’s history in legal disputes, it seems unlikely Mr Burke will do that.
So how will the situation ever get resolved?
Jennifer O’Connell and Mary Carolan talk to Conor Pope.
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Dec 18, 2022
As 2022 draws to a close, what's the situation in Ukraine?
This Christmas eve will mark ten months to the day since Russia launched their attack on Ukraine. In sub-zero temperatures, civilians are dealing with blackouts and water shortages, as the Russians target critical infrastructure from the air. As the year draws to a close, what hope, if any, will the new year bring? Dan McLaughlin reports on the situation from Lviv.
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Dec 15, 2022
The baffling story of an apartment block left empty in a housing crisis
The prestigious Capital Dock and Clancy Barracks apartments in Dublin were developed by Kennedy Wilson. Fulfilling their legal obligations for 10% social housing, they offered Dublin City Council a choice between those homes or the cheaper Herberton apartments in Rialto. Though the council agreed and a deal was struck in 2019, they’ve lain empty for over 3 and a half years. 39 families who were offered the homes earlier this year, have been told they now must wait even longer after fire safety issues were identified. But, in the middle of a housing crisis, how have the apartments been left dormant, and why is this only emerging now? What does it mean for the rest of the Herberton complex on the former site of Fatima Mansions? Dublin Editor, Olivia Kelly, has the latest.
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Dec 13, 2022
ChatGPT: Could the new AI chatbot take your job?
ChatGPT is no ordinary chatbot. It’s a massive advance in AI and machine learning that can handle far more complex requests, and generate answers in human-like form. It doesn’t scour the internet or copy and paste from articles. Rather its algorithms have been fed with a massive dataset that yield unique results to questions you might pose. It’s been created by OpenAI, a San Francisco-based AI research company. While it’s a potential force for good, we have seen how technology can be used for malicious intent. So what are the potential pitfalls, who will mitigate against them and how soon could they realistically threaten jobs? In The News is joined by Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer Science at TU Dublin, Dr. Robert Ross, and Arts and Culture Editor, Hugh Linehan.
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Dec 12, 2022
Everything you need to know about Strep A
The death of a 4 year-old girl in the north east from the invasive form of Strep A, and a five year-old girl in Belfast, has understandably put parents around the country on high alert. With a significant increase in the number of viral infections sweeping through childcare and school settings, the HSE is encouraging parents to keep children at home if they’re showing signs of illness. But Strep A is a bacterial infection that can be treated effectively with antibiotics. How can you tell the difference between a viral infection and what might be Strep A? Galway GP, Dr Laura Lenihan, explains the symptoms of each. Unfortunately the most effective antibiotic to treat the illness is in short supply in Ireland at the moment. Duleek pharmacist, Kathy Maher, outlines what’s behind the shortage and what action the government should take to protect patients.
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Dec 9, 2022
German coup attempt: Who is behind it and why?
The arrest this week of 25 German citizens for allegedly plotting a coup against the German state came as a big surprise. Who are these people, and could they really hope to overthrow the government in Berlin?
This is a story about German history, modern conspiracy culture, and an obscure, eccentric wannabe King. Derek Scally tells it to Conor Pope.
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Dec 7, 2022
North and South: What do Irish people think about reunification?
Voters in the north and the Republic of Ireland would welcome a referendum on a United Ireland.
A straightforward binary question would yield a resounding yes on this side of the border, and an emphatic no from the six counties.
That result is clear from a two polls carried out in both jurisdictions by Ipsos for The Irish Times.
But the wide-ranging research shows the Republic’s commitment to a United Ireland is wide but not deep. More than a third say they would be less likely to vote yes if reunification meant sacrificing the tricolour or Amhrán na bhFhiann. Some respondents are concerned about the potential for violence.
Today Pat Leahy tells Aideen Finnegan what the research tells us about attitudes to a United Ireland - and which arguments those for and against it must win.
North and South is a collaboration between The Irish Times and ARINS, which is a joint research project of the Royal Irish Academy and the Keough-Naughton Centre for Irish Studies at the University of N…
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Dec 4, 2022
"This is an epidemic" - Why can't we stamp out child sexual abuse in Ireland?
Warning: This episode features discussion of child sexual abuse.
Since an RTÉ radio documentary about child sexual abuse at Blackrock College aired last month, charity One In Four has been inundated with calls from survivors of abuse, seeking therapy and help in finding justice, often after decades of suffering in silence.
But the research shows that child sexual abuse is far from just a legacy issue in Ireland. And while more attention is paid to clerical abuse, most abuse today takes place within families.
A growing percentage of offences are related to online activities, in what One In Four CEO Maeve Lewis calls an "epidemic" of online child abuse that sometimes leads on to contact abuse.
Today we talk to Maeve about the shocking problem of child sexual abuse in Ireland, what can be done to prevent it, and how we are falling short.
You can contact One In Four during office hours: 01 6624070
You can contact the Rape Crisis Centre's National 24-Hour Helpline at 1800 77 8888, a…
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Dec 1, 2022
"Sean Quinn chooses not to understand" - filmmaker Trevor Birney on the making of Quinn Country
“Sean Quinn knows exactly what he did but chooses not to understand. It’s very easy for him to find others are to blame.”
Enniskillen-born filmmaker, Trevor Birney, has spent five years on his documentary, Quinn Country, which aired on RTE this week.
The three-part series paints a visceral portrait of a man haunted by feelings of injustice and betrayal; not least in part due to the contributions from the former billionaire himself, from his palatial home in Co. Cavan.
The documentary charts the rise and fall of Quinn and his business empire, with a particular focus on his Anglo Irish Bank gamble and the violent attack on former Quinn executive, Kevin Lunney.
In a story to rival a Shakespearean drama, Birney skilfully pulls all the strands of the complicated story together in one place.
Here he speaks to In The News about his many hours of interviews with Sean Quinn, filming during outbreaks of vigilante violence, and the fatal character flaw that brought down one of the tita…
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Nov 29, 2022
What is the quickest way out of the housing crisis?
We get the expert view on solving Ireland’s housing emergency from Dr Lorcan Sirr, Lecturer in Housing at TU Dublin.
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Nov 28, 2022
Regency trial: Everything that's happened so far - and what comes next
The Special Criminal Court has been hearing astonishing evidence in the trial of Gerard "The Monk" Hutch and two other men for their involvement in the murder of David Byrne at Dublin's Regency Hotel in 2016.
Secret recordings made by Gardaí of Mr Hutch and alleged accomplice Jonathan Dowdall, who has already pleaded guilty to his involvement in the murder, is at the centre of the case.
But it is not yet clear if the recordings are admissible as evidence. That will be decided by the three judges deciding the case.
In this episode of In The News, we speak to court reporter, Alison O’Riordan, about the content of the recordings which covered everything from politics to celebrities, to IRA republicans and the Kinahan cartel.
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Nov 24, 2022
How to survive the most expensive Christmas in decades
As the permacrisis rumbles on, Christmas is rolling around again and this year’s challenge is the cost of… everything, really. With inflation at a 40 year high, the gifts we give, the socialising we do, the supermarket trolleys we fill and the energy bills we pay will be a huge source of stress. While Conor Pope is co-host of In The News, he’s also The Irish Times' Consumer Affairs Correspondent and editor of Pricewatch. In this episode he shares his tips and tricks for navigating the most expensive Christmas in years; everything from avoiding the pitfalls of the Black Friday sales to reframing your outlook on present-giving. Don’t start tapping that debit card until you’ve listened to this. Presented by Aideen Finnegan
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Nov 22, 2022
Cop27: What was agreed and what difference will it make?
What was agreed at Cop27 and will it make a difference to the climate crisis? Environment and Science editor Kevin O'Sullivan explains what happened at the two week summit which was held in Egypt earlier this month.
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Nov 20, 2022
Will Trump and Biden face each other again in 2024?
“He is still fervently supported by a segment of the republican voter who is predominantly male, largely white and non-college educated.”
The return of Donald Trump, as a potential presidential candidate, heralds the next big battle in American politics.
While he has fallen out of favour with conservative Republicans in political circles, the 76 year-old is still supported by considerable numbers in his MAGA activist base.
Though the starting gun has not been fired on the race for the Republican nomination, Trump’s closest rival appears to be Florida governor, Ron DeSantis. Trump has threatened to reveal damaging information on the 44 year-old, should he decide to challenge.
Washington Correspondent, Martin Wall, speaks to In The News about the men’s bitter rivalry, the Republicans’ internal party struggle between traditional and far-right members and who the Democrats might field if Joe Biden decides he won’t contest the 2024 election.
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Nov 17, 2022
How can the Spiritans abuse survivors get justice?
When the RTE Documentary Blackrock Boys aired nearly two weeks ago, it sent shockwaves through the country. Detailing sexual abuse at the Dublin school, it has prompted even more abuse survivors to come forward with allegations against the Spiritan priests. With most of the alleged perpetrators now dead, attention is turning to how victims can get answers, justice, closure and healing. Religious Affairs Correspondent Patsy McGarry reports.
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Nov 15, 2022
Qatar 2022: the rocky road to Doha
After a 12 year lead-in time dogged by corruption scandal, human rights abuses and subversion of the football calendar, World Cup 2022 is finally about to get underway in Qatar. But can the Persian Gulf state overcome its critics and pull off a controversy-free tournament? How will authorities in the conservative muslim country react to boozy football fans and LGBTQ+ supporters? And the big question; who should Ireland support in the absence of cheering on the boys in green? Conor Pope is joined by football writer and broadcaster Ken Early, who is covering the World Cup for The Irish Times.
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Nov 15, 2022
"She spoke truth to power" - remembering Vicky Phelan
Yesterday we learned of the death of Vicky Phelan, the outspoken campaigner whose own mishandled case led to reform of the cervical cancer detection system and a national conversation about the rights of patients in the health system.
Simon Carswell and Jen Hogan talk to Aideen Finnegan about Vicky's story, her formidable legacy and her love for her family. Vicky Phelan is survived by husband Jim and her two children Amelia and Darragh.
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Nov 13, 2022
Revealed: Christy Kinahan's Zimbabwe connection
In contrast with his son Daniel Kinahan, little has been known about the activities of Christy Kinahan snr, the founder of the Kinahan drug cartel.
Irish Times reporters Colm Keena and Conor Lally have now discovered that, along with his partner and three young children, Mr Kinahan snr has been attempting to build a new life for himself in Africa.
These efforts involved an attempt to establish himself there as a player in the humanitarian aviation sector through the purchase of airplanes from the Egyptian military.
The new information about Mr Kinahan snr was revealed in an Irish Times investigation in conjunction with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
Conor Lally and Colm Keena talk to Aideen Finnegan.
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Nov 10, 2022
Is Féidir Linn! Barack Obama’s speech writer takes us behind the scenes of his presidency
In his new book Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America, speech writer Cody Keenan gives readers an intimate portrayal of life inside the White House during some of the most critical moments in American history. In this episode, he talks to Sorcha Pollak about those ten years spent working alongside one of the most important and recognised people on earth, the long days and nights spent crafting the former US president’s statements and the pressure, self-doubt and ultimate sense of accomplishment of holding “the best and the worst job in the West Wing”.
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Nov 8, 2022
Trouble in the tech sector: what will it mean for Ireland?
For years, the tech sector has been Ireland’s golden goose. Multi-national companies like Facebook and Google are worth billions of euro to the Irish economy every year. With job cuts and a freeze on hiring across the sector, are the good times coming to an end? Or at least stalling? Business and Technology journalist Ciara O’Brien and Economics Correspondent Eoin Burke Kennedy talk to Conor Pope about what is happening and how will Ireland cope in the face of a tech correction?
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Nov 6, 2022
Cancelled: Is there any way back for Kanye West?
Kanye West has arguably suffered one of the most spectacular downfalls in contemporary culture. Brands like Adidas, Balenciaga and JP Morgan have severed ties with the 45 year-old after an anti-Semitic tirade in October. With his music and fashion empire lying in ruins, Irish Times columnist Finn McRedmond argues the ‘tortured genius’ trope allowed him to get away with his outrageous behaviour for far too long.
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Nov 4, 2022
Elon Musk and Twitter: Can this end well?
Having bought Twitter, Elon Musk is moving rapidly to change the troubled social media platform, both for its hundreds of millions of users and for its endangered employees.
But will Musk make Twitter better or worse? Can he redeem what most observers are calling a terrible business deal? And if Twitter fails, what next for social networking?
Aideen Finnegan talks to Laura Slattery and Hugh Linehan.
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Nov 2, 2022
The Black Axe gang: a new frontier in Irish crime
Originating in west Africa the Black Axe gang has quickly become one of the most successful groups in Irish organised crime. In the Republic, the gang has stolen or laundered €64 million, mainly through romance scams and invoice frauds. The Irish cell of Black Axe launders money by using a rapidly growing network of money mules in Ireland. Money mules’ accounts are used to take receipt of, and then disperse, the proceeds of frauds carried out by other Black Axe cells located in countries across the globe. Security and crime editor Conor Lally has the details.
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Oct 31, 2022
The history of Ireland’s old fashioned licensing laws
Have you ever wondered why pubs and nightclubs in Ireland have a very strict closing time, whereas the rest of Europe has a more relaxed approach to how their public houses operate. It comes down to our centuries-old licensing laws, which Justice Minister Helen McEntee last week promised, would finally be reformed. In this episode, historian Diarmaid Ferriter talks to Conor Pope about the antiquated laws and why Ireland’s attitude to drinking and socialising as far back as the 19th century, still has an effect today.
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Oct 27, 2022
Face to face with a killer: Tibnin Bridge, part three
The families of Corporal Morrow, Private Burke and Private Murphy watch on as Ireland's best criminal defence barrister tries to get Michael McAleavy acquitted at his court martial for murder in 1983.
Part three of three.
Researched and reported by Conor Gallagher and Sorcha Pollak.
Presented by Sorcha Pollak.
Produced by Declan Conlon.
Artwork by Paul Scott.
Reconstruction voiced by Peter Heenan.
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Oct 26, 2022
An unthinkable crime: Tibnin Bridge, part two
Among soldiers who have served in Lebanon, no incident is more notorious than the 1982 killings of Corporal Gregory Morrow, Private Peter Burke and Private Thomas Murphy at Tibnin Bridge, a checkpoint near the Israeli border.
In today's episode, it's January 1983 and the investigation has stalled. Detective Tom Connolly and his colleagues fly out to Lebanon to help.
Part two of three.
Researched and reported by Conor Gallagher and Sorcha Pollak.
Presented by Sorcha Pollak.
Produced by Declan Conlon.
Artwork by Paul Scott.
Reconstruction voiced by Peter Heenan.
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Oct 25, 2022
Death at an Irish army checkpoint: Tibnin Bridge, part one
Since the 1970s, Irish soldiers have served as UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon, a region where complex conflicts ebb and flow.
47 Irish soldiers have died there in the line of duty.
But among soldiers who have served in Lebanon, no incident is more notorious than the 1982 killings of Corporal Gregory Morrow, Private Peter Burke and Private Thomas Murphy at Tibnin Bridge, a checkpoint near the Israeli border.
In part one of a three-part series, Conor Gallagher and Sorcha Pollak tell the story of Tibnin Bridge, with help from those who lived through it.
This episode was produced by Declan Conlon.
Artwork by Paul Scott.
Reconstruction voiced by Peter Heenan.
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Oct 24, 2022
US midterms: Can a celebrity doctor deliver for the Republicans?
With just two weeks to go until the 2022 midterm elections, all eyes are on Pennsylvania and the two nominees vying for the Senate seat, Republican celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz and Democrat John Fetterman. Whoever wins could have a huge impact on which party controls the chamber from next January. If the Republicans win it would spell disaster for President Biden’s ability to enact his agenda, with potentially global implications. Democrats had hoped the Supreme Court’s ruling on abortion would give them the fire power they need to get voters to turn out – but the cost of living crisis is giving their opponents the edge. Washington Correspondent Martin Wall speaks to Aideen Finnegan about the candidates and what is at stake when voters cast their ballots.
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Oct 21, 2022
How the death of Savita Halappanavar changed the course of modern Irish history
This month marks ten years since Savita Halappanavar died at Galway University Hospital. At seventeen weeks pregnant, she had presented to the hospital complaining of back pain, only to be told she was actively miscarrying. One week after she was admitted to hospital, she died from sepsis after her request for an abortion was denied on legal grounds. Protests and vigils were held across Ireland, remembering Savita and calling for changes to Ireland's strict abortion laws. Ten years on and Savita's name is recognised across the country. Her story, synonymous with the campaign to repeal the 8th Amendment. In this episode, Social Affairs correspondent Kitty Holland reflects on Savita's life, the circumstances around her death and how it changed the course of modern Irish history.
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Oct 20, 2022
Liz Truss resigns. Now what?
After just 45 days on the job, UK prime minister Liz Truss has resigned. The proximate cause of her political demise was her mishandling of the economy in the weeks since she took power. But to find the real cause of the constant chaos in British politics, we need to look further back, says Irish Times news editor Mark Hennessy.
Plus: How and by whom will Truss be replaced?
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Oct 18, 2022
Xi Jinping tightens his grip on China
China’s Communist Party is holding its National Congress this week. The highly choreographed event sets out the party’s plans for the country over the next five years. But there are turbulent times ahead, as they continue their zero-Covid approach and face into a major property crisis. With President Xi Jinping now set for a third term in office, what will it mean for the country and for the world? Denis Staunton reports from Beijing.
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Oct 16, 2022
What happens when the fun is taken out of children’s team sports?
There are lots of reasons why team sports are a great activity for children to be involved in. They offer kids a chance to improve fitness, make new friends and learn how to be part of a team. But, on many teams across the country, coaches are leaving less able children on the sidelines, because they value winning above everything else. Irish Times parenting columnist Jen Hogan talks to Conor Pope about the impact this can have on children and why she thinks the culture needs to change.
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Oct 13, 2022
Who is Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brückner?
***Please note this episode discusses sexual assault and violence which some listeners may find distressing***
German prosecutors have filed new sexual assault charges against the man who's already under investigation for the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
Christian Brückner is accused of raping Irish woman Hazel Behan, who was 20 at the time of the attack in Portugal in 2004.
The other indictments filed this week also include charges of child sex abuse.
He is currently serving time in a German prison for the rape of an elderly American tourist in The Algarve in 2005.
Who is Christian Brückner, what is his criminal history and how exactly is he connected to the McCann case? Berlin correspondent for The Irish Times, Derek Scally, brings us the details.
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Oct 11, 2022
Iranian women's fight for freedom
Iranian authorities are using increasingly violent force to suppress the female-led protests that are rocking the religious regime.
Zahra Gholamvand is a research fellow at Trinity College Dublin who left Iran in 2010 after the failure of the Green Movement and violent crackdown on protest.
She explains what life is like for women under the watch of Iran's morality police and why this time she believes the protests are not going away.
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Oct 10, 2022
A tragedy in Donegal
Ten lives have been lost and many more irrevocably changed by the tragic events that took place last Friday in the small village of Creeslough, County Donegal.
Kitty Holland is there, meeting the people of the area. She talks to producer Aideen Finnegan.
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Oct 9, 2022
John Murphy: A senior Garda’s fall from grace
Last week, former garda superintendent John Murphy was jailed for six and a half years after he was caught holding cannabis worth nearly €260,000 in his home in Dublin. He is also at the centre of an investigation into allegations that information held by the force was supplied to the Hutch criminal gang. But how does a senior garda become involved in the drugs trade and end up collaborating with criminals? And what kind of message does Murphy’s arrest and corruption within An Garda Síochána send to the general public? Security and Crime Editor Conor Lally reports.
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Oct 6, 2022
Rory Mason and the fighters of Ukraine's "international legion"
Rory Mason, the young man who died in combat in Ukraine this week, was one of thousands of young men from around the world who travelled to join Ukraine's "international legion" and help in the fight against Russia's invasion.
But who was Rory Mason, and how important is the international legion to Ukraine's war effort?
Ronan McGreevy and Dan McLaughlin report.
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Oct 4, 2022
Why former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall is facing life in witness protection
Convicted criminal Jonathan Dowdall is about to lose his name, his identity and his home. The former Sinn Fein councillor and successful businessman has dramatically turned state witness in the upcoming Regency Hotel murder trial and will enter the Irish Witness Protection Programme. What exactly was Dowdall’s involvement in Regency shooting and how will his relocation be managed? Crime Correspondent Conor Gallagher reports.
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Oct 2, 2022
What does the Nord Stream sabotage mean for Ireland?
Last week the major pipeline bringing gas from Russia into the EU was sabotaged with explosions recorded at at least four different points along the line deep under the Baltic Sea. Flows of gas seeped into the sea, posing a serious threat to vessels in the area, damaging delicate eco-systems and further ratcheting the tension between Russia and all its neighbours to the west. The perpetrators are unknown, or at least there is no hard evidence to say who did it. Irish Times Europe Correspondent Naomi O’Leary talks to Conor Pope about the sabotage and what might be coming down the tracks.
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Sep 29, 2022
Brazil election: Bolsonaro's January 6th moment?
On Sunday, Brazilians will vote in a presidential election that pits former president Lula against incumbent Jair Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro is behind in the polls and, continuing his record of Trump-inspired politics, has claimed a loss could only mean voter fraud. But could he really hang on to power?
From Sao Paolo, Tom Hennigan has the story of an election that could have global consequences.
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Sep 27, 2022
Budget 2023: What happened and how it affects you
One off lump sums, a 25% reduction in childcare costs and an increase in welfare payments.
Those are some of the notable measures announced in yesterday’s €11bn budget, aimed at helping offset the cost-of-living crisis.
That’s a big number, but what exactly does it represent for you and your finances?
To understand the picture for households, In The News speaks to:
Consumer affairs correspondent, Conor Pope
Political correspondent Jennifer Bray
Political reporter Jack Horgan-Jones
Social affairs correspondent Kitty Holland and
Economics correspondent Eoin Burke-Kennedy
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Sep 25, 2022
Does sportswashing work?
After a controversial launch earlier this year, a breakaway professional golf league, backed by Saudi Arabia's investment fund, is still going, having survived criticism from players like Rory McIlroy and being called an exercise in sportswashing to improve Saudi Arabia's brutal image. But is anyone watching? Conor Pope asks Irish Times sports writer Malachy Clerkin.
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Sep 22, 2022
Could Russian mobilisation change the course of the war?
This week Russian president Vladimir Putin tried to reclaim the initiative in his invasion of Ukraine by announcing a "partial mobilisation" of the population.
Will the move dent Ukrainian confidence that the Russians can be repelled?
Daniel McLaughlin reports from Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine.
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Sep 20, 2022
Why is the cost of childcare so high?
Parents in Ireland today are facing some of the highest childcare costs in the world. What relief can be expected for parents in the upcoming budget and what can be done to reform the sector? Features writer Jennifer O’Connell reports.
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Sep 18, 2022
Murder in a Dublin Flat: the shocking death of Tony Dempsey
Last week, the body of 28-year-old Tony Dempsey was discovered at a flat in Dublin’s north inner city. It’s believed his remains lay there for up to a week before the alarm was raised, with people coming and going from the premises during that time. How did this happen in a busy apartment complex and what were the circumstances that led to this tragedy? Security and Crime editor Conor Lally reports.
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Sep 15, 2022
How wealthy is the British monarchy?
The finances of the British monarchy remain, in part, a mystery. Royal wills are never made public, so it’s not quite clear what wealth is passed down to the next generation. So, where does the money come from and how is it managed? In this episode, Laura Clancy, author of ‘'Running the Family Firm: how the monarchy manages its image and our money’ tells Conor Pope how the royals operate more like a corporation than a family unit. She also examines what the future of the ‘firm’ might hold after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
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Sep 13, 2022
How ready are we for another Covid winter?
While it may not be dominating the conversation like it did last year, Covid is still here and numbers are on the rise. Health Editor Paul Cullen speaks to Conor Pope about how prepared we should be as we face into a third winter, living alongside the virus.
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Sep 13, 2022
What's happening with Ukraine's counter-offensive?
Dan McLaughlin reports on the counter-offensive carried out in recent days by Ukrainian Armed Forces that has recaptured swathes of territory from the Russians in the northeast and south. Will the operation change the course of the war and how will Russia react?
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Sep 11, 2022
How climate change is bringing devastation to Somalia
Somalia is on the brink of famine. By the end of this year, the country will have gone through five failed rainy seasons, which means for over two years, people have not been able to plant or harvest any crops and millions of livestock have died. Irish Times reported Sally Hayden visited the country in April this year and tells Sorcha Pollak about the devastation and suffering she witnessed there. We also hear from Trócaire’s Chief Executive, Caoimhe de Barra.
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Sep 9, 2022
For the love of Garth
What is it about Garth Brooks we love so much? To find out, Conor Pope talked to superfans Anna O'Donoghue and Paul McKeever and music critic Tony Clayton-Lea.
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Sep 9, 2022
How will the UK cope with losing Queen Elizabeth II?
London editor Denis Staunton on the death of Queen Elizabeth II: how the world learned she was dying, what happens next, and the impact her death will have on the British people and the monarchy itself.
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Sep 7, 2022
How can Ireland find a way out of the energy crisis?
As the colder winter months approach, the energy crisis shows no signs of abating. So, what is being done about it and how bad will it get? Conor Pope speaks to Irish Times political reporter Jack Horgan-Jones about the Government’s response to soaring energy prices and what measures they will take to further protect consumers, while ESRI energy economist Dr Muireann Lynch explains why we are facing blackouts this winter and what can be done to find a way out of the crisis.
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Sep 3, 2022
How Ireland’s asylum and refugee accommodation system has reached breaking point
Sorcha Pollak speaks to Irish Times crime correspondent Conor Gallagher about a recent incident in Dublin, which saw international protection applicants forced to leave their temporary accommodation centre, after a local campaign of intimidation and criminal damage. We also hear from Fiona Hurley of NASC Ireland, the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre who talks about the two-tier immigration system which is emerging and how certain accommodation providers are refusing to house non-Ukrainian asylum seekers.
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Sep 1, 2022
The psychology of climate denial
Climate denial can take many forms. Some refuse to accept the science, while others avoid the overwhelm by diverting their attention elsewhere. Professor John Sharry from UCD’s School of Psychology talks to Conor Pope about the reasons people choose to deny the crisis and why ultimately, it’s an unhelpful coping mechanism.
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Aug 30, 2022
Leaving Cert 2022: The points race and the housing race are harder than ever
Students now need more CAO points than ever to secure a spot in many university courses, thanks to grade inflation caused by the predicted grades system of the pandemic years.
And while this year's grades will be raised to match the inflated grades of the past two years, the situation means some deserving students will miss out on their preferred places.
Even if students do secure a place at university, how will these young people find a place to live in a country grappling with a severe accommodation crisis?
“I think about it all the time. If I don’t get my accommodation, I cant go,” Leaving Cert student Leah Quigg told the In the News podcast. “It’s on everyone’s minds… it’s having somewhere to lie down at the end of the night.”
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Aug 28, 2022
Why it’s time to end the silence around stillbirths and baby loss
In early 2006, just days away from her due date, Cork woman Mairie Cregan was told her unborn baby, Liliana, had no heartbeat. Here, she tells Sorcha Pollak about her experience of stillbirth and why it remains a subject that many people struggle to talk about. Mairie has since set up the charity Féileacáin to help parents going through the same grieving process and explains why it’s time to break the silence around stillbirth and baby loss.
This episode discusses neonatal deaths and pregnancy loss, which some listeners may find upsetting.
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Aug 25, 2022
Will therapy with psychadelic drugs become mainstream?
Could psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, play a role in the treatment of PTSD, OCD and eating disorders?
A global series of trials, including one in Tallaght, may add to the evidence that psilocybin can play a unique role in therapy.
Patrick Freyne talks to Conor Pope about the potential of psychedelic therapy and how decades of research were lost to the "war on drugs".
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Aug 23, 2022
Can the Catholic Church in Ireland really change?
Demands by Irish Catholics for major change in the church’s attitude to women, LGBTI+ people, those who are divorced or remarried, and single parents have been sent to Rome as part of a Vatican project to take the considerations of the faithful on board.
But will the Church really change?
Patsy McGarry is Religious Affairs Correspondent.
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Aug 21, 2022
What kind of leader could Michael Collins have been?
The killing of Michael Collins created the greatest "what if" in Irish history. If he had lived, would Irish history have played out differently? Would the influence of the Catholic Church have been less? Would he have attempted to win back the six counties of Northern Ireland? 100 years on from Collins' death, Irish Times reporter and historian Ronan McGreevy looks at the outstanding questions over his life, death and influence today.
Ronan mcgreevy is the author of a new book Great Hatred: The Assassination of Sir Henry Wilson MP, which explores the origins of the Civil War.
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Aug 18, 2022
What next for Afghanistan and its people?
One year on from the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, what is life like for the people living under their rule? Conor pope speaks to Fatema Mohammadi, an Afghan woman who has been living in Ireland since fleeing Kabul earlier this year. She explains what life is like for the women and girls there who have been denied access to work and education. We also hear from Colin P Clarke, a senior research fellow at The Soufan Center, who speaks about the country’s prospects for peace and recovery.
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Aug 16, 2022
What's happening at An Bord Pleanála?
What's going on at An Bord Pleanála?
The state body with final say on planning appeals and power over fast-tracked housing developments is in focus this week after a report into conflict of interest claims against its former deputy chairman Paul Hyde was sent to the Gardaí and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Current affairs editor Arthur Beesley has been reporting on the story and he explains what it's all about.
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Aug 14, 2022
Can Ireland's electricity grid cope with the data centre boom?
Data centres already consume 14 per cent of Ireland’s electricity supply, more than all rural housing. Now these centres are on track to consume about a third of all Irish electricity by the end of this decade. As concerns mount over energy shortages as close as this winter, should more be done to regulate the industry? Sorcha Pollak speaks to Irish Times columnist Una Mullaley and Niall Farrell, energy and environmental economist with the ESRI to find out more.
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Aug 11, 2022
The agency forcing Irish criminals to flee abroad (From November 2021)
Just over 25 years ago, the Criminal Assets Bureau was established in the wake of the killings of Detective Jerry McCabe and journalist Veronica Guerin. The murders shocked the nation and served as a wakeup call to the authorities that they were losing the fight against gangland figures and paramilitary groups. Over the years, the Criminal Assets Bureau has seized almost €200million in the proceeds of crime, forcing many to move abroad to keep hold of their cash. Today, Conor Pope speaks to Crime editor Conor Lally about the impact of Cab on the Irish criminal landscape. This episode was originally published in November 2021.
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Aug 9, 2022
Inside Ireland’s largest re-wilding experiment (From January 2022)
This episode was originally published in January 2022. Just 30 kilometres north of Dublin, lies a hidden oasis in Meath called Dunsany Castle. Home to Ireland’s biggest rewilding project, it’s run by Lord Randal Plunkett, a heavy metal-loving filmmaker and producer. In this episode, Sorcha Pollak travels out to Dunsany to discover how rewilding has changed the landscape and contributes to the fight against climate change. However, not everyone is happy with Randal’s unconventional approach to the land and new national transport plans could threaten everything he’s created so far.
See more about Dunsany Nature Reserve here.
https://www.instagram.com/dunsanynaturereserve/?hl=en
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Aug 7, 2022
The secrets to living a longer life (From January 2022)
What can we do for ourselves to ensure that we live long, fulfilling, happy and fit lives? In this episode, Conor Pope speaks to Professor of Medical Gerontology at Trinity College, Rose Anne Kenny about the surprising and novel ways in which we can keep ourselves feeling younger.
This episode was originally published in January 2022.
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Aug 4, 2022
How the iPod changed the world (From May 2022)
In October 2001, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs debuted the original iPod, the first MP3 player that could hold 1,000 songs and had a 10-hour battery life. This week the company announced it was discontinuing the iconic device, saying other gadgets have made the iPod redundant. Patrick Freyne talks to Conor Pope about how the iPod transformed the way we consume music and the impact it has had on the relationship between music, culture and identity.
This episode was originally published in May 2022.
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Aug 2, 2022
Did the EU help create a human rights disaster? (From April 2022)
European countries are welcoming Ukrainian refugees with open arms. But migrants from other parts of the world get much different treatment, as reporter Sally Hayden reveals in her new book. 'My Fourth Time, we Drowned" tells the story of how EU policy has helped create an inhumane system that ends in imprisonment in Libyan detention centres for thousands of migrants. Sally talked to Sorcha Pollak about how she communicated with migrants trapped in Libya and the unseen consequences of Europe's determination to keep migration numbers down.
This episode was originally published in April 2022.
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Jul 31, 2022
The unpalatable truth about eating meat (From September 2021)
How much do you think about where your food comes from, how the animals used to produce it live and die, or its impact on the environment? Journalist and author Henry Mance investigates our relationship with animals in his book How To Love Animals: In a Human-Shaped World. He talked to Conor Pope about what he discovered.
This episode was originally published in September 2021.
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Jul 28, 2022
How Ireland’s mountain rescue services are managing an alarming rise in callouts (From August 2021)
This episode was originally published in August 2021. As more and more people take to the outdoors to explore Ireland’s hiking trails and mountain paths, rescue services are experiencing an alarming rise in callouts. In the first 19 days of August, Kerry Mountain Rescue responded to one incident per day, stretching their volunteers and resources to the limit. So why have more people started hiking around Ireland and why are so many embarking on these adventures with zero preparation?
Hosted by Sorcha Pollak
Guests: Harry McGee and Gerry Condon
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Jul 26, 2022
The rise in unregulated cosmetic procedures in Ireland (From December 2021)
This episode was originally published in December 2021.
Demand for cosmetic procedures is on the rise across Ireland, but what are the risks involved when the industry remains unregulated? Features writer Jennifer O’Connell speaks to Sorcha Pollak about the growing demand for fillers and 'tweakments'.
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Jul 24, 2022
The forgotten history of Ireland's asylums (From January 2022)
This episode was originally published in January 2021.
More than two dozen “lunatic asylums” were built throughout Ireland in the 1800s. Today some are hospitals, while others are derelict.
Through interviews and archive research, Rosita Boland pieces together what life was like inside the walls of these state-run institutions.
She discovers that for many of the thousands of Irish citizens who passed through them, mental illness was not the only reason, or even a reason at all.
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Jul 21, 2022
The battle to succeed Boris Johnson
The Conservative leadership contest has been underway for two weeks and the eight candidates have been whittled down to two.Now things get serious. London editor Denis Staunton explains the strengths, weaknesses and campaign strategies of Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss.
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Jul 19, 2022
Ukraine: rebuilding lives scarred by Russia’s war
As the war in Ukraine approaches its sixth month, many of the five million refugees who fled the country are returning. In total, more than two million Ukrainians have gone back so far. But what awaits them when they get there? Sorcha Pollak talks to Irish Times central and eastern Europe correspondent Daniel McLaughlin about life inside the country as those returning and those who stayed, try to rebuild their lives.
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Jul 17, 2022
Will Mo Farah