In The News

Shortly after 9.30am on Sunday, when the Louvre in Paris had just opened its doors to visitors, alarm bells started to ring out through the halls of the world-famous museum.Four thieves had managed to access the building via the first floor balcony facing the river Seine. Seven minutes later they escaped on motorbikes carrying priceless French crown jewels.The robbery has sparked outrage across the French political spectrum – the country’s president Emmanuel Macron called the raid “an attack on our history”, while the leader of the far-right National Rally party Jordan Bardella said it was an “intolerable humiliation”.The heist has also prompted serious questions about the security needed in high profile museums and art galleries, and the increasingly brazen nature of criminal art robberies.How exactly did these thieves manage to steal priceless artefacts from one of the most secure museums in Europe in broad daylight? And why are the French authorities now racing against the clock to track down the missing items?BBC Paris Correspondent Hugh Schofield discusses how this audacious heist was pulled off and whether the jewels will ever be seen again.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scam call centres are paying up to €1,200 per person for the contact details of potential Irish victims.And once they have a name and number, it’s game on, with highly-trained fraudsters working the phones to persuade victims to part with their money via bogus investment “opportunities”.Analysis by The Irish Times has identified 31 Irish victims who lost a combined total of nearly €300,000. This includes a 76-year-old man who lost €61,720, and a high-ranking diplomat who lost more than €31,000.Details of the transactions are contained in a vast data leak - including recordings of the phones calls - from a Georgian scam call centre which was provided to The Irish Times by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OOCRP), a non-government investigative journalism organisation.Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher is part of that project and he explains to In the News exactly how the scams work. And he talks to some of the Irish victims.But how do these scammers collect the phone numbers they call; how do they identify their victims and what sophisticated sales techniques do they use to persuade unsuspecting victims to “invest” in the bogus schemes?Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eleven years after the bodies of Anthony Keegan (33) and Eoin O’Connor (32) were discovered buried on Inchicup Island, Dublin woman Ruth Lawrence (45) has gone on trial for their murder. She has pleaded not guilty.The prosecution has laid out its case: alleging that Lawrence worked “as a unit” with her South African boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen to kill O’Connor, a drug dealer and his friend Keegan.Van der Westhuizen was in considerable debt to O’Connor.It was further alleged that Lawrence and her boyfriend had “spoken openly” about “the murders and disposing of the bodies”.The jury has already heard from the landlord of the remote Co Meath lakeside cottage where the accused and her boyfriend were living at the time of the murder. He testified how they had asked to borrow a boat with an engine and had done so.Set to last until November, the judge sent the jury away on Tuesday due to a medical issue with a witness but the court heard on Thursday that the trial would continue.Court reporter Alison O’Riordan has been following the trial.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish Olympic swimmer Shane Ryan can now take all the performance-enhancing drugs he wants as part of his training plan.And if anabolic steroids, human growth hormone (HGH), or testosterone supplements show up in his system next May when he competes in Las Vegas, the organisers will congratulate him for playing by the rules.The Enhanced Games dubbed the Steroid Olympics – was dreamed up by Australian businessman Aron D’Souza as a sporting event that lets competitors maximise their performance by doping.Ryan, who was the first swimmer to compete in three Olympics for Ireland, says the decision to join the Enhanced Games is financial. He will, he says, be “making over six figures for nine months and then potentially making over $600,000 when it comes down the line”.But Wada (World Anti-Doping Agency) rules exist not just to level the playing field for all athletes but also to protect them from the health impacts of doping. So isn’t the 31 year-old worried?Irish Times sports writer Malachy Clerkin talked to him from his new training base in Nevada.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The number of people falling victim to online fraud, and in some cases losing their life savings as a result of being scammed, is skyrocketing. Banks have warned of a sharp increase in phone calls and text messages from criminals purporting to be delivery companies or Government agencies. However, in some of the most disturbing cases, victims are targeted with the promise of love and romance.Romance scams are not new – lonely people have always been targeted by criminals. But with the omnipresence of social media in people’s daily lives, and the rapid development of AI, criminal gangs are using more sophisticated methods than ever before to exploit the human need for connection, trust and affection.The sheer extent and impact of these scams remains unknown because many people are too embarrassed to report the relationship, or their lost funds, to the authorities. They are often also left heartbroken after truly believing they had found their soul mate.One Irish woman in her 60s, who recently lost more than €291,000 through a sinister romance scam to a man who claimed to love and want to marry her, shared her experience with The Irish Times this week.On today’s In The News episode Conor Pope, Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent, shares the story of Mary* who has been left with huge debts, and potentially serious legal implications, after being financially exploited, and emotionally manipulated, by a man who called himself Donald.What are the red flags people should watch out for if they begin a relationship online?And can further steps be taken by authorities to track down the criminal gangs behind this financial fraud?Today, the story of one woman who lost everything through an elaborate romance scam.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Andrew McNair.*Pseudonym requested to protect woman’s identity  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, more than two years after the conflict in Gaza began – a war which has killed tens of thousands, including an estimated 20,000 children – the remaining living Israeli hostages returned home.Meanwhile, about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners – including 1,700 from Gaza who have been held by Israel without charge – were released and reunited with family.The return of hostages and release of prisoners is all part of the first phase of Donald’s Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.Trump, who spoke before the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem on Monday, told cheering lawmakers that the “long and painful nightmare is finally over” and that the agreement marked a “historic dawn of a new Middle East”.But is the US president correct? Will both sides honour the agreement and what will the next stage of this peace plan look like?And when so many lives have been lost, where do Palestinians begin when it comes to rebuilding the Gaza Strip?Irish Times contributors Mark Weiss and Michael Jansen discuss how Trump’s peace plan will work and what the future holds for Palestinians.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael D Higgins will shortly finish his two terms as President of Ireland, having served 14 years as head of State.In 2011 he said his tenure would be “a presidency of ideas”. But what are they and where in his background and in his impressive and varied pre-Áras career did they come from?And how has his outspokenness on a wide range of subjects, from foreign affairs to army pay, been received by successive governments? To what extent did his personal popularity insulate him from criticism and even censure when he was perceived to have overstepped the boundaries of the role?The 84 year-old’s appeal, notably among young people, has secured a prominent place for him in Irish popular culture inspiring a range of “miggledy” memorabilia from T-shirts to tea cosies.But while his public image is that of a warm, affable elder statesman in a tweed suit with a ready smile and an ability to connect with everyone who comes in contact with, his private persona is somewhat different according to Irish Times journalist Naomi O’Leary who has written a long profile of this very popular, effective President.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was Micheál Martin’s worst week in the job as leader of Fianna Fáil and it began on late on Sunday evening when the party’s campaign for the presidency imploded. Its candidate Jim Gavin resigned following media reports that, 16 years ago, a tenant had accidentally overpaid him by €3,300 and despite repeated requests, the former military man and presidential hopeful had refused to return it.The failure to repay a debt – and a landlord’s debt at that – had caused a sensation when news of it was reported on Friday.Gavin was Martin’s man – his “celebrity” non-party pick announced after a summer of speculation.But from his first outing it was clear that he lacked the charisma and communication skills that are baseline requirements in any political campaign. And for a celebrity candidate he was remarkably unknown.Many in Martin’s party were simply puzzled by his choice while also being angry at a process in which they felt sidelined.Wednesday provided a new twist when the tenant outed himself on his popular crime podcast as Niall Donald, deputy editor of the Sunday World.Then on Wednesday evening before a five-hour parliamentary party meeting, a shaken Martin apologised for the disaster which has left party members furious and embarrassed.So how did Micheál Martin get here; how did he make this massive misstep in choosing Gavin and has he set the clock ticking on the end of his career leading Fianna Fáil.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So now we know what’s in Budget 2026 but for most people, what’s not so clear is what’s in it for them.As he has done every year on the day after the budget Irish Times personal finance expert and assistant business editor Dominic Coyle put a call-out to readers for their own queries and then he answered them.For In the News he picks out the ones that exercised people the most and explains how he answered.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is in Budget 2026 for you? Not a lot, probably - as expected, Ministers Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers have delivered a much tighter package than recent years. Out are universal payments to help with steep energy bills and most bonus social welfare payments. But the budget did deliver some help for some groups. Conor Pope runs through the main points. Plus: Cliff Taylor on why, eleven months after a general election campaign that featured many spending promises, the Government has instead decided to tighten its belt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s budget day and one thing we can almost certainly expect in Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe’s spending announcements is an increase in the price of cigarettes. This year, the cost of a pack of cigarettes is set to increase by 50 cents, bringing it to almost €19 for a pack of twenty.And while this price hike may help reduce smoking levels in Irish society, and improve the overall health of the population, it is also driving Ireland’s rapidly growing black market tobacco business.More than one in four cigarettes smoked in Ireland are now sold through the black market, costing the exchequer around €600 million in lost revenue annually.And it’s not just the Irish authorities who are keen to end this booming underground activity – Big Tobacco companies are now hiring investigators in Ireland to collect data on how and where this business takes place.On today’s In The News episode, consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope discusses the day he recently spent shadowing an investigative team hired by Japan Tobacco International, one of the biggest tobacco companies in the world, to scour Dublin for sellers of illegal tobacco.Who is selling this tobacco, where is it produced and what do we know about the criminals behind this illegal cigarette chain?And what is the point of tobacco companies tracking down small-time street dealers who are purely cogs in a much larger, multimillion euro, illicit tobacco-producing machine?Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fianna Fail’s presidential candidate Jim Gavin's sensational withdrawal from the presidential race has plunged Fianna Fáil into crisis. There’s dismay among party backbenchers, anger at Taoiseach Micheal Martin, and uncertainty over what kind of presidential election race we now have. Earlier today, Jack Horgan Jones and Ellen Coyne talked to Hugh Linehan on our sister podcast Inside Politics about the affair. In the News will be back with another regular episode tomorrow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can it happen that a doctor who has been sanctioned or even struck-off in one country can simply move to another and continue working?Shouldn’t the various medical registration bodies have robust recording and information sharing systems that would make that impossible. Most patients will assume that to be the case but a new global investigation has found serious flaws in the system.And it is happening in Ireland: 11 doctors who have faced serious sanctions in the UK, including being struck off, remain registered in Ireland.In each case, the UK sanction was not recorded on the doctor’s publicly available record published by the Medical Council.The information comes from the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, which in the past has investigated transnational criminal gangs and drug cartels but in recent months has turned its attention to doctor registration.Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher joined international journalists from more than 50 other media outlets to uncover this very real threat to patient safety. He explains the findings of the report particularly as they relate to Ireland.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The long-awaited MetroLink line, which will finally connect Dublin Airport to the city by rail, has been approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála, three years after planning permission was sought.The 18.8km rail line, expected to cost more than €10 billion, was first proposed a quarter of a century ago and is anticipated to begin operations in the mid-2030s.Travelling mostly underground, the remote-controlled, driverless trains will run every three minutes from Swords in north Dublin to Charlemont close to Ranelagh in south Dublin. The route will have 16 stops serving areas including Dublin Airport, Ballymun, Glasnevin, Phibsborough and the city centre.A trip from Swords to the city centre is expected to take about 25 minutes, while journeys from the airport to the city will take about 20 minutes.But what happens if there is a judicial challenge to the planning permission? And what if “unknown, unknown” issues arise and the bill doubles as has been imagined? And when will the first passengers hop on board?Irish Times Dublin editor Olivia Kelly explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The body of 23-year-old Kelly Lynch was found in a canal in Monaghan on the morning of St Patrick’s Day 2024.For 30 hours, her mother Julieanne had been unable to get in contact with her daughter who had travelled over the Border to visit her boyfriend. Increasingly worried, she got in the car to drive to Monaghan to find her.While she was in the car she received a call from the Garda with the news every parent dreads. An Garda Síochána initially determined that the young woman had fallen and that her death was an accident.However, her parents John and Julieanne believe that there is so much about their daughter’s death that needs to be explained, not least the 93 injuries found on her body. They have been advocating for Kelly since that dreadful day.Julieanne tells In The News the issues the family has with how Kelly’s death was handled and how The Katie Trust has been helping her; while former PSNI officer and founder of The Katie Trust James Brannigan explains how his organisation is helping so many bereaved families who have been left, like the Kellys, with questions.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Irish Times is continuing to develop its podcast offering and would like to invite some of our current listeners to take part in a research study to listen to, and discuss, a new podcast pilot.This will involve listening to 2 short versions of a news briefing podcast and taking part in an online forum to discuss your reaction. You will be free to take part and contribute to the discussion at times that suit you over a period of a number of days. If selected to take part, and in return for your participation, you will receive a €30 One4All digital gift voucher.If you would like to take part please complete this form with your details. We'll aim to select as many as possible to participate.On Monday evening, the three candidates for the Irish presidency gathered together for their first live debate on Virgin Media Television. But, was it a really a debate?Rather than standing, Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin sat around a table and delivered a series of lines and scripts for over an hour. To many, it just appeared to be a longer version of Virgin’s regular weeknight politics show.The conversation was largely polite, restrained and non-combative and ultimately made for quite dull TV.How did the three presidential candidates fare in the live TV studio setting and who came out on top?And what do the Irish presidential candidates need to change about their communication style to bring some spark to the race for the Áras and inspire us, the public, to cast our vote in their favour?Today, on In The News, what does it take to win a presidential debate?Lorcan Nyhan, head of training at the Communications Clinic who has previously worked with Irish politicians on presentation and communication, breaks down what the candidates need to change about their debating style to bring more energy and public interest to the campaign for president.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Irish Times is continuing to develop its podcast offering and would like to invite some of our current listeners to take part in a research study to listen to, and discuss, a new podcast pilot.This will involve listening to 2 short versions of a news briefing podcast and taking part in an online forum to discuss your reaction. You will be free to take part and contribute to the discussion at times that suit you over a period of a number of days. If selected to take part, and in return for your participation, you will receive a €30 One4All digital gift voucher.If you would like to take part please complete this form with your details. We'll aim to select as many as possible to participate.In the early hours of Sunday morning, Russia launched a big drones and missile attack on the Ukrainian capital, killing at least four people. Meanwhile, more than 1,500km to the West, Denmark reported drone sightings over military sites in its own country.These latest Danish reports follow a series of drone sightings across Europe in recent weeks, including in Poland, Germany and Romania, as well as Russian fighter jets violating Estonia airspace. These incursions have caused international chaos and raised concerns over the security of northern Europe and its vulnerability to air attacks from Russia.Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said the recent drone aggression across European countries is proof that Vladimir Putin is planning to expand Russia’s war into the European Union.And while Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov says Russia has no intention of attacking European Union or Nato member states, he also says it is prepared to act if provoked.Europe is moving forward with plans for a drone wall and increasing defence spending, but is that enough?Today, on In The News, is Europe already at war with Russia?The Guardian newspaper foreign correspondent Luke Harding discusses the growth of Russian interference and provocation across Europe and Moscow’s belief that it is already at war with the West.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On September 17th, partial skeletal remains of a child were discovered on waste ground in north Dublin following an extensive search by gardaí.While DNA analysis has yet to be concluded, the remains are believed to be those of Daniel Aruebose.He was last seen when he was 3 1/2 years of age and had not been seen in four years.The discovery of his body was a significant step in the investigation into his disappearance but the initial results of the postmortem have been a setback as no cause of death could be determined. So what happens now?Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally, who broke the story of the discovery of the child’s remains, explains how the investigation might now proceed.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.The Irish Times is continuing to develop its podcast offering and would like to invite some of our current listeners to take part in a research study to listen to, and discuss, a new podcast pilot.This will involve listening to 2 short versions of a news briefing podcast and taking part in an online forum to discuss your reaction. You will be free to take part and contribute to the discussion at times that suit you over a period of a number of days. If selected to take part, and in return for your participation, you will receive a €30 One4All digital gift voucher.If you would like to take part please complete this form with your details. We'll aim to select as many as possible to participate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the owners of the 751-acre Barne Estate in Tipperary put the property on the market in 2023, billionaire businessman John Magnier thought he had struck a deal to buy it for €15 million.The oral agreement he had reached during a kitchen-table meeting was, as far as he was concerned, binding.When the owners then sold it to someone else, Magnier went to court in a bid to make the them honour their deal.What followed was a 19-day court case that revealed the details of the dispute and how determined Magnier was to secure the property.But why did he go to such lengths? Ronan McGreevy reports on the case. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The aid flotilla which is attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza has been attacked by drones in international waters off the coast of Greece. The move is widely seen as an escalation of Israel’s attempts to stop the flotilla from reaching its destination.The organisers said at least 13 explosions were heard on and around boats and objects were dropped on at least 10 boats from drones or aircraft.The 51-vessel flotilla carrying food and essential supplies has about 500 international volunteers, including Irish pro-Palestine activists.Italy is to send a naval ship to come to the vessels’ assistance while Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez said his country is sending a warship to protect the flotilla.“The government of Spain insists that international law be respected and that the right of our citizens should be respected to sail through the Mediterranean in safe conditions,” he said.Sinn Féin Senator Chris Andrews is among 22 Irish participants on the flotilla and he has called on the Government to protect its citizens on the flotilla and “as a matter of urgency, they need to arrange for an observer vessel to accompany the flotilla to ensure Israel does not violate the human rights of its participants”.So what will happen next? Irish Times reporter Naomi O’Leary, who has been talking to people on the flotilla, explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey and Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last weekend, over the course of 24 hours, two men were stabbed and seriously injured in separate incidents in Dublin’s city centre.An English tourist was hospitalised on Saturday night after he was stabbed in Temple Bar and on Sunday, a 17-year-old teenager was left in a critical condition after he was repeatedly stabbed on Dublin’s Eden Quay.These latest attacks will undoubtedly reinforce beliefs that the streets of the Irish capital are becoming unsafe. They also come in the wake of a surge in attacks against immigrants, particularly the Indian community.Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan recently pushed back against any suggestions that Dublin was unsafe, arguing that the capital city is actually becoming safer. In contrast, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said earlier this year that people living, working and visiting the city “have been robbed of their sense of safety”.In today's episode, Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally joins Sorcha Pollak to discuss the latest crime figures in the capital and how recent assaults are impacting people's perception of personal safety.Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Declan Conlon.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catherine Connolly, Jim Gavin, Heather Humphreys have secured their nominations for the campaign which will run for a month until the election is held on October 24th 2025.How have the three candidates backed by political parties – Connolly, Gavin and Humphreys – fared so far in their bid to become the next Irish head of state and what bumps in the road have they faced in their race for the Áras?Plus: at the time of recording, independent candidate Maria Steen was still in the hunt for the backing of 20 Oireachtas members. What would she bring to the race? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last Saturday, an estimated 25,000 people travelled from across the island of Ireland to gather in Dublin and march through the streets of the capital calling for the protection of the Irish language.Participants in Cearta, the first major Irish language demonstration in over a decade, demanded action from Government on housing, education and funding for Gaeltacht communities and Irish speakers.Their calls come at a time when the Irish language is clearly enjoying a bit of a moment. Three years ago, the Irish-language film An Cailín Ciúin experience global success and acclaim after it was shortlisted for an Oscar. And the worldwide popularity of Northern Irish rap group Kneecap, has brought the language to the masses in a way never seen before.But, despite this cultural momentum and growing appreciation of the national language, are policymakers doing enough to ensure its survival?Irish Times Irish language editor Éanna Ó Caollaí discusses the historic turnout at last weekend’s CEARTA protest and whether an Gaeilge’s pop culture moment could translate into how we fund, support and perceive the national language.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year An Garda Síochána made payments totalling €278,000 to an Israeli company, Cognyte, which manufactures sophisticated surveillance software.It is not known exactly what was bought or what it will be used for but the purchase was made under the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) framework. That means other State agencies such as Revenue, Fiosrú and Military Intelligence can use the new Israeli tech.It is not the first time the State has bought technology – including military technology – from Israel.Cognyte’s flagship offering is what it calls an “investigations analytics platform”, a powerful piece of software capable of amalgamating masses of data in one place. It uses facial recognition, artificial intelligence and large language models to, in Cognyte’s words, “reveal hidden insights and deeper context” for investigators.So if that is what the Garda bought, how might the force use it?The Irish Times Crime and Security Correspondent Conor Gallagher explains.Gallagher also looks as some of the controversies the Israeli company has been involved in: from Brazil, where it was cited in the trial of disgraced Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, to the Netherlands, where the justice ministry has come under fire for buying a new telephone and data-tapping system for the police from the controversial defence company without informing parliament.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gardaí searching for a child who went missing when he was three years old have found human remains at a site in Donabate, north Dublin.Confirming that skeletal remains had been discovered, Garda HQ also named the boy as Daniel Aruebose.It is the first time he has been named since his disappearance and assumed death was placed under investigation three weeks ago.Conor Lally reports from the scene on what is known and is yet to be uncovered about the tragic case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns returned to the helm of her political party for a think-in dominated by the controversy over TD Eoin Hayes.The previous night, Mr Hayes issued an apology for wearing brown make-up on his face and hands while dressed up as former US president Barack Obama, at a party 16 years ago.Mr Hayes was previously suspended from the Social Democrats last December after it emerged he had issued misleading information about when he sold his shares in Palantir, a company he worked with which has been linked to the Israeli military. He was readmitted to the party over the summer.Ms Cairns said she was “hugely disappointed and annoyed” about the ‘blackface’ incident but has not yet revealed whether her colleague will face disciplinary actions.How will the Social Democrats respond to this latest scandal and could they suspend the Dublin Bay South TD for a second time?And how has the Social Democrats fared as an opposition political party during its leader’s maternity leave?Today, on In The News, Holly Cairns’s return from maternity leave was spoiled by another embarrassing controversy involving Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes.Irish Times political correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones discusses the fallout from the Hayes photograph and Cairns’ return to party leadership.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Andrew McNair and Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Brazil made history when its supreme court convicted the country’s former far right president Jair Bolsonaro, and seven other defendants, of attempting a coup after his failed re-election bid in 2022. Bolsonaro was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison.The verdict brings an end to Brazil’s historical leniency in dealing with military men who have tried to overthrow democratically elected governments.Thousands of Brazilians took to the streets to celebrate the sentencing, while the leaders of neighbouring countries like Chile and Colombia paid tribute to the country’s democratic institutions.However, some members of the Brazilian congress immediately embarked on efforts to secure an amnesty for Bolsonaro and his co-conspirators.And Brazilian diplomats continue to anxiously await a formal response from the US, where president Donald Trump said he was “very unhappy” with the verdict and US secretary of state Marco Rubio described the trial as a “witch hunt”.Will Trump, who has already imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Brazil, impose further sanctions in response to the conviction?Can Bolsonaro’s supporters secure an amnesty for the divisive former leader? And what does this all mean for next year’s presidential election in Brazil?Today, on In The News, Brazil’s Bolsonaro is facing 27 years in prison, but will he do his jail time?Irish Times South America contributor Tom Hennigan discusses the national and international reaction to the Bolsonaro trial and verdict.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Pope Leo XIV turns 70 we look back at his first months in office, the messages he has been giving to his flock of 1.4 billion Catholics and what they reveal about the direction of his papacy.Since May the Pope has used his Wednesday audience to condemn the actions of Isreal in Gaza and to call for peace in Ukraine. What he has chosen to wear and where to live has signalled a return to tradition – but as Irish Times Europe correspondent Naomi O’Leary explains he’s also spoken about the dangers and the promise of AI.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In June 2024 French President Emmanuel Macron took a political gamble – and lost heavily.Hoping to strengthen his centrist alliance he dissolved the National Assembly triggering an election. The result has been chaos – a legislature with no dominant political bloc in power and leading this week to France naming its fourth prime minister in 12 months and riots on the streets of Paris.At the centre of the political chaos is the threat of austerity budgets. France is deep in debt and a succession of Macron-appointment prime ministers have proposed budgets with tax hikes and deep cuts.On Monday, prime minister François Bayrou was ousted by a decisive vote after he proposed a tough budget. By Wednesday, Macron had appointed a replacement, Sébastien Lecornu.The problem for the next government, Lecornu’s, is that a budget still needs to be passed and securing the backing of a very divided parliament will be difficult.The world’s stage does see not much of French prime ministers because the president, Macron, holds substantial powers over foreign policy and European affairs.So does this open the door to a snap election? And how damaging is this for Macron that his own country is in chaos while he bestrides the stage, positioning himself as a powerful European leader.Naomi O’Leary, Irish Times European correspondent, explains a bleak week in French politics.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At just 18 committed Christian and college drop out Charlie Kirk established Turning Point USA, an organisation with a mission to spread conservative ideals at liberal-leaning US universities.On Wednesday, now aged 31 and a father of two young children, Kirk was once again at a university campus to debate and spread his socially conservative viewpoint.A roof-top sniper shot him dead in what is being viewed as a politically motivated assassination.In those 13 years, the young man had become one of the most influential voices in US politics and well-known media personality.Kirk’s ability to galvanise young people to vote Republican, through his rallies, prolific social media posts, daily podcast, TV appearances and website led to Donald Trump crediting him with being one of a handful of people who helped secure his 2024 election win.His murder, captured on camera, has shocked the United States and the reaction from the president and his supporters has been quick and heartfelt.But who was he and how did he become one of Trump’s most avid supporters and trusted confidants?Irish Times Washington correspondent Keith Duggan explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An escalating series of threats made to Tánaiste Simon Harris in recent weeks went from an online threat to kidnap his children to co-ordinated bomb warnings on his Wicklow home.Politicians say online trolling and verbal abuse now goes with the territory; dealing with it is part of the job.Some have also had to face threats to their families with those against Harris being the latest.It has prompted a debate about the growing security risks faced by our politicians.But what can the Garda do, and typically who makes these threats and why?Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Lally explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this year, US president Donald Trump sent shock waves across America’s medical and scientific community by appointing Robert F Kennedy jnr, one of America’s most prominent vaccine-sceptics, as secretary of health and human services.Since then, the controversial health secretary has caused large upheaval within America’s public health system, making appointments and changing vaccine policies which impact the lives of millions of Americans.RFK Jnr has also been widely criticised for firing Susan Monarez, the director of the Centre for Disease Control, the federal agency in charge of protecting the health of Americans.Kennedy claims his new appointments to oversee disease control are committed to “evidence-based medicine” and “gold standard science”.But, scientists and doctors across the US say he is putting Americans’ health in danger and undermining public trust in highly safe and effective vaccines.What has been the impact, so far, of a prominent vaccine-sceptic, with no medical background, leading America’s health agenda? How far will Trump back him?And what does Kennedy’s anti-vaccine approach mean for the future of scientific research in the United States?Today, on In The News, RFK Jnr has vowed to upend American healthcare. But how far will he go?UCD Clinton Institute professor of American Studies Scott Lucas discusses Robert F Kennedy Jr’s tightening grip on America’s public health system.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey and Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Phillips, a fugitive father who spent four years hiding in New Zealand’s remote wilderness with his three children was shot dead on Monday by police probing an armed burglary. The children were found unharmed. But why did Phillips disappear in the first place, and how did he manage to evade capture for so long? New Zealand journalist Tony Wall tells the story to Bernice Harrison. Produced by Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could new technology help to finally reveal who killed Sophie Toscan du Plantier?  After prime suspect Ian Bailey’s death last year, Sophie's uncle Jean-Pierre Gazeau said their family would never get the truth.  But now a Garda cold case team has used new technology, called M-Vac, to harvest DNA from items recovered at the West Cork crime scene. We talk to Jared Bradley, the man behind M-Vac, about how it has helped US investigators to crack decades-old cases.  But first, Southern correspondent Barry Roche shares what we know about progress in the du Plantier case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nearly half of everyone watching Irish TV on Sunday evening tuned in for the scheming, lying and game-playing on The Traitors Ireland. It’s a hit.RTÉ has joined more than 30 broadcasters worldwide in making a version of the Dutch format which sees players strategising, “killing”, banishing and lying – all to win a cash prize.It is hosted brilliantly with more than hint of theatricality by Cork actor Siobhán McSweeney, who changes her elaborate costumes more often than the contestants change their minds about each other.Just three episodes in and favourite players are emerging but it is impossible to accurately predict the winner.The rules are complicated but the appeal is easy to understand.For Irish Times features writer Patrick Freyne “it’s a game of skill and strategy and not just the random weaponisation of groupthink and paranoid pattern recognition that you get in any office, school or newsroom”.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gardaí are attempting to unravel several conflicting witness accounts of what happened to a boy who went missing four years ago and is feared dead.Searches for the child’s remains in an area of ground in north Dublin are expected to continue for several more days.The boy spent about a year in state care before returning to his family in 2020, with Tusla confirming it had no contact with the child between 2020 and last week. The case comes one year after it emerged another boy, Kyran Durnin, had not been seen for several years and is now feared dead. Conor Lally and Kitty Holland report on the search for the Dublin boy and the questions that must be answered about how a child once in the care of the State could vanish for years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Britain’s Labour Party returned to Westminster from a summer recess defined by anti-migrant protests, and during which, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK dominated the news agenda.British prime minister Keir Starmer resumed business in parliament by announcing a small reshuffle of his Downing Street team. However, the Labour leader is still facing an array of domestic and foreign policy conundrums, most notably Farage’s rapidly rising popularity.His right-wing Reform UK party has led Labour in about 90 successive opinion polls, while recent polls show 71 per cent of British voters believe the prime minister is handling the asylum hotel issue badly. Nearly four in ten British voters now cite immigration and asylum as the most important issue facing the country.With Starmer facing calls from Labour Party heavyweights to take a more radical approach to the small boats crisis, and calls led by Farage for Britain to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, the Labour Party is undoubtedly facing a rocky autumn season.What are the main challenges facing Starmer’s Government in the coming weeks and how does he propose to overcome them?And how much have Nigel Farage and his Reform UK party benefited from Labour’s plummeting support?Today, on In The News, can Keir Starmer claw back control as Nigel Farage soars ahead?Irish Times London correspondent Mark Paul discusses the political perils facing Keir Starmer as the summer recess ends.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kathleen Folbigg was convicted over the deaths of her four babies in 2003 in a case that shocked Australia.In 2023 a judicial review found that the babies may have died of a genetic condition and having served nearly two decades in prison she was freed.Her case is now regarded as one of Australia’s greatest miscarriages of justice.In the second episode on the Katheleen Follbig case, McDermot explains how a scientific breakthrough eventually exonerated the mother of four. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kathleen Folbigg was convicted over the deaths of her four babies in 2003 in a case that shocked Australia.The first three were treated as cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) but when Laura died, the authorities looked to Meadow’s Law and arrested the grieving mother.That controversial theory held that “one sudden infant death is a tragedy, two is suspicious and three is murder until proved otherwise”.She always maintained her innocence.In 2023 a judicial review found that the babies may have died of a genetic condition and having served nearly two decades in prison she was freed.Her case is now regarded as one of Australia’s greatest miscarriages of justice.In August, the now 58-year-old woman, who was once branded “Australia’s worst mother”, was awarded just AUS$2million for 20 years of wrongful imprisonment.The sum was far less than anyone predicted says award-winning investigative journalist Quentin McDermott. He wrote the book on Meadow’s Law and made the TV documentary that helped raise questions about the safety of her conviction, leading to the review that freed her.In the first of two episode on the case, McDermot explains how the now discredited legal concept led police to Kathleen Folbigg's door.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brazilian couple Gil Rudge (39) and Natalia Bonadia (36) rented a room in a shared apartment from Eduardo Gonzaga’s company, Leevin Ireland.All was fine until their landlord advised them that unless they accepted a third person to share their bedroom their rent would have to double.Janiedson da Silva dos Santos was sharing a house with eight others – students rented a bed, not a room – until Leevin Ireland abruptly issued him with a month’s notice. While he was away for a few days, he returned to his rental to find it in disarray and his property gone from his room.Irish Times housing reporter Niamh Towey and Dublin-based Brazilian freelance journalist Alekson Lacerda tell In the News how landlords are exploiting the dire housing situation and how a lack of English and an understanding of tenants’ rights mean foreign students are easily exploited.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite all the talk over the summer, the names that came and went, the speculation and supposition – there is still only one name confirmed for the presidential race.Catherine Connolly, who launched her candidacy early with the support of Labour, the Soc Dems and others will be on the ballot paper.She will be joined by other presidential hopefuls – that much is certain – but who?Today in The Irish Times Pat Leahy reports that Fianna Fáil may have found its candidate. On today's podcast political correspondent Ellen Coyne looks at GAA legend Jim Gavin's potential candidacy, why Fine Gael picked Heather Humphreys over Sean Kelly, and whether the independents pushing for a place on the ballot have a real shot.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This podcast was first published in June 2025. The use of so-called 'dodgy box' technology to illegally stream television is widespread. Last week Mary Hannigan reported on the impact dodgy boxes are having on Irish sports broadcasters like Clubber, LOITV and GAA+. “I said it before, it’s no different to going in to your local shop, picking up a loaf of bread or a bottle of milk and just walking out the door without paying,” said Jimmy Doyle, the founder of Clubber, the subscription platform that streams GAA club games. “It’s theft, at the end of the day.”Individuals have been prosecuted for selling dodgy box services. But so far there have been no consequences for those using them. Back in June on In the News Conor Pope reported on whether dodgy box users will ever face the law. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the space of a few short years, generative AI has exploded into our daily lives, impacting the way we learn, work and understand the world around us.Open AI, the American artificial intelligence company cofounded by Sam Altman and Elon Musk in 2015 which runs ChatGPT, claims its non-profit “mission” is to ensure these systems “benefit all of humanity”.And while the launch of ChatGPT has undoubtedly lightened the workload of many, engineer, journalist and AI expert Karen Hao says the AI race for world domination carries a huge human and environmental cost.In 2019, Hao spent three days embedded in the offices of OpenAI and discovered this company, which claims to be transparent and operating “for the good of humanity”, was in fact highly secretive.In her bestselling book ‘Empire of AI: Inside the reckless race for total domination’, Hao warns that the world has entered a new and ominous age of empire, where a small handful of companies are writing the future of humanity.Today, on the In The News podcast, how the race for total AI domination is repeating the worst of human history.Karen Hao discusses the severe cost of the seemingly unstoppable growth of OpenAI.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For years the Irish Republican Brotherhood – the IRB – was remembered annually in a curious ceremony at Dublin’s Mansion House when its self-styled president Billy McGuire conducted a ritual that involved turning a golden harp to reaffirm the sovereignty of Ireland.The existence of an IRB will come as a surprise to historians who consider that the secret-oath-bound society of the same name was disbanded more than 100 years ago.But in recent years, a new cohort has taken over the IRB name, turning it into a growing organisation steeped in the pseudo-legal language of the sovereign citizen movement, which believes citizens are not subject to State laws.This has caused officials in Dublin and nationally to become increasingly nervous about the group’s intentions.The leaders of the modern IRB are in large part veterans of the Covid-19 anti-mask and anti-lockdown campaigns, along with property owners who turned to conspiracy theories after losing vast sums during the crash. Its leaders include a prominent Clare businessman, a teacher, a healthcare worker and a life coach.This version of the IRB has a shadow government, a nascent court system and a network of local government bodies. It has also adopted a new time zone, Irish Rising Time, which is 25 minutes slower and based on the time zone used in Dublin until the 1916 rising. It even claims control over Óglaigh na hÉireann.So is this fringe group like those harmless re-enactors who cosplay historical events or does it have the potential to go the way of some sovereign citizen groups in the US and Germany who have escalated their actions to include violence?Irish Times Crime and Security Correspondent Conor Gallagher explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The arrest of more than 500 people at a Palestine Action rally in London on August 9th did more than raise the profile of the little-known anti-war action group: it raised questions about the fundamental right of British people to engage in peaceful protest, and exactly what constitutes a terrorist organisation in the eyes of the government.The arrests were on foot of a ban in July under UK terrorism legislation which put the group in the same proscribed category as Islamic State, al-Qaeda, the IRA, the UVF and a long list of banned terror groups.In an essay in the Irish Times last weekend, novelist Sally Rooney made her position clear.In the piece which she says she could not legally publish in a British publication, she writes that she supports Palestine Action – including financially – and “If this makes me a ‘supporter of terror’ under UK law, so be it“.The images that emerged of the arrests at the rally included those of elderly men and women with home-made “Stop the Genocide” signs and of people wearing Palestine Action T-shirts and carrying banners.Since then, civil liberties groups have been vocal in what they say is the dangerous route the British government is following, appearing to conflate peaceful protest with terrorism.So what is Palestine Action? Irish Times London correspondent Mark Paul explains.And he describes the scenes inside and outside the court in London on Wednesday when Belfast rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was in court facing charges of supporting a proscribed organisation by allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hizbullah at a Kneecap gig in London gig last year.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published in June 2025. Tattle Life is a gossip site that many will have never heard of until a landmark defamation trial in Belfast in June 2025.Donna and Neil Sands bought a defamation case against the site – and won. They were each awarded £150,000 (€176,000) in damages, with the court saying their costs should also be covered.The married couple who live in Northern Ireland said that cruel, untrue and hateful anonymous postings over several years on the site left them fearing for their safety, their businesses and their relationships and impacted on their mental health.Award-winning journalist Aoife Moore knows exactly how the Sands feel. She too has been the victim of an onslaught of online abuse on Tattle Life, with entirely untrue gossip spread about her personal and professional life.She tells In the News how that impacted on her and what the defamation case means for her. And while this is the first successful defamation case against the gossip site, she says it will not be the last.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the 12 months leading up to April 2024, 30,000 Irish citizens who had been living abroad returned to Ireland. A similar number of Irish emigrants returned to Irish shores the previous year, in the 12 months leading up to April 2023.Who are these people, why are they coming home and what do they think of the Ireland they've returned to? Today, on the In the News podcast, we speak to three Irish people who recently returned to Ireland after years of building a life overseas. Are Irish infrastructure and healthcare as bad as we believe when compared with other systems abroad? What is it that pulls people back? And are they back for the long haul, or is reintegration back into Irish society too difficult after a long stint overseas?Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rose of Tralee is one of the biggest events in Ireland’s cultural calendar.It pumps millions of euro into the local economy and pulls in well over half a million viewers; no mean feat in an age of dwindling linear TV viewership.Almost 30 years of being lampooned as a ‘Lovely Girls’ competition thanks to that Father Ted episode has seen its popularity undimmed.Albeit only relatively recently, it has evolved to permit married and transgender women enter the contest.However 29 is still the cut-off age, meaning you are officially too old for Rose of Tralee at the age of 30.The title is bestowed upon a young woman whom the judges think would be a good ‘cultural ambassador’ for Ireland for the following year.While the spirit of diversity has been embraced, with women of colour among those to don the sash, is the competition still overly focused on a narrow version of femininity?Last year, the documentary ‘Housewife of the Year’ highlighted the eponymous competition which ran from 1969 to 1995.In what seems utterly baffling now, married women were judged on their ability to “budget effectively and prepare a simple meal.”Eventually the competition was scrapped quietly; collapsing under the weight of public opinion which was rebelling against societal norms of the quiet homemaker.But the Rose of Tralee doesn’t appear to be in any such jeopardy, and is arguably as popular as ever.Reporter Niamh Browne joins the podcast from Tralee to ponder the question: Is the Rose of Tralee uncancellable?Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2021, GP Paddy Davern returned to Ireland after eight years working as a doctor in Qatar. Four years on, the Tipperary man is still struggling to come to terms with the time he spent working with the Special Operations Service (SOS), a specialist medical team treating the country’s royals and other VIPs.In today’s episode, Irish Times health correspondent Shauna Bowers shares Dr Davern's traumatic experience in Qatar and explains why he is now speaking out about the working conditions and ethical dilemmas he faced during his time there. Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The prescription of pain medication among Irish patients, including highly addictive opioids, is rapidly rising, according to new research.The use of opioids has increased by 25 per cent in Ireland, while the prescription of paracetamol rose 50 per cent between 2014-2022, according to a study published last week in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.The prescription of even stronger medication, like codeine and opioids including tapentadol and oxycodone, is rising even higher.This sharp increase in pain medication prescriptions by doctors in Ireland contrasts starkly with the approach in England, where the NHS is cracking down on the overuse of these potentially-addictive medicines.Why are so many doctors prescribing this heavy-dose medication?And is this growing reliance on opioids at risk of become an addiction crisis for patients seeking pain relief?Today, on In The News, is Ireland heading towards an opioid addiction crisis?Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) associate professor Frank Moriarty, who co-authored the study into how pain is treated in Ireland, discusses the significant rise in opioid prescriptions.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.