In The News

Donald Trump is the first ever former president to face criminal charges. To understand how he ended up in that ignoble position, we have to go back to the chaotic events of the 2016 presidential election. Washington correspondent Martin Wall explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The controversial decision to allow the no-fault eviction ban lapse on March 31st has barely left the news cycle since the Minister for Housing announced it three weeks ago. Darragh O'Brien insists that reimposing the embargo would exacerbate the housing supply crisis. Meanwhile, thousands of renters brace themselves for potential Notices to Quit and homeless services voice concerns over their capacity to cope with the fallout. In a country where property has traditionally been seen as a route to financial security, landlords and renters are on a collision course of competing interests. But are the rest of us standing idly by as human tragedies play out, and should they override an investor's right to their asset? Aideen Finnegan speaks to The Irish Times' Patrick Freyne, Jack Horgan Jones and homeless woman and activist, Jessica Freed. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With more than half a billion downloads last year, TikTok has become the most popular app in the world. Despite its global popularity, suspicion around the app is growing over privacy and data collection matters. As the US considers an all out ban on the app, and western Governments move to block it on staff devices, we ask, will Ireland be next? Should we be next? In this episode, Forbes technology reporter Emily Baker-White explains how she herself became the target of TikTok surveillance last year, while data protection expert Darragh O Brien analyses the risks for Irish users. Hosted by Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s have been released without charge, following their arrest this week in connection with the death of a newborn baby boy in Kerry in 1984. It's almost 39 years to the day since Baby John, as he was later named, washed up on a beach near Cahersiveen in Co. Kerry. But the delay in making a potential breakthrough in the case is down to the mishandling of the initial garda investigation; where misogyny, harassment and brutality led to the scapegoating of innocent woman, Joanne Hayes. The infamous Kerry Babies case is one of the darker chapters of our social history, and the details can scarcely be believed today. Especially by a younger generation which has grown up in a liberal society where unmarried mothers are no longer incarcerated, LGBT people can marry and divorce and abortion are now allowed. Dr Mary McAuliffe, historian and director of the UCD Gender Studies Programme, outlines the astonishing facts of the case, and believes our legal system still hasn't fully learned the lessons of those dark days. Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The St John Ambulance organisation has been rocked by a report into its handling of child sexual abuse allegations. Jack Power tells Bernice Harrison what the report uncovered and where it leaves the century-old volunteer group.This episode contains descriptions of child sexual abuse. The Tusla helpline for anyone affected by abuse in St John Ambulance can be contacted on 045 839375Produced by Declan Conlon.With additional editing by Bryan O'Brien.Thanks to Mick Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In June 2020, Garda Colm Horkan was shot and killed while on duty in Castlerea, County Roscommon. His murder shocked the community and his colleagues in the force. Steven Silver of Foxford, County Mayo has now been convicted of Garda Horn’s murder, after two trials where jurors had to decide if Silver’s mental health was an excuse for his crime.To find out what happened in the courtroom, Aideen Finnegan talks to Eoin Reynolds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Banks in the US and Europe are failing. Why? And could this new banking crisis spread to Irish shores? Cliff Taylor explains what's happening, why it's happening and whether we should be worried. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A cringey segment on Saturday Night Live went viral earlier this week ahead of the Oscars; lampooning the Irish accent and playing into the drunken, fighting Irish stereotype. Jimmy Kimmel also relied on the cliché twice during his presenting of the Academy Awards. Eyes rolled all over Ireland. But can we really get offended by the stereotype when our collective drinking habits are baffling to so many other nationalities? Chief Film Critic for The Irish Times, Donald Clarke, says yes. There's a litany of very offensive SNL sketches and a new 'Irish Ancestor Tiktok' phenomenon that's proving just as tone deaf. But comedian and host of the podcast 'An Irishman Abroad', Jarlath Regan, reckons we all need to grow a thicker skin. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gary Lineker will return to present Match of the Day on BBC this weekend. While it appears the story is reaching it’s conclusion, many questions still remain about how future issues around impartiality will be handled by the broadcaster, how political interference impacts decision making and how the Illegal Migration Bill, which was the focus of Lineker's original tweet, is progressing through the House of Commons. London Correspondent, Mark Paul and Media columnist Laura Slattery report. Presented by Aideen Finnegan. 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. 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 talks to Belinda from Tipperary, who after taking the drug for five months, has lost more than three stone. We also hear from Professor Donal O’Shea, HSE lead on obesity, who explains how the treatment works and how access to it has been put at risk by its association with celebrity weight loss, and its popularity on social media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The idea that Covid-19 emerged from a lab in Wuhan was broadly dismissed as a conspiracy theory in the early stages of the pandemic. But experts have examined the possibility the virus escaped - accidentally or otherwise - from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Now the head of the FBI says that's the "most likely" scenario. The scientific community is divided on the whether the virus has an animal origin or whether it was leaked, and reporting on the issue is confusing and often contradictory. So three years later, what can we say for certain? We ask UCD professor of virology, Dr Gerald Barry, to make sense of the claims and counter claims. Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week marks 100 years since the Ballyseedy Massacre, arguably the worst atrocity of the Irish civil war. On that fateful night, nine Kerrymen were rounded up by the Free State army to be murdered in a revenge killing. The ruthless act saw them tied together around a bomb. Except one man, Stephen Fuller, managed to escape the deadly blast. While the circumstances of that night were covered up by the state, Fuller's account of what happened paints a very different picture. In this episode historian, Owen O’Shea, outlines what happened in the early hours of March 7th, 1923, while Irish Times reporter Ronan McGreevy explains how many believe a state apology and an amended Dáil record is owed.Owen O'Shea is author of No Middle Path, The Civil War in Kerry.Ronan McGreevy is author of Great Hatred: The Assassination of Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson MP.Clips in this episode are with thanks to Pat Butler, from his 1997 documentary 'Ballyseedy.' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The concept of the "15 minute city" is pretty straightforward: designing urban areas so that most of what an individual needs is within a short walk of home. So why is the idea angering thousands of protestors in the UK, some of whom believe it is a part of a plot to deprive them of their liberty? Olivia Kelly and Patrick Freyne talk to Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mari Steed was just five months old when she was subjected to an experimental vaccine trial at Bessborough mother and baby home in county Cork. She was administered a ‘4 in 1’ inoculation, without her mother’s consent. Four decades later, when she gained access to her medical records, she discovered the horrifying truth. Now, survivors just like Mari are looking for answers and for compensation from GSK (GlaxoSmithKleine), the pharmaceutical company responsible for undertaking these medical trials. But GSK won’t pay and the door has been shut on redress negotiations. To understand what took place and why the multi-billion pharma company have taken this firm stance, Bernice Harrison is joined by Current Affairs editor Arthur Beesley, former Special Rapporteur on Child Protection Prof Conor O’Mahony and survivor Mari Steed. With any subscription you'll get unlimited access to the very best in unique quality journalism from The Irish Times. Subscribe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bertie Ahern is back. But why did he ever leave? New polling about Mr Ahern, conducted by Ipsos for The Irish Times, suggests there are plenty of people who don't remember much about the former Taoiseach's legacy, either as a contributor to peace in Northern Ireland or as someone whose finances came under scrutiny at the Mahon Tribunal. So what happened back then? Reporter Colm Keena tells the story. \Plus: Political editor Pat Leahy on what new polling about Mr Ahern reveals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are our sentencing laws too harsh or too soft? Any opinion offered depends on who you ask. International research shows people tend to think sentencing is more lenient than it actually is. Judge Martin Nolan is no stranger to controversy over some of his decisions. Social media users frequently criticise the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court judge for opting to fine some offenders while jailing others. Barristers take a more nuanced view and say much of the criticism is ill-informed. In this episode Legal Affairs Correspondent, Mary Carolan, and Senior Counsel, Tony McGillicuddy, aim to demystify the process. Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan McLaughlin was in Kyiv on Monday morning when US President Joe Biden arrived for a surprise visit, pledging to support Ukraine against Russia's invasion "for as long as it takes"But how long will that be?Dan updates us on the military, political and economic situation in Ukraine as the first anniversary of the beginning of the war approaches. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Niger is one of the world'd poorest countries. Like many other places in Africa, it is suffering from the worsening impacts of climate change. On a recent visit, Sally Hayden found poverty and other problems including an enduring culture of child marriage. But there were also moves underway to tackle those problems by the people of Niger themselves. And despite their relative lack of resources, the Nigeriens she met were happy to welcome refugees, hundreds of thousands of whom are arriving from neighbouring north-west Nigeria, where banditry and lawlessness is out of control. Sally talks to Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last night the US president said he would make "no apologies" for taking down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the east coast of America earlier this month. Joe Biden told reporters the country is developing “sharper rules” to track, monitor and potentially shoot down unknown aerial objects. But many questions remain about the massive surveillance device, and three other smaller balloons, shot down over the US and Canada. Washington Correspondent, Martin Wall, brings us up to date about what we know so far, as well as explaining how official UFO sightings by the US military have been conflated with the international incident. China Correspondent, Denis Staunton, has the reaction from Beijing and analyses how the row might blow over, as the US and China rescue their stuttering reconciliation. Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A former leading GAA star has been accused of taking large sums of money from people to pay for cancer treatment - treatment that some of those who gave him money now say they believe never took place. The prominent ex-player, who cannot be named, has been targeted in a Garda search as part of a criminal inquiry that is now under way.Aideen Finnegan talks to Simon Carswell about the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday, January 27th, Nicola Bulley dropped her two children to primary school in a Lancashire village. She walked around the corner to a popular local riverbank where she was in the habit of walking her dog, Willow, after school drop off. And then she disappeared. While the official police search continues, there is a parallel – unofficial - investigation. The puzzling disappearance has prompted a troubling surge in amateur detectives getting involved – online and on the ground. Irish Times London correspondent Mark Paul visited St Michael’s on Wyre, the village where Ms Bulley disappeared – and tells Bernice Harrison that the impact of the amateur sleuths is clear to see. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The weekend marked an important anniversary for Mary Lou McDonald, having been handed the reins of Sinn Fein this time five years ago. In her time as party president, it has faced electoral wipe-out and unprecedented success. But how has she changed in that time? And in a party that so tightly controls dissent, what do her troops really think of her? Political Correspondent, Jennifer Bray, looks back her first five years as Sinn Fein president and how her political long-game might play off. Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The deadly earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria in the early hours of Monday morning – along the border of those two countries – has mobilised governments and humanitarian agencies worldwide to respond.But all week, politics – not need – has dictated aid delivery, with life-saving help arriving in Turkey from around the world within hours, while it took until Thursday for the first UN aid convoy to reach northwestern Syria through Bab al-Hawa border crossing – the UN managed border crossing between the two countries. In northwest Syria it has mostly been left to local White Helmet volunteers to try to provide emergency assistance. In the News speaks to White Helmet volunteer Ismail Abdullah who has been rescuing survivors and collecting the dead from collapsed buildings all week; and to Natasha Hall, senior fellow in the Middle East programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC who explains why, in this already devastated region, delivering aid was never going to be simply about need, and what should happen next. Presenter: Bernice Harrison. Producer: Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Golden visas' give wealthy non-Europeans the right to live in Ireland in exchange for an upfront investment or donation. The scheme enacted in 2012 has since become dominated by Chinese applicants, even though many are not taking up their right to reside here. Irish organisations benefitting from some of the €1.7bn raised include universities, social housing charities and even sporting organisations. They rely heavily on the fund but neither they, nor the foreign donors, are obliged to disclose it. Arthur Beesley reports on the businesses and groups in receipt of money from the Immigrant Investor Programme, the lack of transparency around it, and the disquiet in the Department of Justice at the level of Chinese participation in it; while continuing to grant the visas. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The man who inspired Steven Speilberg’s 2004 movie The Terminal, died last year at what is believed to be the age of 77. Mehran Karimi Nasseri, or Sir Alfred as he later became known, was an Iranian refugee who spent the guts of two decades, living in Terminal 1 of Charles De Gaulle Airport in France. Despite the global interest in his peculiar living circumstances, much of his story remains unclear. Why did he stay there for so long and what brought him back to the airport in his final days. To look back on his extraordinary existence, Conor Pope is joined by author and journalist Andrew Donkin, who wrote The Terminal Man, the book on Sir Alfred’s life. With any subscription you'll get unlimited access to the very best in unique quality journalism from The Irish Times. Subscribe today. 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 of the small screen. It seems like TV producers will take any concept and turn it into a dating show. They run the full gamut, from the earnestness of First Dates to the artifice of Love Island and the questionable 90 Day Fiancé. But if they didn’t net big ratings for TV execs, they wouldn’t keep making them. So what keeps us going back for more? Self-appointed ‘hunk correspondent’ for The Irish Times, Patrick Freyne, loves to review these shows as Features Writer. In this episode of In The News, he analyses the good, the bad and the ugly and why they make such compelling viewing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last weekend up to 300 people gathered outside the historical Lismore House Hotel in Co Waterford, protesting over plans to use the vacant building as a temporary emergency accommodation centre for asylum seekers. Amongst the protestors were local residents expressing their concern over the lack of guidance from the Government, a group welcoming refugees and a small cohort, who weren't from the area, with an anti-immigration message. In this episode, Bernice Harrison is joined by Irish Times journalist Jennifer O’Connell who has been speaking to people on all sides of the protest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A number of men with dogs, sticks and a baseball bat attacked a migrant camp in Ashtown, north Dublin, on Saturday, telling the multinational group of men who were living there in tents to move on - which they did. Irish Times Social Affairs Correspondent Kitty Holland was there at the time, reporting on the homelessness crisis. She talks to Bernice Harrison about what she witnessed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 52 days, 140 witnesses, 10 hours of secret audio recordings, phone call data, hours of CCTV footage, eyewitness testimony from 27 National Surveillance Unit officers and four closing speeches, judgment will be delivered in the trial of Gerard Hutch and his two co-accused on April 17th.One star witness dominated the trial: former Sinn Féin councillor and convicted criminal Jonathan Dowdall, whose credibility Mr Hutch's defence team attacked from day one. Court reporter Alison O'Riordan returns to the podcast to explain what happened in court and the most important evidence the three judges will have to weigh up when reaching their verdict. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the Irish film industry earned an impressive 14 Oscar nominations. The biggest haul in any one year. But what next? When a film has an Oscar nomination in the bag, it’s not time to sit back and wait to see if it wins. It’s just the start of an intense campaign to win support from the voting Academy members. So what does the road to the Oscars look like? To find out Bernice Harrison talks to Irish Times Chief Film Correspondent Donald Clarke and Colm Bairéad, director of An Cailin Ciuin - The Quiet Girl, which was nominated for best international feature. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the Mental Health Commission released its interim report on the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs). It made for damning reading, painting a picture of a vital service that is not fit for purpose. For many, access to care is a postcode lottery. Two mothers talk to In the News about their experience with Camhs and how they feel it failed their children. Kitty Holland, Irish Times social affairs correspondent and Roisin Clark, interim chief executive of Mental Health Reform, an advocacy group representing organisations throughout the country, explain the background and what the report means for Camhs and the HSE.In the News is presented by Bernice Harrison and produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite claims fugitive mob boss, Matteo Messino Denaro, was in Amsterdam, Liverpool and Brazil, the 60 year-old had been hiding in plain sight in Sicily. He was arrested last week after 30 years on the run. Italian criminologist, Dr Anna Sergi, says he was caught after being tracked down through plain old-fashioned detective work. Dr Sergi explains to host, Aideen Finnegan, why the Sicilian mafia boss' arrest is so significant, and what it was like to grow up in a region of Italy marred by terrifying mob violence.With any subscription you'll get unlimited access to the very best in unique quality journalism from The Irish Times. Subscribe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Elsa" had decades of experience waiting in restaurants before joining the staff at celebrity chef Richard Corrigan's new Dublin restaurant last year. Within a few weeks she had joined over a dozen other staff who left. Many of them spoke to The Irish Times's restaurant critic Corinna Hardgrave about why they did so: Harsh words, a bad atmosphere and rates of pay that were not what was promised. Many were also critical of the restaurant's system for distributing tips. And while the tip distribution policy in The Park Cafe is publicly available (as required by law), could it be that many customers have lost track of how tips are shared in a complicated system among restaurant staff - including senior managers? Elsa and Corinna talk to Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland’s far-right is mobilising. Heated protests outside buildings used to house asylum seekers in Ballymun, East Wall and around the country show how anti-immigration sentiment is being stirred up by groups who are organised, heavily reliant on social media and increasingly adept at exploiting fears, often with baseless stories.Irish Times crime correspondent Conor Gallagher has been tracking the rise of the far right in Ireland in recent years and has reported on how misinformation is fuelling these increasingly heated gatherings of locals and far-right groups.He outlines how these protests are organised, who is behind them, the misinformation spread on social media and the fears being stoked up in communities where asylum seekers are being housed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About 90 per cent of primary schools in Ireland are Catholic in ethos. The figure is increasingly out of line with the religious makeup of the population.  Last week, an Athlone primary school switched from Catholic to multi-denominational, the first such change of school ethos in a state-led pilot programme. But in other areas, like Dublin's Raheny, local opposition to such changes in school ethos has been strong. So when it comes to religion in schools, what is it that people really want? Irish Times education editor Carl O’Brien gives the background. David Graham of lobby group Education Equality and Seamus Mulconry of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association give their sides of a debate that is still divisive.This episode is presented by Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just when you thought there was nothing new to learn about Britain's Prince Harry's explosive memoir, it manages to generate even more headlines upon its release this week. 'Spare' is now the fastest ever selling non-fiction book in the English language. Even the Irish public is divided on whether the prince is a tragic, deluded character or an earnest rebel with a genuine public interest story to expose. Media columnist, Laura Slattery, and columnist, Finn McRedmond in London, join Aideen Finnegan to discuss the book, its revelations and the global reaction to it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite fears patients may die as a result of delays in our overcrowded Emergency Departments, we are yet again dealing with another trolley crisis this January. The problems beleaguering our health service are well documented, so what changes would meaningfully address them? Former Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Dr Chris Luke, has a number of proposals and wants "Zelensky-like" leadership to bring them about. Starting with hospital CEOs and medical directors on the frontline, SWAT teams to back up staff and a Citizens' Assembly to have a national conversation about what we are willing to fund. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does China’s exit from its Zero Covid policy mean for Ireland and the rest of the world? The country has fully reopened, ending the requirement for inbound travellers to quarantine. The abrupt exit has resulted in covid ripping through its main cities and struck a defiant tone with the European Union, which has recommended testing for passengers arriving from China. But the reopening will likely be a boost to the world economy and a welcome relief for its citizens and foreigners who felt unable to leave for the past three years. In this episode, presented by Bernice Harrison, we get the latest from our China Correspondent Denis Staunton.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of In The News we are joined by our new co-host, Bernice Harrison, and departing presenter, Conor Pope. If you opted out of scrolling through news stories over Christmas and New Year, here's a round-up of what you may have missed: hospital overcrowding, the deaths of Pelé, Pope Benedict and Vivienne Westwood, misogynist Andrew Tate's arrest, Republican George Santos' car crash TV interview and Rolling Stone's divisive snub of Celine Dion. Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking to feel happier and healthier in life, but don’t know where to start? Clinical Psychologist Dr Trudy Meehan joins Conor Pope to talk about the practical tools we can all start using to bring meaningful change into our lives. Positive Health: 100+ Research-based Positive Psychology and Lifestyle Medicine Tools to Enhance Your Wellbeing is available now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his new book Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America, speech writer Cody Keenan gives readers an intimate portrayal of life inside the White House during some of the most critical moments in American history. In this episode, he talks to Sorcha Pollak about those ten years spent working alongside one of the most important and recognised people on earth, the long days and nights spent crafting the former US president’s statements and the pressure, self-doubt and ultimate sense of accomplishment of holding “the best and the worst job in the West Wing”. This episode was originally published in November 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the 1970s, Irish soldiers have served as UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon, a region where complex conflicts ebb and flow. Last week, the tragic death of Private Sean Rooney brought the number of Irish peacekeepers killed in the line of duty to 48. This special three-part series revisits the 1982 murders of Corporal Gregory Morrow, Private Peter Burke and Private Thomas Murphy at Tibnin Bridge, a checkpoint near the Israeli border. In part one, Conor Gallagher and Sorcha Pollak tell the story of Tibnin Bridge, with help from those who lived through it. Artwork by Paul Scott. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originating in west Africa the Black Axe gang has quickly become one of the most successful groups in Irish organised crime. In the Republic, the gang has stolen or laundered €64 million, mainly through romance scams and invoice frauds. The Irish cell of Black Axe launders money by using a rapidly growing network of money mules in Ireland. Money mules’ accounts are used to take receipt of, and then disperse, the proceeds of frauds carried out by other Black Axe cells located in countries across the globe. Security and crime editor Conor Lally has the details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are lots of reasons why team sports are a great activity for children to be involved in. They offer kids a chance to improve fitness, make new friends and learn how to be part of a team. But, on many teams across the country, coaches are leaving less able children on the sidelines, because they value winning above everything else. Irish Times parenting columnist Jen Hogan talks to Conor Pope about the impact this can have on children and why she thinks the culture needs to change. This episode was originally published in October 2022. 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. Conor Lally and Colm Keena talk to Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The tragic death of Private Sean Rooney in Lebanon last week marks the first Irish peacekeeper death in combat in the region since 1999. The 23 year old was a member of the UN's 10,000-strong mission, Unifil. It's understood the vehicle became surrounded by an angry mob near the coastal down of Al Aqbieh on the night of Wednesday, 14th December. But why would the UN vehicle be the target of such ire? And what has caused the ratcheting up of tension in the Hizbullah-controlled region? Crime and Security Correspondent, Conor Gallagher, and retired Lieutenant Colonel and military historian, Dan Harvey, frame the conflict and analyse the threat on this episode of In The News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teacher Enoch Burke could get out of jail today if he chose to.All he needs to do is say he’ll follow a court order to stay away from the school where he worked until being suspended in a row over his refusal to call a trans student by their preferred pronouns.In cases of civil contempt there is no clear mechanism for bringing to an end the situation without Mr Burke backing down. But given his stated intentions, and taking into account his family’s history in legal disputes, it seems unlikely Mr Burke will do that. So how will the situation ever get resolved?Jennifer O’Connell and Mary Carolan talk to Conor Pope. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.