In The News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 came close to working despite her many promises, and the millions of dollars investors poured into the company.Since the interview was published – Holmes’ first in seven years – it has sparked controversy with sceptics on social media suggesting that the New York Times fell for the fraudster’s new image, that it facilitated her carefully planned rehabilitation effort. Not so, Chozick tells In the News, who explains how the interview came about, and that rehabilitation was far from the former tech whizz kid’s mind as she faces jail time. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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 titans of Irish business.Also on this episode is Irish Times Public Affairs Editor Simon Carswell. This episode was originally broadcast in December 2022. Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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