In The News

Nikita Hand has won her civil case against MMA fighter Conor McGregor. The 35 year-old Dublin woman alleged he raped her in the penthouse suite of The Beacon Hotel in December 2018. The jury, believing her account of assault, found in her favour; returning a verdict yesterday evening after six hours of deliberations. McGregor has been ordered to pay Ms. Hand almost €250,000 in damages. But why has the UFC fighter not been found guilty of rape? How has Ms. Hand successfully sued him in the High Court? And what did the jury hear to persuade them she was the one telling the truth. Frank Greaney is courts correspondent for the Bauer Media group, which owns radio stations including Newstalk and TodayFM. He explains how Nikita Hand faced down McGregor at great personal cost. Please be advised this episode contains details of sexual assault, which some listeners may find distressing.Produced and presented by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump's choices for the top roles in his administration include TV doctor Mehmet Oz, former WWE exec Linda McMahon, Kristi Noem the South Dakota governor who shot the family dog and pet goat. And billionaire businessman, Howard Lutnick, who thinks the presence of multinationals in Ireland is a barrier to 'making America great again.' Norman Ornstein is a political scientist and resident scholar at the conservative-leaning think tank, the American Enterprise Institute. In 2015, he predicted the rise of Donald Trump. He outlines the most eyebrow-raising of the US president's cabinet nominees and explains why Ireland has a legitimate reason to fear for its economic future.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been one year since anti-immigration protests spiralled into full-scale rioting on the streets of Dublin. The issue has dominated the headlines this year, forcing political parties to take a clear position on how they would deal with the rise in international applicants coming here. That said, the issue hasn't eclipsed housing, health and the cost-of-living on the doorsteps in this General Election campaign. So what exactly are the various parties promising on immigration, which is the most hardline and do those actively campaigning on an anti-immigrant platform have a better chance winning a Dáil seat? Irish Times political correspondent Jack Horgan Jones compares the various party manifestos and analyses the chances of any far right voices succeeding.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fine Gael is doubling down on its support for a General Election candidate who was filmed punching a man in the head. John McGahon was 28 years-old and a Fine Gael councillor, at the time of the altercation outside a pub in Dundalk six years ago. Now he’s running for a seat in the Dáil – which Taoiseach Simon Harris defended on Monday night’s Leaders Debate. But questions remain about how McGahon was nominated for the party ticket, amid accusations of double standards from the opposition. Irish Times political correspondent Harry McGee has the latest. Presented by Sorcha Polllak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Aideen Finnegan.    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In April 2015, William Maughan and his pregnant girlfriend Anastasija Varslavane disappeared without a trace. Noone has ever been charged in connection to their murder, but this week a new development is bringing fresh hope to the victim’s families.Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally has the latest.  Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On October 6th, 2020 in a school outside Paris, teacher Samuel Paty gave a lesson on freedom of speech – the same lesson he had given several times before which involved showing drawings of the prophet Muhammad – to a class of teenagers.He was later beheaded outside the school in a savage attack that shocked France. The assailant Abdoullakh Anzorov, the young man of Chechen origin who wielded the knife, is dead – shot by police in the minutes after his attack.The next day one of his pupils – the 13-year-old girl – was asked by her father why she was not going to school. She told him she had been disciplined because she dared to stand up to Paty when he told Muslims to leave the class so he could show a naked picture of the prophet. It was all a lie; she was not even in school that day.Believing her, her father took to social media to condemn Paty and the story grew online.On trial are two men accused of identifying Paty as a “blasphemer” over the Internet, two friends of Anzorov who allegedly gave him logistical help, and four others who offered support on chatlines.As BBC correspondent in Paris, Hugh Schofield explains to In the News that the trial is less about the murder itself, and more about the circumstances that led to it.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President-elect Donald Trump has confirmed that Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, will co-lead a newly-created Department of Government Efficiency, with a mission to slash spending by $2 trillion. It hasn’t gone unnoticed that its acronym is DOGE, the cryptocurrency favoured by the tech billionaire. It’s one of a raft of nominations this week, with Dalkey woman Gail Slater, who worked behind the scenes in the campaign, set for a top government role. Irish Times reporter Laura Slattery traces her path to power and analyses Musk's move to The White House. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Postmortem sperm retrieval is a procedure whereby the sperm of dead men is extracted in the hours following their death and stored for potential future use. The practise is banned in many countries while regulated in others. Usually, the gametes are used by the spouse of the dead partner to posthumously conceive a child. But in Israel, it's increasingly being used by parents of Israeli Defence Force soldiers who have died in war in Gaza, with the hope of creating grandchildren. Journalist, author and broadcaster Jenny Kleeman has travelled to Israel for the Financial Times to speak to those involved in the controversial procedure, and explores the contested ethical ground underpinning PMSR.Produced by Aideen Finnegan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the 9th of November 1995, Josephine "Jo Jo" Dullard disappeared on her way home from a night out and was never seen again.  The Kilkenny woman's disappearance was initially treated as a missing persons case, but it was later upgraded to a murder investigation in 2020.On Monday, a 55 year-old man, who is a member of a well-known family in the Kildare-Wicklow region, was arrested by Gardaí and taken in for questioning on suspicion of murder. He was later released without charge. In conjunction with the arrest, Gardaí are also conducting an open ground search in the east of the country. Up until this week, no arrests have ever been made in relation to the case.On today's episode, Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Lally paints a picture of Dullard's last known movements and explains how this Garda operation marks a major development in this 29 year-old cold case.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After weeks of speculation, Dublin criminal Gerry Hutch has confirmed he will run in the upcoming general election.The 61-year-old, who was arrested in Lanzarote last month on suspicion of money laundering, was granted bail by the Spanish High Court last week to permit him to run in the election and released on a bond of €100,000.Mr Hutch, who is also known as The Monk, is hoping to take one of the four seats up for grabs in the Dublin Central constituency, where Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald is also seeking re-election. However, arriving back into Dublin airport on Monday morning, Hutch refused to share any details of his election manifesto or comment on which policies his campaign will focus on. In this episode, Irish Times crime correspondent Conor Gallagher discusses what Hutch's campaign might look like, his chances of winning a seat and why he has set his sights on political office. Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rocky Elsom was a fearsome competitor on the rugby pitch, capable of winning matches almost single-handedly with his dominance in attack and defence.Ireland and Leinster great Brian O’Driscoll called the Australian “the best player I have ever played with”.But last month Elsom was handed a five-year sentence having being found guilty of forgery and embezzlement by a French court, in absentia. He had been living in Dublin, coaching rugby at a private school but now his whereabouts is unknown and there’s an international arrest warrant out for him.But that hasn’t stopped him using media interviews to make his case and attempt to clear his name.Irish Times sports writer John O’Sullivan has been following his career from the highs on the pitch to this fall from grace.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After months of speculation Taoiseach Simon Harris finally announced that the general election will take place on November 29th. Later today he will travel to the Áras to ask the president to dissolve the Dáil. Once that happens, it’s every party for themselves with the Coalition partners, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Greens fighting it out in the constituencies. But what are the key issues? Will immigration be a hot button topic after housing and health? And what about the far-right, particularly those candidates who emerged during this year’s local elections who might now set their sights on the Dáil? And will the parties be looking to the US for tips on campaign strategies? Irish Times political editor Pat Leahy tees up what will be a busy three weeks of electioneering.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump is an unpredictable and chaotic leader so what does his second term as US presidency herald? An interruption in trade between Ireland and the US could cost jobs and a loss to the exchequer. His apathy towards Ukraine could result in a new European border. And his climate denial may stymie attempts to limit global warming. Five Irish Times journalists explain key election promises made by Trump over the course of his campaign, and what they might look like if the 78 year-old follows through with them.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan, Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, Israel formally notified the United Nations of its intention to sever all ties with the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa).It follows the Israeli parliament’s vote last week to ban Unrwa from operating in Isael and Palestinian territories and prohibiting all Israeli state contact with the agency.The ban is not set to take effect for another three months but Israel has already contacted the UN secretary general officially withdrawing itself from a 1967 co-operation agreement with Unrwa.What are the implications of this ban, both immediate and long-term?Can Unrwa staff continue to carry out their work without co-operation from Israeli authorities and if not, can other agencies really fill the gap that UNRWA would leave behind?John Whyte, Unrwa’s head of projects who is currently based in Gaza, joins In The News, to discuss the consequences of this ban on the Palestinian people, and whether the agency can continue to operate without Israeli co-operation.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US presidential election day has arrived and the counting of votes will being tonight. With the race a dead heat according to polls, the results will be a fascinating conclusion to an eventful, high-stakes contest.But the coming days could take a dark turn if former president Donald Trump decides to once again refuse to accept the results should they favour vice president Kamala Harris.So, what should Irish audiences expect from election night? When will things really start to happen and where are the best places to watch? Irish Times journalist and Inside Politics podcast host Hugh Linehan gives his advice for following the 2024 US election results.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the morning of August 31st, 2018, award-winning film producer Trevor Birney was arrested at his home in Belfast while the PSNI searched the house as his bewildered family looked on.They were searching, they said, for documents used in his powerful documentary, No Stone Unturned, that examined the 1994 Loughinisland massacre when the UVF shot six men dead as they watched the Ireland v Italy football match in a village bar.That film unmasked in unflinching detail the collusion between the security forces in Northern Ireland and loyalist paramilitaries and it’s a controversial subject Birney has returned to in this new book, Shooting Crows.The book’s title refers to the comments of the judge granting the warrant to raid Birney’s home, who worried that it was an exercise in scaring off other journalists.It set Birney on a path to prove historic and ongoing attempts by British authorities to silence journalists, film-makers, lawyers and activists in the North and to uncover surveillance and bugging operations.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than a year’s worth of rain fell in southern Spain in barely eight hours on Tuesday.It caused devastation. By Thursday the death toll had reached 155 with an unconfirmed number of people still thought to be missing.Valencia appears to be the worst hit city; the images of cars piled up on narrow residential streets and videos of torrents of muddy water sweeping away all before it were unprecedented scenes in the European city. People of all ages died when they were trapped in their cars or homes or simply swept away by the sheer force of the water.Valencia has experienced significant rain events in the past particularly in autumn – but nothing like this. It’s to do with the DANA weather phenomenon whereby, at its most basic, cold and warm air meet and produce powerful rain clouds. The intensity of such rainfall events appears to be increasing due to climate change and rising global temperatures.As Guy Hedgcoe explains from Madrid that in the calm after the chaos of the flood, citizens in the region are questioning if the authorities could have done more. And who will pay for the clean up in what insurance analysts in Spain have predicted that the floods will mark the most expensive natural disaster to ever hit the country.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this year, The Irish Times gained access to the bankruptcy files of Derek Quinlan, one of the most prolific Irish property investors of the Celtic Tiger period, who lost his fortune in the 2008-09 crash.Quinlan ended up with €3.5 billion euro of debts, making him the biggest debtor to Nama – the State agency set up after the crash to save the banking system.This major Irish Times investigation reveals how Quinlan still owes Irish taxpayers €403 million and why he was blocked from exiting bankruptcy last year.Who exactly is Derek Quinlan and how did he amass so much debt? What do court documents tell us about his lifestyle and current finances, and will his stint in bankruptcy finally end next month?Today, on In the News, London Correspondent Mark Paul delves into the life and finances of Derek Quinlan.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, the Government rushed through a number of priority Bills in a scramble to clear the decks before the next general election.Five Bills were considered and passed, all in under six hours, a process that normally takes weeks.But, are there any risks involved in rushing these Bills so quickly through the Dáil? And, what happens to the pieces of legislation, such as the Defamation or Mental Health Bills, which are not expected to be passed before the election?Meanwhile, opposition TDs are continuing to call for the Occupied Territories Bill, which would ban trade between Ireland and Israel’s illegal settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territories, to be passed without delay. Can that happen before the end of November?Today, on In the News, how the Government is rushing to pass new laws before its term ends. Irish Times political editor Pat Leahy examines the implications of fast-tracking Bills through the Oireachtas.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kyran Dirnan case puts spotlight on how schools and Tusla monitor children Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published in August 2024. Sales of EVs in Ireland collapsed in 2024 with the number of newly-licensed electric vehicles down by 24 per cent in the first seven months of the year.But why? The push towards EVs is a key plank in the Government’s climate strategy and the choice of EVs has never been wider.Early adopters worried about range anxiety but advances in technology has seen that replaced by charge anxiety – concerns about the availability of charging stations, whether that be at home or on the road. But that’s just one worry motorist have before considering an EV.The Government’s Climate Action Plan aims to have almost one million EVs on Irish roads by 2030, comprising 845,000 cars and 100,000 vans, trucks and buses.With just over six years to go before that target date, the falling sales figures raise further questions over what was already an ambitious target.Motoring writer Neil Brisco explains why the shine has gone off EV cars for Irish motorists.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Apprentice isn’t a movie about the reality TV series that made its presenter, New York businessman Donald Trump, a star. Instead it tracks the relationship from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s, between Trump (Sebastian Stan) as a young man desperate for acknowledgment, fame and wealth and the legendary lawyer Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), a whatever-it-takes fixer for a host of shady clients, including the mob.It is Trump who is the apprentice here, eagerly learning from an amoral master and latching on to a particular style of “winning”.This vivid, sometimes fun, always compelling telling (written by journalist Gabriel Sherman and directed by Iranian film-maker Ali Abbasi) won an eight-minute standing ovation when it premiered in Cannes in May but as Irish Times culture columnist Hugh Linehan explains, its path to global cinema screens was fraught as distributors backed away from what they feared could be trouble if Trump is re-elected.Screen Ireland came on board to help finance the distribution.But what does the film ultimately say about Trump? And will it have any impact on the election?Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At an event this week, an all-male panel led by Taoiseach Simon Harris, went through the Dublin task force’s 10-point plan.Irish Times Dublin editor Olivia Kelly was there to find out if the task force’s 10 “big moves” offered a new vision for the city – and one where the words might translate into action.She tells In the News what the 10 “big moves” are and how – after she shook off the felling of deja vu – the report, which borrows heavily from the 70-plus such reports that have gone before, might make a difference for Dublin.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kinahan gang leader Liam Byrne (43) has been sentenced to five years in prison for weapons charges, while Thomas “Bomber” Kavanagh (57) has been sentenced to six years for similar offences.Both pleaded guilty to the charges, while Kavanagh had also admitted perverting the course of justice. Their co-accused, Shaun Kent (38) from Liverpool, was also sentenced to six years.Observers in the court noticed Byrne’s relief as he realised the sentence would see him out of prison as soon as next year. The court had not heard the full details of Byrne’s criminal past, and Gardaí do not believe Byrne’s claim that he wants to live a lawful life upon release. Conor Lally gives the background to the case and Mark Paul reports from the sentencing in London.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sending Irish prisoners to jails in eastern Europe and letting some sex offenders out early with electronic tags are just two of the 16 recommendations put forward by an expert group to solve the overcrowding crisis in Irish prisons.These two proposals are not being considered by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee but most of the measures in the Prison Overcrowding Response Group’s new report are, including pop-up prison cells and early release for a wide range of offences.So packed are our 14 jails that for the past two years many offenders have already been released early – a drastic move that’s gone almost unnoticed.But the problem keeps getting bigger as Conor Gallagher, Irish Times crime and security correspondent, explains as he outlines the challenges and possible solutions, including building a new prison.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has finally presented his long-awaited victory plan to the world. It’s his blueprint on how to end the war with Russia and achieve a just peace for Ukraine, but as he outlines in this five-step plan, Ukraine cannot do it alone.   Will Zelenskiy be able to sell his proposal to Western allies, and what would really happen if it gets off the ground? Could it mean an end to the war?   Bernice Harrison talks to Irish Times journalist Dan McLaughlin in Kyiv. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pop star Liam Payne was just 31 when he died but he had been famous for half his life.As a member of One Direction – the mega successful boy band that emerged from the X-factor TV show – he experienced the sort of high-octane, global fame that’s packaged and controlled in a way only the pop industry can create. He grew from his One Direction persona as a cheeky chappie boy next door into a complicated adult.After One Direction broke up, he became a solo artist maintaining his connection with One Direction fans – many felt that they had grown up with the Wolverhampton-born singer – and winning new ones.Payne, a father of a little boy with former partner Cheryl Tweedy, was active on social media where he had a huge following; he posted a happy photo on Snapchat just an hour before his death.Payne died instantly following a fall from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires; he had been in the Argentinian city to see his former bandmate Niall Horan in concert.Fionnuala Jones, cultural commentator and podcaster, explains the scale of One Direction’s success; Payne’s impact on pop culture, and why his tragic death made world headlines.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gardaí suspect a missing child – now believed to have been murdered – may have died months before his disappearance was reported in August.Kyran Durnin (8) from Drogheda, Co Louth, is missing presumed dead and a formal murder investigation has now begun.The boy was reported missing in August along with his mother Dayla Durnin (24). She has since been located in the UK. To date there has been no trace of Kyran.Crime and security editor Conor Gallagher explains why this is such an unusual case. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even when Interpol slapped a “Red Notice” on Sean McGovern, the Irish career criminal hiding out in Dubai was probably not too concerned.That Red Notice came about because the DPP in Ireland directed that McGovern, Daniel Kinahan’s closest and most trusted lieutenant, should face charges relating to the 2016 murder of Noel Kirwan (62) as part of the Kinahan-Hutch feud and the notice requested police authorities around the world to find and arrest the Dubliner.McGovern would likely have considered the UAE a safe haven, far from the reaches of US and European law enforcement agencies. But he was wrong. Last Thursday morning he was finally arrested at his home in Dubai.So what has changed in the UAE, where authorities have proven to be notoriously reluctant to co-operate with extradition requests from western law enforcement agencies.What will happen to McGovern now? And what does it mean for the Kinahan cartel leadership who consider themselves safe in Dubai – father Christy and his sons Daniel, Christy jnr? Could they also be on their way back to Dublin to face justice in the near future?Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally explains the background.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s nearly four weeks since Israel detonated explosions in the pagers belonging to members of Hizbullah, the Iran backed Lebanese-based militia. Since then the conflict in the Middle East has escalated. Israel has been striking inside Lebanon with missiles and has now sent ground troops into the country and Hizbullah has been striking back at targets in Israel. The death toll is mounting. A key day was September 23rd when 550 people were killed in Lebanon by Israeli air strikes.Since then Beirut has been bombed: last Thursday two Israeli missile attacks hit the centre of the densely populated city, killing 22 people and injuring over 170.Irish Times journalist Sally Hayden lives in Beirut, 1km from where the bombs fell and she reports, that there was no warning from the Israel Defense Forces.She tells In the News what life is like in the city now, describes the escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hizbullah and why Lebanese people who see what Gaza has endured in the past year, fear the same could happen to them.International journalists have been prohibited by Israel from documenting events in Gaza which is why Hayden says it is important that journalists like herself report from on the ground in Lebanon.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From GAA superstar Jack Lynch who became taoiseach to RTÉ journalist George Lee whose political career was brief – for decades Irish voters have been presented at the polls with a range of well-known names.If the recent celebrity-filled European elections are anything to go by, the candidate list for the next general election will include a sprinkle of high profile names which the parties hope will break through the noise because of their name recognition among with voters.Well-known TV presenters Grainne Seoige and Alison Comyn have already been signed up by Fianna Fáil to go before the electorate, while others, particularly sporting names will likely emerge as the weeks go on as all parties hunt out candidates with strong name recognition.But why does that matter? And just because someone is glowing on the red carpet or the pitch, does it mean they’ll be good on policy?Irish Times political correspondent Harry McGee explains why familiar names are so appealing to political parties and the electorate.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anti-female genital mutilation advocates expected high-profile speakers at a packed Dublin conference – they found a small room in a hotel with 25 people and were left with large bills.Last February, the Cycle of Life Global Forum was billed as an international conference to help eradicate FGM. In exchange for large sums of money, attendees from as far away as Kenya and the US were expecting to hear from high-profile speakers such as Richard Branson, Denis O’Brien and Auma Obama.But what greeted them was far more underwhelming.The event was organised by Sean Collins-McCarthy, a self-described “Social Entrepreneur, Strategy Advisor, Filmmaker and Media Pioneer”.Irish Times journalist Olivia Kelly investigated and tells In the News what went on behind the scenes at Cycle of Life.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the appointment this week of Cork-born Morgan McSweeney as his chief of staff, British prime minister Keir Starmer must be hoping for some calm after a turbulent first 100 days in office.As the brains behind Starmer’s leadership campaign, McSweeney (47) is credited with having brought the prime minister to power.After a landslide win in July, Starmer’s first three months should have been spent consolidating that popularity and delivering on the pre-election promises of a selfless, calm and steady government with none of the drama of the previous administration.Instead there has been a stream of bad news stories and self-inflicted wounds.It’s not the image he projected when in opposition while bashing the Tory government for similar behaviour.Irish Times London correspondent Mark Paul looks back at Starmer’s difficult first three months, explains why McSweeney, a master strategist, is now in the top job and what banana skins await the new Labour leader in the coming months.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sinn Féin would likely be taking every opportunity this week to lambast the government in the wake of the budget and with a general election on the cards. Instead, it's being hounded for answers about a child sex abuse controversy in the north. It centres around former press officer, Michael McMonagle, who last month pleaded guilty to 14 counts in a Derry court, and who was given employment references by two party press officers while still being investigated by the PSNI. Now questions are being raised about who knew what, when, and why the information wasn't shared in line with child safeguarding best practice? Northern editor, Freya McClements, untangles the complicated timeline and explains why the controversy isn't going away.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last weekend, The Sunday Times reported that an unnamed Irish politician had been working for Russian intelligence as "an agent of influence” within the Oireachtas. Although the news “came as no surprise” to Taoiseach Simon Harris, it is one of the most serious national security issues in recent history.Gardaí have now compiled a list of members of the Oireachtas and other people, including those in academia, that they believe have been targeted by Russians in Ireland seeking to exploit them for information gathering and destabilising the State.But how are they approached? And how is their co-operation encouraged by local Russian operatives? Also, why would the Kremlin consider an Irish politician a valuable asset?Jack Horgan-Jones tells In the News how such approaches are made and how politicians have reacted to reports that one of their own has allegedly been influenced by Russia.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year, nearly 5,000 cars were stolen across Ireland – making it the worst year for car thefts in more than a decade.Opportunists and joyriders have always stolen cars but what is new, according to Conor Lally, is the gangs now operating across the country. They typically steal high-value cars, bring them to remote chop shops, break up the cars and export the parts.Lally explains how the gangs operate and how owners can keep their cars safe.This episode was originally published in July 2024. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October 7th is a date seared into the memory of Israelis. It was the day last year that they awoke to an attack by militant group Hamas, on a scale never before seen in the decades-long conflict.When In the News first reported on the febrile situation, interviewing Mark Weiss in Jerusalem who assessed the likely Israeli response, the scale of the Hamas massacre was unknown. Today, we know that about 1,200 Israelis were killed by Hamas in the attacks and 251 were taken hostage.Israel’s onslaught on Gaza in retaliation has been merciless and sustained. As the year has gone on, In the News has reported on many aspects of this relentless war, including on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza with Unicef’s James Elder; the escape from Gaza by the Alagha family from Blanchardstown who were visiting family when the war broke out; the case brought by South Africa at the International Criminal Courts of Justice, accusing Israel of genocide, with powerful testimony from Irish barrister Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh; the hopes in May of a ceasefire; and an eyewitness report from Irish Times journalist Sally Hayden on life in the Occupied West Bank.All episodes of In the News covering the Israel-Hamas war – including those mentioned here – are available wherever you get your podcasts.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether you’re eight or 18, homework is part of your school day. But should it be? And how much should children be tasked to do? And what is the point?Irish Times parenting columnist Jen Hogan is clear: primary-school children should not be given homework, ever. She tells In the News that years of parenting and research informs her firm view.Irish Times education editor Carl O’Brien says that while homework is a heavily researched area in other countries, Ireland is lagging behind when it comes to understanding how much homework Irish children are doing and in measuring the benefit – or the harm.Now, says O’Brien, Maynooth University has produced a study that shows that 15 minutes is the optimum time for homework – in each subject – for secondary-school pupils.Produced by Aideen Finnegan and John Casey. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chinese premier Xi Jinping has a plan to reshape the global security order. His diplomatic initiative is a challenge to the United States-led “rules-based international order” that has dominated since the end of the second World War.Xi’s Global Security Initiative (GSI) has been gathering support from the Global South. Last month, 53 African leaders met in Beijing and supported the doctrine.The GSI is built on six commitments which include “abiding by the UN charter” and “resolving disputes through dialogue”. But the implications of the doctrine are more significant than these phrases suggest.Beijing correspondent Denis Staunton tells In the News how the West lost its influence with the Global South, what China’s “multipolar world” will look like and where Ireland fits in.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prospective home purchasers are losing out to cash buyers – mostly overseas investors – on apartments with defects, ranging from minor issues to hazardous faults, because banks will not risk lending to people so they can buy them.Irish Times journalist Jade Wilson tells In the News about her investigation which found that mortgage-approved buyers are unable to buy second-hand apartments that require remediation works as banks are unwilling to lend on them due to uncertainty around a Government scheme to fix them.The Government has promised to introduce a €2.5 billion remediation scheme to fix up to 100,000 defective Celtic Tiger-era apartment blocks - many of the developers who built these projects are no longer in business - so that ultimately, the taxpayer is on the hook for the cost.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What did we learn from the budget speeches of Ministers Jack Chambers and Paschal Donohoe? Irish Times reporters fill us in on bonus payments, tax adjustments, welfare increases and a surprise measure. Finally we ask: Is it wise to spend so much money in the way the Government plans? With Conor Pope, Niamh Towey, Jennifer Bray, Ian Curran, Jack Horgan-Jones and Cliff Taylor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the summer of 2022, journalists Matt Shea and Jamie Tahsin were in Romania filming a documentary about Andrew Tate and his social media influence. Tate, who had made a name for himself spouting misogynistic content online appeared invincible, but his empire was about to crumble. As concern about his content began to mount, the controversial influencer was banned from Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for violating community guidelines on dangerous individuals and hate speech. But a social media ban was the least of his problems. Back home in London, as Shea and Tahsin continued their investigation into Tate and his business operations, the sinister truth about his webcam industry and his ‘War Room’ began to reveal itself. In June 2023, Tate and his brother Tristan, along with two Romanian women were formally charged with rape, sex trafficking and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. He is currently under house arrest in his compound in Bucharest. In this episode, (part two), Shea tells Bernice Harrison about the women from Tate’s past who decided to speak out against him and how his fans have reacted to his latest string of charges. Clown World: Four Years Inside Andrew Tate’s Manosphere is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2019, before Andrew Tate became the household name he is today, documentary makers Matt Shea and Jamie Tahsin decided to tell Tate's story and investigate his social media influence and cultural impact. Much to their surprise, the 'king of toxic masculinity' allowed them into his world. But as they delved deeper into his empire and uncovered the sources of his income, their investigation soon turned into a criminal one and something much bigger than Shea and Tahsin could ever have imagined.In their new book, Clown World: Four Years Inside Andrew Tate’s Manosphere, they recount their investigation into the former kickboxer, the shocking allegations made against him, and the backlash they faced from Tate and his followers when their documentaries aired.In the first of two episodes on Andrew Tate’s toxic world, co-author Matt Shea talks to Bernice Harrison about Tate’s background and the influence of his narcissistic father, American chess player Emory Tate. He also examines Tate’s mass appeal and the space he occupies within the ‘manosphere’. Shea details his visit to Tate’s compound in Romania and explains what happened inside the private ‘War Room’ event, which followers of Tate paid five thousand pounds to attend. Though they were granted access to film the exclusive gathering, their relationship with Tate didn’t last long. Episode two can be found hereClown World: Four Years Inside Andrew Tate’s Manosphere is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since 2007 the Press Up hospitality group has been a key and highly visible player in Dublin’s social scene with super-stylish restaurants, popular nightclubs and bars and a cinema.Founded by old schoolfriends Matt Ryan and Paddy McKillen jnr it changed the face of dining out in the capital, growing fast by developing its own restaurants and buying existing, successful operations including Wagamama, Elephant and Castle and Wowburger. The group also built a large property portfolio.But its borrowings were onerous and in a debt-for-equity restructuring, Cheyne Capital, a London-based finance house that was owed €45 million took control of the business. Cheyne is injecting €20 million in fresh capital into the group.For 18 venues, it’s business as usual. But three high-profile brands that operate several venues – Wowburger, Elephant and Castle and Wagamama were quickly placed in receivership with the announcement this week that the long-established and hugely popular Wagamama chain is to close with immediate effect.So what happened? And what will happen now to the rest of the group’s venues and its 935 employees? Irish Times business editor Ciarán Hancock explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week has been the deadliest for Lebanon in decades after sustained air strikes by Israel. Fears are growing for an all-out war between the two sides as the Israeli Defence Forces prepare for a possible ground incursion. It says its targeting Iran-backed Hizbullah and its arsenal of weapons. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists the militant group has hidden missiles and rocket launchers in ordinary homes and has warned Lebanese civilians to leave if they want to save their lives. But who or what exactly is Hizbullah, why is Israel attacking its northern neighbour and where does this fit into the broader geopolitical tensions of the region? Sky News' Middle East correspondent, Alistair Bunkall, joins Bernice Harrison to explain the origin story of the Lebanese militia and political movement.Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Government was forced to admit that it is dropping its controversial plans to introduce hate speech laws after the move was revealed by Irish Times political correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones at the weekend.But why? The long talked-about new Bill passed easily through the Dáil in 2023 and was expected to be rubberstamped by the Seanad.However fissures began appearing early in the Bill’s gestation and disquiet became loud enough for the Government to take notice.Looking at the long history to replace the 1989 hate crime legislation, Horgan-Jones says the family and care referendums this year were the tipping point: the moment when the Government got nervous.He also explains what comes next for the Government’s plans to legislate against hate. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Alexander McCartney from Newry, Co Armagh, will be sentenced in Belfast for what has been described as one of the “worst cases of catfishing” to ever come before the courts.Earlier this year, McCartney pleaded guilty to over 50 charges of blackmail and multiple offenses of possessing indecent images of children. The former student also pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a 12 year old child, who he had blackmailed online but had never met.In this episode from March 2024, Bernice Harrison speaks to Irish Time Northern Correspondent Seanín Graham about the charges against McCartney and how the global 'catfishing' investigation led police to his house in rural Armagh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Attending the UN Assembly in New York on Sunday, President Michael D Higgins accused the Israeli embassy in Dublin of “circulating” a congratulatory letter he wrote to the newly elected president of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian in July. His comments were interpreted as an accusation Israel deliberately leaked the letter.The Israeli embassy issued a statement, calling it a “baseless accusation” and “potentially slanderous”, marking a new low in relations between the Israeli ambassador and President Higgins.On Monday evening President Higgins met the press again in New York and denied he meant Israel leaked anything, while doubling down on other criticism. Irish Times political correspondent Jennifer Bray was there. She explains how events unfolded that overshadowed the Irish Government's presence at the UN. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Scans rarely show the cause of low back pain,” says Prof Kieran O’Sullivan, chartered physiotherapist and head of the school of physiotherapy at the University of Limerick. He points out that so-called “abnormal findings” on scans such disc bulges, disc degeneration and arthritis are common and normal for most people without pain, especially as they get older.So why do some people experience back pain when others don’t? O’Sullivan says 90 per cent of lower back pain is caused by a combination of physical and non-physical factors including poor sleep, relationship or family stress, job dissatisfaction or financial pressures.It’s finding ways first to understand the cause of the pain and then ways to treat it that’s the key to successful management.O’Sullivan talks to In the News about how to understand your lower back pain and what to do about it.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What links an Australian app designer, a global police sting and this week's drugs bust in Wexford? A Dublin gang known as 'The Family.' Gardai say the group is now the primary drug trafficking cartel in Ireland after the Kinahan's network was dismantled. It's alleged to be involved in the multi million euro seizure of guns and cash in Dublin and Wexford earlier this week. The tip off came via Australian authorities which had infiltrated the Ghost messaging app. The encrypted software created by 32 year old Sydney man, Jay Je Yoon Jung, was the platform of choice for much of the Irish criminal fraternity. Security and Crime Editor Conor Lally explains how the Australians hacked into the app, how it was used in Ireland and analyses how gangs here might react.Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.