In The News

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 another in nearly 50 years of such calls; none of which have resulted in action. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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’. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.The 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, Northern Editor of The Irish Time, explains what it means – and what might happen next. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 current affairs editor Arthur Beesley who explains the blame game and how it might play out. Presented by Bernice Harrison Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.