In The News

On Wednesday, a multi-agency operation got to work, moving up to 290 migrants who had been sleeping in tents outside the International Protection Office (IPO) on Dublin’s Mount Street. Buses and taxis brought the men to centres in Citywest, Crooksling and Swords. The streets were cleaned, the tents removed and barriers erected. But there was no room on the buses for 30 men, and as Irish Times reporter Jack White found, they either walked the streets all night or took the tents handed out by a charity and moved to another part of the city to sleep.By Thursday, they were back at Mount Street, joined by up to 40 men who had been brought to Swords in north Dublin for the night but were returned to the city centre with no clear plans as to where they might go. White tells In the News about the excitement among the asylum seekers when they thought they were being brought to safe accommodation and of the confusion and chaos surrounding the move by Government to clear the “shantytown”. And Irish Times political editor explains the challenges facing the Government.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nearly one billion Indian citizens are eligible to vote in a lengthy election that began on April 19th and runs until June.Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks set to retain power, in part thanks to the economic transformation that has lifted millions of Indians out of poverty on his watch. But Modi himself is an enigma. For her podcast series Looking for Modi Australian journalist Avani Dias set out to profile one of the most powerful people in the world.She tells In the News about the humble background that endeared Modi to voters. But his backstory has some holes in it, like his formative experiences with a far-right Hindu nationalist organisation, the secret marriage he walked away from, and his role in fomenting India’s deadly religious tensions.As South Asia bureau chief for Australia’s ABC News, Dias was based in New Delhi until her investigation into allegations Modi's government was behind the assassination of Indian dissidents in Canada resulted in the non-renewal of her visa.Modi’s suppression of his critics is having a chilling effect on the media and undermining the democratic process, she says.This episode tells the story of Modi's origins, his rise in politics and the questions over the direction of India under his leadership. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grocery inflation over the past 12 weeks was running at just under 3 per cent. During the same period last year it was almost 13 per cent. So our shopping baskets are still getting more expensive – but at a slower rate. So that is some of sort of good news, isn’t it?Energy prices are down from their peak, interest rates are set to fall and new entrants are expected to drive down prices in the banking and insurance sectors.So why does everything still feel so expensive?Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope explains why the sums aren’t adding up for most people and how, though we didn’t realise it at the time, we were living in an era of cheap food that is simply never going to return.And he explains why shrinkflation hurts, what the French are doing about it and why own-brand products should be top of our shopping lists.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A major diplomatic spat has erupted between the Irish and British governments over migration.It began when Minister for Justice Helen McEntee stated that more than 80 per cent of recent international applicants came to Ireland from the UK across the border with Northern Ireland.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made political hay with this 80 per cent figure, saying it proves his Rwanda scheme is deterring migrants from remaining in the UK.The two governments are seemingly a major impasse over how to resolve the issue.It’s a story that involves political posturing in advance of elections on both sides of the Irish sea, but also also an issue of genuine importance to voters and to those seeking international protection.Political Editor Pat Leahy and London Correspondent Mark Paul look at the ramping up of tensions, where it leaves British-Irish relations and its impact on the political issue of immigration here.Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Snapshot, an Irish Times poll with Ipsos B&A, captures the issues that citizens are taking notice of.Every month, 1,000 people, over the age of 15 and from all around the country are asked an open-ended question on what they’ve noticed about the Government’s actions – and given space to add their own comments.The results, tracked since last July, are published every month in The Irish Times. In each poll, the list of top-of-mind subjects changes but two consistently top the list – housing and immigration.During the period of April’s poll, well-reported events included the arrival of a new Taoiseach, the ramping up of the attack on Gaza and the roll-out of the bottle recycling scheme. But what did people notice and how happy are they with the Government’s response.Jennifer Bray from the Irish Times political team explains what it all means.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A group of 400 Irish artists have signed an online petition calling on singer Bambie Thug to boycott the Eurovision. The Macroom performer was chosen to represent Ireland in the upcoming competition in Sweden. But there have been persistent calls to refuse to take part as long as Israel is included in the line-up. The middle eastern country's participation has been described by protesters as 'art-washing.' It echoes similar campaigns across Europe for their respective entrants to drop out, following months of relentless bombardment of the Gaza strip. Bambie has expressed solidarity with the protesters and believes the European Broadcasting Union has made the wrong decision to allow Israel perform - but like their fellow competitors, the 'ouija pop' singer won't be boycotting the event in May. Irish Times reporter and Eurovision superfan, Laura Slattery, talks about Bambie’s predicament, about the competition’s long history of political controversy and what will happen in Malmo.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three decades ago, on April 7th 1994, the genocide and State-sponsored extermination of Rwanda’s minority Tutsi minority began. The country was gripped by a wave of unprecedented violence that lasted 100 days and resulted in the deaths of 500,000 men, women and children.“Here you had neighbours killing neighbours, priests killing parishioners, doctors killing patients, teachers killing students,” recalls New Yorker staff writer Philip Gourevitch, interviewed on today’s In The News podcast.And while reports and images of these horrific atrocities filled newspapers around the world, the international community just stood by and watched.“Everybody had pulled out and left them, other African countries had betrayed them, no one had come to their defence,” says Gourevitch, whose harrowing account of the genocide We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families was published in 1998. “The lesson of the Rwandan story at that moment in time, in a global sense, was the people who depend on the world for their protection are unprotected.”Following the Rwandan genocide, and the Srebrenica massacre a year later, world leaders pledged never again to stand by and allow such atrocities to unfold. And yet, in the three decades since, millions of citizens have been murdered or starved in conflicts across Africa and the Middle East.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Convicted drug dealer, David Waldron, played a senior role in the Finglas-Cabra crime gang following the deaths of Martin 'Marlo' Hyland in 2006 and Eamon 'The Don' Dunne in 2010. But rather than attracting press attention in the way his associates had, Waldron flew under the radar to build his drugs empire out of the limelight. Last week, his lavish lifestyle was laid bare after he lost his four year High Court battle against the Criminal Assets Bureau. His 25 year run in the drugs trade extends beyond narcotics to feature luxury Celtic Tiger properties bought with the proceeds of crime, a sex shop-owning 'headshop czar' and a funeral business his wife, Charlene, claimed to found called 'Elegant Send-off.' Conor Lally explains who David Waldron is and how he managed to evade authorities for so long.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2024 had the hottest March ever recorded. And it was the 10th month in a row to break its record.On one day in March, the Antarctic was 38.5 degrees warmer than the average. Climate change is a terrifying reality.Even if that heat measure proves to be an anomaly we’re still in big trouble – because of the level of emissions we pump into the atmosphere.As climatologist and director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies Gavin Schmidt tells In the News, we’re in uncharted waters because climate models can’t explain the huge heat anomaly in 2023 – and now 2024 with the impact of El Nino to be factored in, sure outcomes look even more difficult to predict.We’re on course for catastrophic warming, one way or the other, unless radical changes are made.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last weekend, the Amy Winehouse biopic ‘Back to Black’ jumped straight to the top of the Irish and UK box office. The release of the movie’s trailer earlier this year prompted immediate backlash from fans who argued the biopic had come too soon after the British singer’s death and risked exploiting her story.However, in reality, most of the viewing public just can’t seem to get enough of musical biopics. Following the success of Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody and the Elton John film Rocketman, studios are confident of a return-on-investment on these pictures. And audiences even love the satirical movies that mock the genre.The problem is, they can be tricky to get right. You need great acting, singing or miming – and clever storytelling if you’re diverging from the truth.Today, on In the News, Irish Times film correspondent Donald Clarke discusses why audiences love musical biopics and what separates a show-stopper from a bum note?Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan, Suzanne Brennan and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The jury in the Stardust inquests has returned a verdict of unlawful killing in the cases of each of the 48 young people who died in the fire at the Artane nightclub 43 years ago.That means the survivors and the families of those who lost their lives have been vindicated in their long search for justice and accountability. But why did it take so long - and what happens next?We hear from Stardust families, who spoke to Aideen Finnegan just after the verdict was read out.And Irish Times social affairs correspondent Kitty Holland, who covered the inquest for the past year, talks about the meaning of the verdict and why this final official say on the tragedy was long coming.Presented by Aideen Finnegan and Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2022 Paola Sanchez, wanting to check out men she met online, created a Facebook group called “Are We Dating the Same Guy”. Its sisterhood-fuelled goal was to create a private space where women could “empower each other and keep each other safe from dangerous and/or toxic men”.It quickly grew. Most US cities now have their own Are We Dating the Same Guy group and it has spread outside the US with a reported 3.5 million members in more than 200 groups sharing red flags about men. The group for Dublin has nearly 50,000 members.Lawsuits have followed with men claiming they have been defamed, and in the latest one, in LA, Stewart Lucas Murrey is suing more than 50 women saying they “conspired to harm [his] reputation”.Brittany Shammas and Marisa Iati, from The Washington Post, reported on the impact of the group; on some of the men featured, and on what happens when the rules of the group are broken.They tell In the News about the ongoing court cases and the value of such a site in a world where women report feeling frightened while engaging with online dating apps.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, Taoiseach Simon Harris called a meeting the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to discuss the rising number of deaths on Irish roads.Mr Harris said road safety was a “top priority” and announced actions to crackdown on careless and dangerous driving and additional RSA funding.So far this year, sixty-three people have died in road accidents across the country, an increase of 14 on the same period last year.And while the RSA has welcomed the new 30 minute mandatory road safety policing directive, questions remain as to why road-related deaths are going in the wrong direction.Have Irish attitudes towards road safety and drink driving changed in recent years? And, is the RSA campaign aiming for no road-related deaths or serious injuries by 2050 actually achievable?Irish Times head of audience David Labanyi and reporter Mark Hilliard join the podcast to discuss the RSA’s legacy and the steps needed to make Irish roads safer.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A training manual provided to eir employees by parent company Eircom warned them that they would face disciplinary proceedings if they obeyed Irish laws covering customer complaints.The same manual also outlined a series of “trigger words” that would allow people calling the company with complaints to have their concerns dealt with in an expeditious fashion. If those words were not used, the concerns raised by customers frequently went nowhere.In a case taken against the company by the communications watchdog ComReg before Dublin District Court, the telecommunications company pleaded guilty to 10 breaches of the law related to its failures to acknowledge customer complaints, to provide a complaint response within 10 working days, and to provide an email address to progress a complaint after 10 working days. These are requirements of regulations governing the telecoms sector.But now eir says the documents were taken out of context and that ComReg made 'incorrect claims'. What is not in doubt is that customer mistreatment by telecoms companies is nothing new, says Consumer Affairs Correspondent Conor Pope. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2016 US diplomats in Cuba’s capital reported a range of mysterious symptoms that were soon experienced by colleagues in other parts of the world.Staff reported bloody noses, headaches, stomach issues, vision problems and hearing strange sounds. The phenomenon was quickly dubbed the Havana Syndrome and investigations began to try to ascertain its origin – or if it was a real illness at all.Now, a new report led by US TV investigative show 60 Minutes has said Russian intelligence is responsible, that it is a hybrid warfare tactic.The finding contradicts a US government report last year which suggested that the “anomalous health incidents” were not caused by an energy weapon or foreign enemy.Julian Borger, Guardian world affairs editor tells In the News how the latest report is being received in the US – and Moscow.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the most recent murder case where cannabis use was judged to be a factor, the court ruled that Diego Costa Silva killed his wife while in a state of cannabis-induced psychosis at their home in Finglas, Dublin on November 4th, 2021. A jury found him not guilty of Fabiola De Campos Silva’s murder, by reason of insanity. His was one of a number of murder cases to come before Irish courts in the past year where cannabis-use was judged to be a factor.Dr Colin O’Gara, head of addiction services at St John of God Hospital in Dublin, tells In the News about the dangers of new, more potent strains of cannabis, what is cannabis-induced psychosis and the link between use of the drug and existing mental health issues.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In August two more sections of the quays in Dublin will become no-go areas for private cars. When the “bus gates” open on Aston Quay on the southside of the river, and Bachelor’s Walk on the northside, private cars will no longer be able to complete their journey from one of end of the city’s quays to the other. They are the first measures of the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan, which will restrict motorists driving “through” instead of “to” the city centre.Some knotty problems still need to be ironed out - most notably how will Diageo transport Guinness from where it is made at St James’s Gate to the port for export if it can’t use the straightest route down the quays. And what is a bus gate anyway? Are taxis allowed use them? And cyclists? Dublin Editor Olivia Kelly explains the plan - and how it is a key part of a strategy to make Dublin a move liveable city.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert F Kennedy jnr is on the campaign trail, attempting to get on the ballot for the US presidential election.A scion of the Kennedy political dynasty, he had hoped to challenge Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination but when that hope faded, he announced he would continue as an independent candidate.The long-time environmental lawyer is the son of the former US attorney general and senator Robert F Kennedy, and a nephew of president John F Kennedy. He’s also a controversial figure not least for his anti-vaccine activism.Dr Pippa Malmgren, former economic adviser to president George W Bush explains how RFK jnr could shake up the presidential race and tells why Americans who don’t want either Donald Trump or Biden just might be persuaded to vote for him.Last week he announced his running mate and Irish Times Washington correspondent Keith Duggan explains why he chose California lawyer Nicole Shanahan, ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergei Brin.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on In the News we bring you an excerpt from another episode of our sister podcast, Inside Politics. Pat Leahy and Jennifer Bray joined host Hugh Linehan to talk about Simon Harris's appointment as Taoiseach and the details of his minimal Cabinet reshuffle. Did he go far enough to satisfy Fine Gaelers or voters looking for change? But first, they discuss the news that the reconstituted Government's first act will be to recognise the statehood of Palestine. You can listen to the full episode on the Inside Politics podcast feed or on irishtimes.com. New episodes of Inside Politics are available each Wednesday and Friday wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, Simon Harris will be officially voted into office by TDs in Dáil Éireann and become the new Taoiseach.Harris, who is the youngest ever Taoiseach at 37, will then reveal his Cabinet reshuffle, by which he hopes to signal a fresh start for the Government and for the Fine Gael party.But can the Wicklow TD turn youthful enthusiasm into meaningful action? And how will he decide bring on his Cabinet picks?We ask Political Editor Pat Leahy about what we've learned about Harris since he took over as Fine Gael leader and the challenges that lie ahead for Ireland’s new Taoiseach. Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nearly three years have passed since Irish schools started reopening in March 2021 and children began returning to the educational environment that was abruptly erased from their lives the previous year.In the months that followed children and teens, who had spent months locked in their homes keeping up with classes through Zoom lessons, began reacclimatising to the social environment of a busy classroom. For most, this was relief. But for a small but significant cohort, returning to school was not desirable or, in some cases, even possible.Three years on, school absenteeism is on the rise, with reports that school refusal and school phobia have become a big issue for principals and school staff across the country.Tusla has warned that “unexplained” school absences have quadrupled, raising concerns that thousands of young people are missing out on an education.In the most extreme cases, there are serious health issues at play. But there are a whole host of other reasons why other children refuse to leave their homes in the morning and attend classes.Irish Times health editor Carl O’Brien joins In The News podcast to discuss the rise of school phobia among Irish children, while Kerry Grantham shares the story of her son James – the once “happy-go-lucky” child who became “gripped with terror” shortly after starting secondary school in 2021.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From stately townhouses to cinema screens and Turkish baths, Grafton Street has had a fascinating and varied history. But how did it evolve to become the premium retail street that it is today? And who now owns the ornate buildings that house some of our favourite shops and meeting spots? Dublin Editor Olivia Kelly and reporter Colm Keena take us on a fascinating virtual walk down Dublin's most salubrious thoroughfare, with a look at some of our best known landmarks.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Libya, former members of the Irish Defence Forces, including men who served in the elite Army Rangers Wing have been providing training for a militia headed up Libyan strongman, Khalifa Haftar.It’s a lucrative business for the company called Irish Training Solutions but the work is an apparent breach of a United Nations arms embargo imposed on the volatile African country.Naomi O’Leary broke the story in the Irish Times on Wednesday and the official response was swift. Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin called the revelations “deeply shocking”, saying that they cause “reputational damage to Ireland and our Defence Forces”.O’Leary tells In the News about the sort of military training being provided by these former Irish soldiers, who is behind Irish Training Solutions, how much money is involved and, with providing military training in Libya specifically prohibited by the UN, what it means for the reputation of the Irish Defence Forces.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, suspected Israeli war planes bombed the Iranian consulate in Syria’s capital city of Damascus, marking a major escalation in Israel’s war in the Middle East. At least 11 people – including a senior Iranian commander – were killed in the attack which Iran’s foreign minister said was “a breach of all international conventions”. The Biden administration continues to urge restraint, while at the same time it is close to approving a major new weapons sale to Israel worth more than $18 billion (€16.7 billion). So how does this attack fit in to the long-running proxy war between Israel and Iran, now driven by the violence in Gaza? Security advisor, Duncan Bullivant, explains the implications at a time of dramatic rising tensions.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When he was elected president last November, Javier Milei promised to fix Argentina's ailing economy and divided society with radical reforms. How is that going? Irish Times contributor Tom Hennigan returns with an update on how the controversial leader is having a big impact on Argentina, yet still struggling to find the political support to implement his vision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was first published in January 2024. A door that blew off a Boeing 737 Max shortly after take-off was not properly secured after maintenance to the aircraft, an investigation has found.This is just the latest in a list of very public crises for the airline behemoth that is still dealing with the fallout from 2018 and 2019 when two of its planes crashed, killing 346 people.Through a mixture of whistleblower information and dogged investigative journalism, Seattle-based Irish journalist Dominic Gates has reported on Boeing’s ongoing difficulties.In 2020 he won a Pulitzer Prize for his work on Boeing for The Seattle Times.He tells In the News what the latest findings mean for company and for passengers. Presented Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much is enough sleep? What is the best time to go to bed? What counts as a good night’s sleep?Is there any point in taking a nap and how long should it be? How do you know if your poor sleeping patterns have tipped over into insomnia? And is good sleep hygiene the secret to falling asleep?Anne Marie Boyhan left her corporate job to study to become a sleep consultant after years of trying to find solutions to her own sleeping difficulties.She founded the Sleep Care Company and she tells In the News that her clients come from all walks of life with a range of sleep issues. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Moscow attack which killed at least 137 people and injured many more was carried out by an Isis affiliate called Isis-K.On today’s In the News podcast, Colin P Clarke, director of research at the Soufan Group and an expert on domestic and transnational terrorism, explains why Russia was targeted by the Islamic jihadists and how Afghanistan post-2021 has become a safe haven for terrorists despite the Taliban’s war on Isis.Looking at the footage from inside the Crocus City Hall on March 22nd, he explores the planning and methodology of the four Tajikistan suspects in their attack and explains who Isis-K are, how they are funded and what do they ultimately want.As to Moscow’s claims that Ukraine was involved in the atrocity? Clarke says a firm no. And Ukraine-based reporter Dan McLaughlin explains how the Moscow propaganda machine has used the attack.And with the Paris Olympics just months away, Clarke, whose latest book is called After the Caliphate: The Islamic State and the Future Terrorist Diaspora, says the global terrorism threat from Isis-K is very real.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At least 13,000 children have died in Gaza in the last six months; more than in 4 years of global conflict. Despite the UN Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Monday, life-saving food aid is still being denied to Palestinians throughout the strip. Unicef is warning of an imminent famine, as hundreds of thousands of people starve. The aid agency's James Elder is on the ground in Rafah where he's been expressing deep frustration at the "unnecessary restrictions and arbitrary denials" on food convoys gaining access to the enclave. He outlines the "annihilation" of whole cities, the desperation of children and their mothers and the special bond Palestinians have with Irish aid workers there.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This time last year, the 1993 disappearance of Annie McCarrick, a young American woman living in Dublin, was upgraded to a murder inquiry.For three decades, it was believed the last definitive image captured of the American student came from the CCTV footage of her local AIB bank in Sandymount, Dublin on the day of her disappearance.However, the new Garda investigation has now determined that the CCTV image of McCarrick was, in fact, captured 11 days earlier.It's not the only aspect of the narrative about McCarrick's disappearance that has now been thrown into doubt. Journalist Áine Ryan, who has a personal connection to McCarrick, discusses the latest revelations surrounding the young American’s disappearance and her family and friends’ ongoing quest to find out what really happened in March 1993. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trafficking of women and girls into Ireland to work in the sex industry is one aspect of a transnational crime that has been discovered in a range of sectors, from food production to fishing, forced marriages to farming, nail bars to begging.And while trafficked people can come from all over the world, an increase in people brought into the country from eastern Europe under false pretences and then exploited in the labour market has been noted.Victims of human trafficking have been found - men, women and childen - but there have been just three convictions.Dr Nusha Yonkova, head of anti-human trafficking at the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), tells In the News of the difficulty in getting accurate figures for human trafficking into Ireland, noting that while arrests give some indication of the scale of the crime, the numbers as noted by NGOs working with migrants suffering labour exploitation suggests a bigger problem.Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher explains what we know about the criminals who organise and profit from trafficking people into Ireland and discusses the resources available to the Garda to combat this deadly, exploitative crime.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When it was put to Alexander McCartney that he had, in the words of the Belfast court, “unlawfully killed a female child”, the 26-year-old from Northern Ireland pleaded guilty. That child was just 12 years-old, she lived outside the UK and McCartney had never even met her but, through what the judge described as the worst case of “catfishing” every to come before the courts, his online coercian and blackmail of the child drove her to take her own life.McCartney was a prolific cyber child abuser - he has admitted multiple offences of causing a child to engage in a sex act, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual communication with a child. The university student from Newry also admitted over 50 charges of blackmail and multiple offences of possessing indecent images of children.He will be sentenced in May. Irish Time Northern Correspondent Seanín Graham talks to Bernice Harrison about how the global 'catfishing' investigation led police to McCartney's house in rural Armagh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on In the News we bring you an episode of our sister podcast, Inside Politics. Pat Leahy, Jennifer Bray and Jack Horgan-Jones joined host Hugh Linehan to discuss the unexpected announcement by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that he is resigning as Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach. They discuss the questions surrounding the timing and impact of his decision, the potential reasons behind his departure and its implications for Fine Gael. They also assess potential candidates for Varadkar’s successor and the challenges facing the party in the upcoming election.New episodes of Inside Politics are available each Wednesday and Friday - wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced he is to step down. Listen to his full speech in this bonus episode. More to follow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this week, an Irish Times investigation revealed a rising number of foreign students from outside the EU are using forged documents to secure study visas to work in Ireland. The Irish Times spoke to a number of people who availed of the scam and admitted to obtaining forged enrolment letters, medical insurance and attendance certificates when applying for student visas. Reporter Isabela Boechat, who has spent eight months working on the investigation, found Latin American students, particularly Brazilians are paying scammers between €600-€1,800, They negotiate the details via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger and then, never actually attend the school where they’re registered.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paedophile Bill Kenneally is serving an 18-year sentence for the sexual abuse of 15 young boys in Waterford in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.But it took until 2016, decades after the abuse occurred, for the former basketball coach to be sentenced for those crimes. That’s despite first coming to Garda attention in the mid-1980s when a brave young boy went into the Garda station on his own to report the abuse.So why did it take so long for him to be brought to justice? Who knew what and when?An official inquiry was set up in 2018 to answer those questions. Last week, for the first time, Kenneally, 73, was called to give evidence and he showed himself to be unrepentant. For his brave victims who again had to face their abuser, it was yet another difficult chapter in their ongoing search for answers.Irish Times reporter Ronan McGreevy was at the hearing. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In discussions around empire and colonisation, including popular movements such as Black Lives Matter and Rhodes Must Fall, Ireland likes to think itself on the “right” side of history, as colonised victims of empire.But as Trinity College Dublin historian Prof Jane Ohlmeyer explores in her new book, Making Empire: Ireland, Imperialism, and the Early Modern World, it’s not as simple as that.On the island of Monsterrat in the West Indies, for example, St Patrick’s Day is a national holiday - the only country outside Ireland to mark the day officially. But the parades there are to celebrate an unsuccessful revolt by enslaved islanders against the European whites - mostly Irish - who colonised it in the 17th century.There are stark examples too of the Irish in India - and other countries too - acting more like colonisers than colonised.Irish Times reporter and historian Ronan McGreevy interviewed Ohlmeyer and talks here about a troubling aspect of Irish history. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland has the highest reported rate of gonorrhoea infection across 30 European countries, with a record number of cases reported in Ireland in 2022, according to research published last week.What is driving this surge in infections in Ireland and how concerned are younger Irish people about contracting sexually transmitted infections?Today, on In the News, consultant of sexual health and HIV Dr Aisling Loy discusses the rise in STIS among younger people in Ireland and the longer term health implications of contracting these infections, particularly among women.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In February 2016, just three days after the notorious Regency Hotel Shooting, 59-year-old Eddie Hutch was gunned down outside his home in Dublin’s north inner city.Hutch’s murder was the first in a two year killing spree by the Kinahan cartel following the Regency ambush.To this day, no one has been charged with Hutch’s murder. However, that could now change. Gardaí have sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions with evidence they believe could link several men to the killing. Daniel Kinahan, who is currently based in Dubai, is just one of the suspects named in the file.How likely is it that the leader of the Kinahan cartel will end up in Garda handcuffs? And with no extradition treaty between Ireland and the UAE, how difficult will it be to bring Kinahan back here, if he is charged?Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Lally reflects on his attempts to track Daniel Kinahan down in Dubai last week, and discusses Garda strategies being used to extradite the cartel leader back to Ireland.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan and Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The death was announced yesterday of broadcaster and journalist Charlie Bird. The former RTÉ chief news correspondent, who was 74 when he died, was diagnosed with motor neuron disease in 2021.One of Ireland’s best-known journalists, he reported on of the biggest stories in Ireland and around the world through the 1980s, 1990s and into the 2000s.However, in many ways, it was Charlie Bird’s final years, following his MND diagnosis, that perhaps will leave the greatest mark on this country.Today, on In the News, Irish Times Ireland and Britain editor Mark Hennessy reflects on Charlie Bird’s four-decade long journalistic career and the advocacy work and campaigning which defined his final years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When "Niamh" began house-hunting in Dublin's suburbs, she soon noticed that viewings were often attended by agents who were using phones to live-stream the property to potential buyers in China - some of whom then outbid her. Estate agents have confirmed that it is now commonplace for wealthy Chinese nationals to bid strongly on houses in South Dublin. But why?The answers lie in the details of a now-defunct 'Golden Visa' scheme, the decline of China's own property market and the desire of upwardly-mobile Chinese parents to give their children a Western education. And why are these buyers free to take their money out of the Chinese economy and invest it in countries like Ireland?Guests: Irish Times reporter Colm Keena and Beijing correspondent Denis Staunton Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A large provider of accommodation for children in care, Ideal Care Services, has been found to have put young people at risk by failing to carry out proper background checks on staff.The company run by Jossy Akwuobi (45), from Tyrrelstown, Dublin, and his partner, Karen Akwuobi (39), has already been paid €9million by Tusla, the child and family agency.An internal Tusla report found Garda vetting files clearing staff to work for the company had been altered, while pre-employment checks of workers had been “fabricated”. The report, completed last July, said the standard of checks carried out on prospective care staff were found to be “grossly inadequate to safeguard vulnerable young people”.So who is evangelical pastor Jossy Akwuobi, and how was such a shocking lack of oversight allowed to go on? Irish Times reporter Jack Power broke the story and explains the background.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cillian Murphy looks unbeatable for the Best Actor gong. But who else should win at the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday night? And who will win?Irish Times chief film correspondent Donald Clarke says that it’s shaping up to be Oppenheimer’s year at the Oscars. But what about Barbie? And could Yorgos Lanthimos’s Poor Things, produced by Dublin-based Element Pictures, also do well?This time last year Irish hopes were high with The Banshees of Inisherin getting nine nominations - on the night it lost out in all its categories. Could the same happen to Poor Things with its 11 nods?The organisers will be nervous about any break in the relative silence about the Gaza conflict that has persisted throughout awards season. It might, says Clarke, just be time for an award winner to break the silence - once the statuette is safely in their hands. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, Russian media published an audio recording of high-ranking German military officers discussing weapons which could be used by Ukrainian military in the war against Russia.German officials immediately rejected any claims that the audio indicated Berlin was preparing for war against Moscow.The leak follows comments from German federal defence minister Boris Pistorius of how his country must be war-ready, or kriegstüchtig. Two years ago this remark would have caused uproar in Germany – but not anymore.Meanwhile, French president Emmanuel Macron was criticised by European neighbours last week after suggesting it might be necessary to send ground troops to Ukraine. The Kremlin responded that any such deployment would lead to direct conflict between Russia and Nato.On today’s In the News podcast, Berlin correspondent Derek Scally discusses the implications of the military leaks and how European countries including France, Germany and Poland are preparing for an uncertain future overshadowed by an aggressive Russia.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you're not sure how you're going to vote in Friday's referendum, you're not alone. According to an Irish Times / IPSOS B&A poll in February, 53% of those surveyed admitted to hardly knowing anything at all about the ballot taking place on March 8th. What seemed like a straightforward proposal to expand the definition of the family and remove the reference to women's 'duties' in the home, has turned into a confusing melange of views. Those in favour of changing the constitution include the government, the vast majority of the Opposition as well as many NGOs. Calls to vote No are coming from groups as disparate as disability rights activists, lawyers and bishops. If you've been too busy until now to take a look at the amendments and the arguments for and against, Political Correspondent, Jennifer Bray, explains it all in just 26 minutes.Presented by Sorcha Pollak and produced by Aideen Finnegan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dublin’s office market is likely to get worse before it gets better with no relief in sight until 2027 amid a collapse in demand and a glut of new developments coming on stream. Last week the Central Bank aired its concerns over the situation. So will there by a crash in the office market sector and what might that mean for the economy?John McCartney from BNP Paribas Real Estate explains why the fall in demand is part of a cycle and explores the forces – including troubles in the ICT sector and post-pandemic WFH – that have brought us to this tipping point.Irish Times columnist Una Mullally is in no doubt that the crash has already begun and that poor planning has blighted Dublin with empty newly-built office blocks dotting the city while housing is so desperately needed.Both explain where they are coming from and how we can move on.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The death last month of a 33-year-year old first-time mother at University Hospital Limerick once again put the troubled hospital in the headlines.Shortly before that tragedy, a teenage girl with breathing difficulties died in the emergency department, while in 2022 Aoife Johnston (16) who had endured a long wait for care, died there. The HSE has apologised to her family.And UHL’s chaotic trolley situation shows little sign of improving; last month it broke the record for the highest number of patients on trolleys since records began in 2006, with 150 people waiting for beds on February 7th.So what’s the problem? It doesn’t seem to be money or staffing levels – so how can it be fixed?Health correspondent Paul Cullen explains UHL’s the troubling issues, what staff are saying and explores the solutions. We also hear from Melanie Sheehan Cleary, who's 21 year-old daughter Eve died just hours after being discharged from UHL in 2019.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Health and family editor Damian Cullen had already ticked off a long list of diets before he hit on intermittent fasting and three years later, and 16kg lighter, he has stuck to the plan. He eats in an eight-hour window. At the more extreme end of intermittent fasting, British prime minister Rishi Sunak follows the so called “monk fast” of eating nothing for a 36-year period every week.As a way of losing weight, timed eating is probably the weight loss method of the moment; it follows a long list of diets, some of which became wildly popular for a time and then slid off the menu.Cullen explains how it works for him, while dietician Sarah Keogh gives the expert view. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Diarmuid Hayes send a strange tweet from his employer MEP Luke 'Ming' Flanagan's account, the resulting mockery caused huge damage to Flanagan's life and reputation. But why did Hayes do it? Naomi O'Leary and Jack Power report. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week’s FAI’s appearance before the Public Accounts Committee did not go particularly well. Members of the committee expressed concern regarding the role of the chief executive after Jonathan Hill explained that an €11,500 payment in lieu of holidays not taken was just a “miscalculation”. His request for this payment at the end of an email was just a joke, he said. But many of the documents submitted to the committee were heavily redacted. Meanwhile, more than three months after Stephen Kenny stepped down, the FAI has yet to appoint a new manager to the men’s Irish football team. On today’s In the News podcast Irish Times sports writer Malachy Clerkin explores why the FAI seems unable to get its house in order. Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.