In The News

A group of 400 Irish artists have signed an online petition calling on singer Bambie Thug to boycott the Eurovision. The Macroom performer was chosen to represent Ireland in the upcoming competition in Sweden. But there have been persistent calls to refuse to take part as long as Israel is included in the line-up. The middle eastern country's participation has been described by protesters as 'art-washing.' It echoes similar campaigns across Europe for their respective entrants to drop out, following months of relentless bombardment of the Gaza strip. Bambie has expressed solidarity with the protesters and believes the European Broadcasting Union has made the wrong decision to allow Israel perform - but like their fellow competitors, the 'ouija pop' singer won't be boycotting the event in May. Irish Times reporter and Eurovision superfan, Laura Slattery, talks about Bambie’s predicament, about the competition’s long history of political controversy and what will happen in Malmo.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.

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Three decades ago, on April 7th 1994, the genocide and State-sponsored extermination of Rwanda’s minority Tutsi minority began. The country was gripped by a wave of unprecedented violence that lasted 100 days and resulted in the deaths of 500,000 men, women and children.

“Here you had neighbours killing neighbours, priests killing parishioners, doctors killing patients, teachers killing students,” recalls New Yorker staff writer Philip Gourevitch, interviewed on today’s In The News podcast.

And while reports and images of these horrific atrocities filled newspapers around the world, the international community just stood by and watched.

“Everybody had pulled out and left them, other African countries had betrayed them, no one had come to their defence,” says Gourevitch, whose harrowing account of the genocide We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families was published in 1998. “The lesson of the Rwandan story at that moment in time, in a global sense, was the people who depend on the world for their protection are unprotected.”

Following the Rwandan genocide, and the Srebrenica massacre a year later, world leaders pledged never again to stand by and allow such atrocities to unfold. And yet, in the three decades since, millions of citizens have been murdered or starved in conflicts across Africa and the Middle East.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey.

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Convicted drug dealer, David Waldron, played a senior role in the Finglas-Cabra crime gang following the deaths of Martin 'Marlo' Hyland in 2006 and Eamon 'The Don' Dunne in 2010. But rather than attracting press attention in the way his associates had, Waldron flew under the radar to build his drugs empire out of the limelight. Last week, his lavish lifestyle was laid bare after he lost his four year High Court battle against the Criminal Assets Bureau. His 25 year run in the drugs trade extends beyond narcotics to feature luxury Celtic Tiger properties bought with the proceeds of crime, a sex shop-owning 'headshop czar' and a funeral business his wife, Charlene, claimed to found called 'Elegant Send-off.' Conor Lally explains who David Waldron is and how he managed to evade authorities for so long.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan.

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2024 had the hottest March ever recorded. And it was the 10th month in a row to break its record.

On one day in March, the Antarctic was 38.5 degrees warmer than the average. Climate change is a terrifying reality.

Even if that heat measure proves to be an anomaly we’re still in big trouble – because of the level of emissions we pump into the atmosphere.

As climatologist and director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies Gavin Schmidt tells In the News, we’re in uncharted waters because climate models can’t explain the huge heat anomaly in 2023 – and now 2024 with the impact of El Nino to be factored in, sure outcomes look even more difficult to predict.

We’re on course for catastrophic warming, one way or the other, unless radical changes are made.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.

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Last weekend, the Amy Winehouse biopic ‘Back to Black’ jumped straight to the top of the Irish and UK box office. The release of the movie’s trailer earlier this year prompted immediate backlash from fans who argued the biopic had come too soon after the British singer’s death and risked exploiting her story.

However, in reality, most of the viewing public just can’t seem to get enough of musical biopics. Following the success of Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody and the Elton John film Rocketman, studios are confident of a return-on-investment on these pictures. And audiences even love the satirical movies that mock the genre.

The problem is, they can be tricky to get right. You need great acting, singing or miming – and clever storytelling if you’re diverging from the truth.

Today, on In the News, Irish Times film correspondent Donald Clarke discusses why audiences love musical biopics and what separates a show-stopper from a bum note?

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan, Suzanne Brennan and John Casey.

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The jury in the Stardust inquests has returned a verdict of unlawful killing in the cases of each of the 48 young people who died in the fire at the Artane nightclub 43 years ago.

That means the survivors and the families of those who lost their lives have been vindicated in their long search for justice and accountability. But why did it take so long - and what happens next?

We hear from Stardust families, who spoke to Aideen Finnegan just after the verdict was read out.

And Irish Times social affairs correspondent Kitty Holland, who covered the inquest for the past year, talks about the meaning of the verdict and why this final official say on the tragedy was long coming.

Presented by Aideen Finnegan and Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan.

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In 2022 Paola Sanchez, wanting to check out men she met online, created a Facebook group called “Are We Dating the Same Guy”. Its sisterhood-fuelled goal was to create a private space where women could “empower each other and keep each other safe from dangerous and/or toxic men”.

It quickly grew. Most US cities now have their own Are We Dating the Same Guy group and it has spread outside the US with a reported 3.5 million members in more than 200 groups sharing red flags about men. The group for Dublin has nearly 50,000 members.

Lawsuits have followed with men claiming they have been defamed, and in the latest one, in LA, Stewart Lucas Murrey is suing more than 50 women saying they “conspired to harm [his] reputation”.

Brittany Shammas and Marisa Iati, from The Washington Post, reported on the impact of the group; on some of the men featured, and on what happens when the rules of the group are broken.

They tell In the News about the ongoing court cases and the value of such a site in a world where women report feeling frightened while engaging with online dating apps.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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On Monday, Taoiseach Simon Harris called a meeting the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to discuss the rising number of deaths on Irish roads.

Mr Harris said road safety was a “top priority” and announced actions to crackdown on careless and dangerous driving and additional RSA funding.

So far this year, sixty-three people have died in road accidents across the country, an increase of 14 on the same period last year.

And while the RSA has welcomed the new 30 minute mandatory road safety policing directive, questions remain as to why road-related deaths are going in the wrong direction.

Have Irish attitudes towards road safety and drink driving changed in recent years? And, is the RSA campaign aiming for no road-related deaths or serious injuries by 2050 actually achievable?

Irish Times head of audience David Labanyi and reporter Mark Hilliard join the podcast to discuss the RSA’s legacy and the steps needed to make Irish roads safer.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak.

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A training manual provided to eir employees by parent company Eircom warned them that they would face disciplinary proceedings if they obeyed Irish laws covering customer complaints.

The same manual also outlined a series of “trigger words” that would allow people calling the company with complaints to have their concerns dealt with in an expeditious fashion. If those words were not used, the concerns raised by customers frequently went nowhere.

In a case taken against the company by the communications watchdog ComReg before Dublin District Court, the telecommunications company pleaded guilty to 10 breaches of the law related to its failures to acknowledge customer complaints, to provide a complaint response within 10 working days, and to provide an email address to progress a complaint after 10 working days. These are requirements of regulations governing the telecoms sector.

But now eir says the documents were taken out of context and that ComReg made 'incorrect claims'. What is not in doubt is that customer mistreatment by telecoms companies is nothing new, says Consumer Affairs Correspondent Conor Pope.

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In 2016 US diplomats in Cuba’s capital reported a range of mysterious symptoms that were soon experienced by colleagues in other parts of the world.

Staff reported bloody noses, headaches, stomach issues, vision problems and hearing strange sounds. The phenomenon was quickly dubbed the Havana Syndrome and investigations began to try to ascertain its origin – or if it was a real illness at all.

Now, a new report led by US TV investigative show 60 Minutes has said Russian intelligence is responsible, that it is a hybrid warfare tactic.

The finding contradicts a US government report last year which suggested that the “anomalous health incidents” were not caused by an energy weapon or foreign enemy.

Julian Borger, Guardian world affairs editor tells In the News how the latest report is being received in the US – and Moscow.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

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In the most recent murder case where cannabis use was judged to be a factor, the court ruled that Diego Costa Silva killed his wife while in a state of cannabis-induced psychosis at their home in Finglas, Dublin on November 4th, 2021. A jury found him not guilty of Fabiola De Campos Silva’s murder, by reason of insanity. His was one of a number of murder cases to come before Irish courts in the past year where cannabis-use was judged to be a factor.

Dr Colin O’Gara, head of addiction services at St John of God Hospital in Dublin, tells In the News about the dangers of new, more potent strains of cannabis, what is cannabis-induced psychosis and the link between use of the drug and existing mental health issues.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

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In August two more sections of the quays in Dublin will become no-go areas for private cars. When the “bus gates” open on Aston Quay on the southside of the river, and Bachelor’s Walk on the northside, private cars will no longer be able to complete their journey from one of end of the city’s quays to the other. They are the first measures of the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan, which will restrict motorists driving “through” instead of “to” the city centre.

Some knotty problems still need to be ironed out - most notably how will Diageo transport Guinness from where it is made at St James’s Gate to the port for export if it can’t use the straightest route down the quays. And what is a bus gate anyway? Are taxis allowed use them? And cyclists? Dublin Editor Olivia Kelly explains the plan - and how it is a key part of a strategy to make Dublin a move liveable city.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.

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Robert F Kennedy jnr is on the campaign trail, attempting to get on the ballot for the US presidential election.

A scion of the Kennedy political dynasty, he had hoped to challenge Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination but when that hope faded, he announced he would continue as an independent candidate.

The long-time environmental lawyer is the son of the former US attorney general and senator Robert F Kennedy, and a nephew of president John F Kennedy. He’s also a controversial figure not least for his anti-vaccine activism.

Dr Pippa Malmgren, former economic adviser to president George W Bush explains how RFK jnr could shake up the presidential race and tells why Americans who don’t want either Donald Trump or Biden just might be persuaded to vote for him.

Last week he announced his running mate and Irish Times Washington correspondent Keith Duggan explains why he chose California lawyer Nicole Shanahan, ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergei Brin.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

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Today on In the News we bring you an excerpt from another episode of our sister podcast, Inside Politics. Pat Leahy and Jennifer Bray joined host Hugh Linehan to talk about Simon Harris's appointment as Taoiseach and the details of his minimal Cabinet reshuffle. Did he go far enough to satisfy Fine Gaelers or voters looking for change? But first, they discuss the news that the reconstituted Government's first act will be to recognise the statehood of Palestine.

You can listen to the full episode on the Inside Politics podcast feed or on irishtimes.com. New episodes of Inside Politics are available each Wednesday and Friday wherever you get your podcasts.

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On Tuesday, Simon Harris will be officially voted into office by TDs in Dáil Éireann and become the new Taoiseach.

Harris, who is the youngest ever Taoiseach at 37, will then reveal his Cabinet reshuffle, by which he hopes to signal a fresh start for the Government and for the Fine Gael party.

But can the Wicklow TD turn youthful enthusiasm into meaningful action? And how will he decide bring on his Cabinet picks?

We ask Political Editor Pat Leahy about what we've learned about Harris since he took over as Fine Gael leader and the challenges that lie ahead for Ireland’s new Taoiseach.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan.

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Nearly three years have passed since Irish schools started reopening in March 2021 and children began returning to the educational environment that was abruptly erased from their lives the previous year.

In the months that followed children and teens, who had spent months locked in their homes keeping up with classes through Zoom lessons, began reacclimatising to the social environment of a busy classroom. For most, this was relief. But for a small but significant cohort, returning to school was not desirable or, in some cases, even possible.

Three years on, school absenteeism is on the rise, with reports that school refusal and school phobia have become a big issue for principals and school staff across the country.

Tusla has warned that “unexplained” school absences have quadrupled, raising concerns that thousands of young people are missing out on an education.

In the most extreme cases, there are serious health issues at play. But there are a whole host of other reasons why other children refuse to leave their homes in the morning and attend classes.

Irish Times health editor Carl O’Brien joins In The News podcast to discuss the rise of school phobia among Irish children, while Kerry Grantham shares the story of her son James – the once “happy-go-lucky” child who became “gripped with terror” shortly after starting secondary school in 2021.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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From stately townhouses to cinema screens and Turkish baths, Grafton Street has had a fascinating and varied history. But how did it evolve to become the premium retail street that it is today? And who now owns the ornate buildings that house some of our favourite shops and meeting spots? Dublin Editor Olivia Kelly and reporter Colm Keena take us on a fascinating virtual walk down Dublin's most salubrious thoroughfare, with a look at some of our best known landmarks.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan

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In Libya, former members of the Irish Defence Forces, including men who served in the elite Army Rangers Wing have been providing training for a militia headed up Libyan strongman, Khalifa Haftar.

It’s a lucrative business for the company called Irish Training Solutions but the work is an apparent breach of a United Nations arms embargo imposed on the volatile African country.

Naomi O’Leary broke the story in the Irish Times on Wednesday and the official response was swift. Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin called the revelations “deeply shocking”, saying that they cause “reputational damage to Ireland and our Defence Forces”.

O’Leary tells In the News about the sort of military training being provided by these former Irish soldiers, who is behind Irish Training Solutions, how much money is involved and, with providing military training in Libya specifically prohibited by the UN, what it means for the reputation of the Irish Defence Forces.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Declan Conlon.

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On Monday, suspected Israeli war planes bombed the Iranian consulate in Syria’s capital city of Damascus, marking a major escalation in Israel’s war in the Middle East. At least 11 people – including a senior Iranian commander – were killed in the attack which Iran’s foreign minister said was “a breach of all international conventions”. The Biden administration continues to urge restraint, while at the same time it is close to approving a major new weapons sale to Israel worth more than $18 billion (€16.7 billion). So how does this attack fit in to the long-running proxy war between Israel and Iran, now driven by the violence in Gaza? Security advisor, Duncan Bullivant, explains the implications at a time of dramatic rising tensions.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Aideen Finnegan.

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When he was elected president last November, Javier Milei promised to fix Argentina's ailing economy and divided society with radical reforms. How is that going? Irish Times contributor Tom Hennigan returns with an update on how the controversial leader is having a big impact on Argentina, yet still struggling to find the political support to implement his vision.

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This episode was first published in January 2024.

A door that blew off a Boeing 737 Max shortly after take-off was not properly secured after maintenance to the aircraft, an investigation has found.

This is just the latest in a list of very public crises for the airline behemoth that is still dealing with the fallout from 2018 and 2019 when two of its planes crashed, killing 346 people.

Through a mixture of whistleblower information and dogged investigative journalism, Seattle-based Irish journalist Dominic Gates has reported on Boeing’s ongoing difficulties.

In 2020 he won a Pulitzer Prize for his work on Boeing for The Seattle Times.

He tells In the News what the latest findings mean for company and for passengers.

Presented Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.

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How much is enough sleep? What is the best time to go to bed? What counts as a good night’s sleep?

Is there any point in taking a nap and how long should it be? How do you know if your poor sleeping patterns have tipped over into insomnia? And is good sleep hygiene the secret to falling asleep?

Anne Marie Boyhan left her corporate job to study to become a sleep consultant after years of trying to find solutions to her own sleeping difficulties.

She founded the Sleep Care Company and she tells In the News that her clients come from all walks of life with a range of sleep issues.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

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The Moscow attack which killed at least 137 people and injured many more was carried out by an Isis affiliate called Isis-K.

On today’s In the News podcast, Colin P Clarke, director of research at the Soufan Group and an expert on domestic and transnational terrorism, explains why Russia was targeted by the Islamic jihadists and how Afghanistan post-2021 has become a safe haven for terrorists despite the Taliban’s war on Isis.

Looking at the footage from inside the Crocus City Hall on March 22nd, he explores the planning and methodology of the four Tajikistan suspects in their attack and explains who Isis-K are, how they are funded and what do they ultimately want.

As to Moscow’s claims that Ukraine was involved in the atrocity? Clarke says a firm no. And Ukraine-based reporter Dan McLaughlin explains how the Moscow propaganda machine has used the attack.

And with the Paris Olympics just months away, Clarke, whose latest book is called After the Caliphate: The Islamic State and the Future Terrorist Diaspora, says the global terrorism threat from Isis-K is very real.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.

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At least 13,000 children have died in Gaza in the last six months; more than in 4 years of global conflict. Despite the UN Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Monday, life-saving food aid is still being denied to Palestinians throughout the strip. Unicef is warning of an imminent famine, as hundreds of thousands of people starve. The aid agency's James Elder is on the ground in Rafah where he's been expressing deep frustration at the "unnecessary restrictions and arbitrary denials" on food convoys gaining access to the enclave. He outlines the "annihilation" of whole cities, the desperation of children and their mothers and the special bond Palestinians have with Irish aid workers there.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan.

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This time last year, the 1993 disappearance of Annie McCarrick, a young American woman living in Dublin, was upgraded to a murder inquiry.

For three decades, it was believed the last definitive image captured of the American student came from the CCTV footage of her local AIB bank in Sandymount, Dublin on the day of her disappearance.

However, the new Garda investigation has now determined that the CCTV image of McCarrick was, in fact, captured 11 days earlier.

It's not the only aspect of the narrative about McCarrick's disappearance that has now been thrown into doubt.

Journalist Áine Ryan, who has a personal connection to McCarrick, discusses the latest revelations surrounding the young American’s disappearance and her family and friends’ ongoing quest to find out what really happened in March 1993.

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Trafficking of women and girls into Ireland to work in the sex industry is one aspect of a transnational crime that has been discovered in a range of sectors, from food production to fishing, forced marriages to farming, nail bars to begging.

And while trafficked people can come from all over the world, an increase in people brought into the country from eastern Europe under false pretences and then exploited in the labour market has been noted.

Victims of human trafficking have been found - men, women and childen - but there have been just three convictions.

Dr Nusha Yonkova, head of anti-human trafficking at the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), tells In the News of the difficulty in getting accurate figures for human trafficking into Ireland, noting that while arrests give some indication of the scale of the crime, the numbers as noted by NGOs working with migrants suffering labour exploitation suggests a bigger problem.

Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher explains what we know about the criminals who organise and profit from trafficking people into Ireland and discusses the resources available to the Garda to combat this deadly, exploitative crime.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

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When it was put to Alexander McCartney that he had, in the words of the Belfast court, “unlawfully killed a female child”, the 26-year-old from Northern Ireland pleaded guilty. That child was just 12 years-old, she lived outside the UK and McCartney had never even met her but, through what the judge described as the worst case of “catfishing” every to come before the courts, his online coercian and blackmail of the child drove her to take her own life.

McCartney was a prolific cyber child abuser - he has admitted multiple offences of causing a child to engage in a sex act, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual communication with a child. The university student from Newry also admitted over 50 charges of blackmail and multiple offences of possessing indecent images of children.

He will be sentenced in May. Irish Time Northern Correspondent Seanín Graham talks to Bernice Harrison about how the global 'catfishing' investigation led police to McCartney's house in rural Armagh.

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Today on In the News we bring you an episode of our sister podcast, Inside Politics. Pat Leahy, Jennifer Bray and Jack Horgan-Jones joined host Hugh Linehan to discuss the unexpected announcement by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that he is resigning as Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach. They discuss the questions surrounding the timing and impact of his decision, the potential reasons behind his departure and its implications for Fine Gael.

They also assess potential candidates for Varadkar’s successor and the challenges facing the party in the upcoming election.

New episodes of Inside Politics are available each Wednesday and Friday - wherever you get your podcasts.

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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced he is to step down. Listen to his full speech in this bonus episode. More to follow.

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Earlier this week, an Irish Times investigation revealed a rising number of foreign students from outside the EU are using forged documents to secure study visas to work in Ireland. The Irish Times spoke to a number of people who availed of the scam and admitted to obtaining forged enrolment letters, medical insurance and attendance certificates when applying for student visas. Reporter Isabela Boechat, who has spent eight months working on the investigation, found Latin American students, particularly Brazilians are paying scammers between €600-€1,800, They negotiate the details via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger and then, never actually attend the school where they’re registered.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan

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Paedophile Bill Kenneally is serving an 18-year sentence for the sexual abuse of 15 young boys in Waterford in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

But it took until 2016, decades after the abuse occurred, for the former basketball coach to be sentenced for those crimes. That’s despite first coming to Garda attention in the mid-1980s when a brave young boy went into the Garda station on his own to report the abuse.

So why did it take so long for him to be brought to justice? Who knew what and when?

An official inquiry was set up in 2018 to answer those questions. Last week, for the first time, Kenneally, 73, was called to give evidence and he showed himself to be unrepentant. For his brave victims who again had to face their abuser, it was yet another difficult chapter in their ongoing search for answers.

Irish Times reporter Ronan McGreevy was at the hearing. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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In discussions around empire and colonisation, including popular movements such as Black Lives Matter and Rhodes Must Fall, Ireland likes to think itself on the “right” side of history, as colonised victims of empire.

But as Trinity College Dublin historian Prof Jane Ohlmeyer explores in her new book, Making Empire: Ireland, Imperialism, and the Early Modern World, it’s not as simple as that.

On the island of Monsterrat in the West Indies, for example, St Patrick’s Day is a national holiday - the only country outside Ireland to mark the day officially. But the parades there are to celebrate an unsuccessful revolt by enslaved islanders against the European whites - mostly Irish - who colonised it in the 17th century.

There are stark examples too of the Irish in India - and other countries too - acting more like colonisers than colonised.

Irish Times reporter and historian Ronan McGreevy interviewed Ohlmeyer and talks here about a troubling aspect of Irish history. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.

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Ireland has the highest reported rate of gonorrhoea infection across 30 European countries, with a record number of cases reported in Ireland in 2022, according to research published last week.

What is driving this surge in infections in Ireland and how concerned are younger Irish people about contracting sexually transmitted infections?

Today, on In the News, consultant of sexual health and HIV Dr Aisling Loy discusses the rise in STIS among younger people in Ireland and the longer term health implications of contracting these infections, particularly among women.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey.

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In February 2016, just three days after the notorious Regency Hotel Shooting, 59-year-old Eddie Hutch was gunned down outside his home in Dublin’s north inner city.

Hutch’s murder was the first in a two year killing spree by the Kinahan cartel following the Regency ambush.

To this day, no one has been charged with Hutch’s murder. However, that could now change. Gardaí have sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions with evidence they believe could link several men to the killing.

Daniel Kinahan, who is currently based in Dubai, is just one of the suspects named in the file.

How likely is it that the leader of the Kinahan cartel will end up in Garda handcuffs? And with no extradition treaty between Ireland and the UAE, how difficult will it be to bring Kinahan back here, if he is charged?

Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Lally reflects on his attempts to track Daniel Kinahan down in Dubai last week, and discusses Garda strategies being used to extradite the cartel leader back to Ireland.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan and Suzanne Brennan.

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The death was announced yesterday of broadcaster and journalist Charlie Bird. The former RTÉ chief news correspondent, who was 74 when he died, was diagnosed with motor neuron disease in 2021.

One of Ireland’s best-known journalists, he reported on of the biggest stories in Ireland and around the world through the 1980s, 1990s and into the 2000s.

However, in many ways, it was Charlie Bird’s final years, following his MND diagnosis, that perhaps will leave the greatest mark on this country.

Today, on In the News, Irish Times Ireland and Britain editor Mark Hennessy reflects on Charlie Bird’s four-decade long journalistic career and the advocacy work and campaigning which defined his final years.

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When "Niamh" began house-hunting in Dublin's suburbs, she soon noticed that viewings were often attended by agents who were using phones to live-stream the property to potential buyers in China - some of whom then outbid her.

Estate agents have confirmed that it is now commonplace for wealthy Chinese nationals to bid strongly on houses in South Dublin. But why?

The answers lie in the details of a now-defunct 'Golden Visa' scheme, the decline of China's own property market and the desire of upwardly-mobile Chinese parents to give their children a Western education.

And why are these buyers free to take their money out of the Chinese economy and invest it in countries like Ireland?

Guests: Irish Times reporter Colm Keena and Beijing correspondent Denis Staunton

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon.

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A large provider of accommodation for children in care, Ideal Care Services, has been found to have put young people at risk by failing to carry out proper background checks on staff.

The company run by Jossy Akwuobi (45), from Tyrrelstown, Dublin, and his partner, Karen Akwuobi (39), has already been paid €9million by Tusla, the child and family agency.

An internal Tusla report found Garda vetting files clearing staff to work for the company had been altered, while pre-employment checks of workers had been “fabricated”. The report, completed last July, said the standard of checks carried out on prospective care staff were found to be “grossly inadequate to safeguard vulnerable young people”.

So who is evangelical pastor Jossy Akwuobi, and how was such a shocking lack of oversight allowed to go on? Irish Times reporter Jack Power broke the story and explains the background.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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Cillian Murphy looks unbeatable for the Best Actor gong. But who else should win at the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday night? And who will win?

Irish Times chief film correspondent Donald Clarke says that it’s shaping up to be Oppenheimer’s year at the Oscars. But what about Barbie? And could Yorgos Lanthimos’s Poor Things, produced by Dublin-based Element Pictures, also do well?

This time last year Irish hopes were high with The Banshees of Inisherin getting nine nominations - on the night it lost out in all its categories. Could the same happen to Poor Things with its 11 nods?

The organisers will be nervous about any break in the relative silence about the Gaza conflict that has persisted throughout awards season. It might, says Clarke, just be time for an award winner to break the silence - once the statuette is safely in their hands.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

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On Monday, Russian media published an audio recording of high-ranking German military officers discussing weapons which could be used by Ukrainian military in the war against Russia.

German officials immediately rejected any claims that the audio indicated Berlin was preparing for war against Moscow.

The leak follows comments from German federal defence minister Boris Pistorius of how his country must be war-ready, or kriegstüchtig. Two years ago this remark would have caused uproar in Germany – but not anymore.

Meanwhile, French president Emmanuel Macron was criticised by European neighbours last week after suggesting it might be necessary to send ground troops to Ukraine. The Kremlin responded that any such deployment would lead to direct conflict between Russia and Nato.

On today’s In the News podcast, Berlin correspondent Derek Scally discusses the implications of the military leaks and how European countries including France, Germany and Poland are preparing for an uncertain future overshadowed by an aggressive Russia.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon.

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If you're not sure how you're going to vote in Friday's referendum, you're not alone. According to an Irish Times / IPSOS B&A poll in February, 53% of those surveyed admitted to hardly knowing anything at all about the ballot taking place on March 8th. What seemed like a straightforward proposal to expand the definition of the family and remove the reference to women's 'duties' in the home, has turned into a confusing melange of views. Those in favour of changing the constitution include the government, the vast majority of the Opposition as well as many NGOs. Calls to vote No are coming from groups as disparate as disability rights activists, lawyers and bishops. If you've been too busy until now to take a look at the amendments and the arguments for and against, Political Correspondent, Jennifer Bray, explains it all in just 26 minutes.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak and produced by Aideen Finnegan

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Dublin’s office market is likely to get worse before it gets better with no relief in sight until 2027 amid a collapse in demand and a glut of new developments coming on stream. Last week the Central Bank aired its concerns over the situation. So will there by a crash in the office market sector and what might that mean for the economy?

John McCartney from BNP Paribas Real Estate explains why the fall in demand is part of a cycle and explores the forces – including troubles in the ICT sector and post-pandemic WFH – that have brought us to this tipping point.

Irish Times columnist Una Mullally is in no doubt that the crash has already begun and that poor planning has blighted Dublin with empty newly-built office blocks dotting the city while housing is so desperately needed.

Both explain where they are coming from and how we can move on.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan

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The death last month of a 33-year-year old first-time mother at University Hospital Limerick once again put the troubled hospital in the headlines.

Shortly before that tragedy, a teenage girl with breathing difficulties died in the emergency department, while in 2022 Aoife Johnston (16) who had endured a long wait for care, died there. The HSE has apologised to her family.

And UHL’s chaotic trolley situation shows little sign of improving; last month it broke the record for the highest number of patients on trolleys since records began in 2006, with 150 people waiting for beds on February 7th.

So what’s the problem? It doesn’t seem to be money or staffing levels – so how can it be fixed?

Health correspondent Paul Cullen explains UHL’s the troubling issues, what staff are saying and explores the solutions.

We also hear from Melanie Sheehan Cleary, who's 21 year-old daughter Eve died just hours after being discharged from UHL in 2019.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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Health and family editor Damian Cullen had already ticked off a long list of diets before he hit on intermittent fasting and three years later, and 16kg lighter, he has stuck to the plan. He eats in an eight-hour window. At the more extreme end of intermittent fasting, British prime minister Rishi Sunak follows the so called “monk fast” of eating nothing for a 36-year period every week.

As a way of losing weight, timed eating is probably the weight loss method of the moment; it follows a long list of diets, some of which became wildly popular for a time and then slid off the menu.

Cullen explains how it works for him, while dietician Sarah Keogh gives the expert view. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan

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When Diarmuid Hayes send a strange tweet from his employer MEP Luke 'Ming' Flanagan's account, the resulting mockery caused huge damage to Flanagan's life and reputation.

But why did Hayes do it?

Naomi O'Leary and Jack Power report.

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Last week’s FAI’s appearance before the Public Accounts Committee did not go particularly well. Members of the committee expressed concern regarding the role of the chief executive after Jonathan Hill explained that an €11,500 payment in lieu of holidays not taken was just a “miscalculation”.

His request for this payment at the end of an email was just a joke, he said. But many of the documents submitted to the committee were heavily redacted.

Meanwhile, more than three months after Stephen Kenny stepped down, the FAI has yet to appoint a new manager to the men’s Irish football team.

On today’s In the News podcast Irish Times sports writer Malachy Clerkin explores why the FAI seems unable to get its house in order.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.

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It’s been another awful week for the national broadcaster. Last Friday, RTÉ board chairwoman Siún Ní Raghallaigh resigned after her position was undermined by Minister for Media Catherine Martin live on television.

RTÉ's board reacted with anger following what is being viewed politically as the forced resignation Ms Ní Raghallaigh, which came amid a deepening row over big exit payouts for departing executives.

Today, members of the Public Accounts Committee will meet to finalise a 70-page report on recent revelations around events in RTÉ. And this evening, Ms Martin is due to appear before the Oireachtas media committee to answer questions about her comments on RTÉ's Prime Time.

But how did we reach this point and what does it mean for the efforts to fix the stricken broadcaster?

Guest: Current Affairs Editor Arthur Beesley.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak.

Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan.

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Two years ago, what would become 105,000 Ukrainians began arriving in Ireland to seek refuge from the Russian invasion of their country.

They were dispersed all around the State, including to Bundoran in Donegal, a seaside town and for generations a welcoming holiday destination.

How have they adjusted to living so far from their war-torn homes? Sorcha Pollak travelled to Bundoran to talk to the new arrivals and locals about welcomes, integration and long-term plans.

Presented by Bernice Harrison.

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Renegade solicitor Michael Lynn stole €18 million from the banks at the height of the Celtic Tiger property boom.

It took until this week for justice to be served, when Lynn was sentenced to 5½ years in prison.

After the sentence was handed down, the prosecution dropped a bombshell – gardaí believe the fraudster may still control some of the stolen money and suspect him of attempting to launder it here in Ireland. An investigation is underway.

Colm Keena was in court for the sentencing and he explains Lynn’s crime, how he evaded justice for so long and what will happen now.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.

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For decades concerns were raised at Government level that the Russian Embassy in Dublin was an espionage hub, with the sheer scale of the Soviet diplomatic mission to the State prompting suspicions over spying.

However, the war in Ukraine emboldened the Government to take action. Russian diplomats have been expelled, new visas refused and now the embassy’s staff in Dublin has been reduced from 30 to 15.

This follows the refusal to grant Moscow permission to expand the Rathgar embassy on “national security” grounds.

Crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher explains why the Government has at last taken action. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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Last week, a consignment of synthetic drugs, thought to be crystal meth worth €32.8 million, were seized in Cork Port. It is believed the shipment, which was destined for the Australian market, was owned by the Sinaloa cartel, Mexico’s deadliest drugs gang. Gardaí are now investigating whether a number of Irish men based in Cork and Kerry have been acting as agents for the cartel. So far, they have made two arrests. Irish Times Crime and Security editor Conor Lally reports. 

We also hear from Karol Suarez, a journalist based in Mexican City who explains how the Sinaloa cartel, often associated with the Netflix show Narcos, has become one of the most powerful and dangerous drug-trafficking gangs in the world.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.

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On Monday, An Bord Pleanála met for its first hearing in 15 years into Dublin’s planned underground rail line. The €9.5 billion MetroLink, as it is now known, has been put on hold numerous times since it was first announced as the Metro West plan in 2005.

The proposed underground line would run from north of Swords to Dublin Airport, then on to Ballymun, Glasnevin, O’Connell Street and St Stephen’s Green before terminating at Charlemont Street, with 16 stations in all.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has said he believes the long-awaited MetroLink will be granted planning permission before the end of this year and that construction will be completed by the early 2030s.

Many Dubliners are worried about how the construction of this line, particularly close to the city centre, will disrupt their homes and livelihoods.

However, as one of the only major cities in Europe without an underground transport system, Metrolink could be transformative for Dublin city and its residents in the long term, says Irish Times Dublin editor Olivia Kelly, who joins today’s episode of In the News.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon.

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Previously on In the News, Irish Times Europe correspondent Naomi O’Leary explained how Dublin-based landlord Marc Godart deployed CCTV to monitor tenants in their homes, faced accusations of unlawful eviction and failed to pay compensation to former tenants as ordered by the Residential Tenancies Board.

On today’s episode Naomi shares a new cache of audio files and documents that show how Luxembourger Godart treats his employees, including summary dismissal and fines for minor infractions.

The documents also reveal attempts to establish new companies under the identities of people unconnected with Godart and his family to avoid public scrutiny of his property operations, and the offering of payment to workers to find people willing to allow the use of their identity to set up an Airbnb account.

Also on the podcast: Those working for Godart are hired as independent contractors, and their contracts stipulate that Luxembourg law applies to their relationship with Godart’s companies.

But as Claire Bruton, a barrister specialising in employment law, explains, the law is not on Godart’s side when it comes to these arrangements.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.

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Jon Jonsson, 41, vanished in Dublin in 2019 while in Ireland to play poker. A father of four and a taxi driver in his native Iceland, he was travelling with his fiance.

For some reason he left his hotel, The Bonnington, on a bright February afternoon; CCTV cameras capture him walking along the busy road. After the second sighting near the hotel, he vanishes. He didn’t know the area and had no friends in Ireland.

To date, no trace of Jonsson has been found. Then this week gardaí, acting on information contained in anonymous letters, searched a park in nearby Santry. Crime and security editor Conor Lally explains this unusual missing persons case. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

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Nearly two and half years since passed since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in after the US withdrew the last of its troops from the country. Since then, the country has grappled with a humanitarian crisis which has forced millions of Afghans abroad.

Women’s rights and freedoms have been severely restricted since the Taliban takeover in 2021 and girls in Afghanistan can no longer attend school beyond sixth grade.

Meanwhile, Taliban authorities have reportedly increased the arbitrary detention of journalists, human rights defenders and civil society activists while there have been repeated reports of extrajudicial killings and torture and brutal treatment.

European countries, including Ireland, strongly advise against travel to the impoverished Asian country where the Islamic State terror group continues to launch lethal attacks against Shia minorities and the Taliban.

However, a small number of tour operators are now offering trips to Afghanistan for adventurous travellers seeking a trip outside the norm. And while foreign visitors are strongly advised by their governments not to visit the country, some tour operators say bringing tourists to the country is beneficial for Afghan communities.

Journalist Hannah McCarthy discusses the small number of risk-taking tourists who are ignoring the travel advice and choosing to the visit the most dangerous country in the world.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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On January 28th two activists from Riposte Alimentaire (Food Counterattack) threw soup at the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris.

Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece is safely behind glass and no real harm was done but the act made headlines around the world. So does shock coverage matter more than the message?

And will climate activists get more radical in their protests as the crisis deepens?

Dana Fisher, director of the Center for Environment, Community, & Equity at American University in Washington and author of Saving Ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action explains why protesters behave the way they do and what turns an interested bystander into a radical activist.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

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Since 2018, there have been 23 arson attacks with a suspected anti-immigration motivation on buildings earmarked, or just rumoured for use, as accommodation or asylum seekers. Thirteen of these attack have taken place in the past year.

A flurry of arrests and search operations targeting those behind these arson attacks have taken place since early February. However, at the same time, the attacks have continued.

The question on the minds of politicians, Gardaí and the public is, who is behind these attacks?Is it a centrally organised far-right group, a loose network of anti-immigrant activists or just individual local criminals incited by online misinformation and racist rhetoric?

Crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher discusses who is behind the wave of arson attacks across the country and what can be done, before someone is seriously injured, or killed, in the next fire.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan and Suzanne Brennan.

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A door that blew off a Boeing 737 Max shortly after take-off was not properly secured after maintenance to the aircraft, an investigation has found.

This is just the latest in a list of very public crises for the airline behemoth that is still dealing with the fallout from 2018 and 2019 when two of its planes crashed, killing 346 people.

Through a mixture of whistleblower information and dogged investigative journalism, Seattle-based Irish journalist Dominic Gates has reported on Boeing’s ongoing difficulties.

In 2020 he won a Pulitzer Prize for his work on Boeing for The Seattle Times.

He tells In the News what the latest findings mean for company and for passengers. Presented Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.

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In Jonathan Glazer’s multi-Oscar nominated and breathtaking new film, The Zone of Interest, Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), commandant of the Auschwitz camp, and his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller) live an idyllic life in their beautiful house and lush garden with their children.

We are, as Irish Times chief film correspondent Donald Clarke explains, “dumped into their disconcertingly ordinary world”. Over the garden wall is the death camp and while we hear sounds and see forbidding buildings and smoke-billowing chimneys we are never shown the horrors or the Jewish victims.

Clarke also explains the power of Glazer’s filming methods and why this Holocaust film has become such a critically acclaimed hit.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

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On Tuesday, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly brought plans to Cabinet for an urgent catch-up vaccination programme for young people at risk at contracting measles. Measles cases have soared across Europe since the start of 2023, while in England, 170 cases of measles were notified in an outbreak in the West Midlands between December 2023 and mid-January 2024. The HSE is now warning that the probability of an outbreak in Ireland high and falling rates of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine uptake in Ireland are also a cause for concern. How dangerous is measles and how many people used to die from it before a vaccine was introduced? Who is most at risk if they do contract this highly contagious virus? And why is the virus spreading again, particularly among people in their 20s?

Presented by Sorcha Pollak and produced by Aideen Finnegan

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The death of former Taoiseach John Bruton is a moment to remember the life of a decent man and a talented politician, but also an opportunity to reflect on how much Ireland has changed since the brief period he held power - and to think about how things might have been different. A second term for Bruton could have led Ireland on a radically different path, says political Editor Pat Leahy.

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The murder last February of Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old transgender girl, shocked Britain. She had been stabbed 28 times, in a public park, in broad daylight.

In December, a jury at Manchester Crown Court found two teenagers, Girl X and Boy Y, guilty of the murder; they had lured Ghey to the park to satisfy an “obsession” with death.

The judge said she would impose a life sentence but would adjourn to February 2nd to decide a minimum tariff. In an highly unusual move she also said she would name Girl X and Boy Y. We now know they are Scarlet Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe. On Friday they received minimum terms of 22 and 20 years respectively.

Irish Times London correspondent Mark Paul explains why the naming of the two underage killers is highly unusual; and having spent time in Warrington he reports on the local reaction to this shocking killing. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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It is now a criminal offence to have an XL Bully dog in England and Wales, although some exemptions do apply. New rules were brought in to stop serious and fatal attacks by the breed and the legislation makes four breeds of dog, originally bred for fighting, illegal including American Pitbull terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos and Fila Brazileiro.

Scotland is to implement a similar ban following an influx of banned dogs from England and Wales as owners refused to have their dogs put down, choosing to rehome them across the border. Does the move by Scotland have implications for Ireland?

Dog trainer and behaviourist Nanci Creedon explains just why these dogs have become the subject of legislation and explains the Irish context. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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Beijing correspondent Denis Staunton on why China sees Ireland as a potential friend at at time when other Western countries are growing increasingly wary of the Asian superpower.

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Immigration has overtaken housing and the cost-of-living to become the main issue on the minds of voters, according to a new Irish Times and Ipsos Behaviour and Attitudes survey. The public sentiment research coincides with a study by Maynooth University of what protesters at migration-related rallies really want. Dr Barry Cannon and Shane Murphy have found locals cite security fears, a scarcity of resources, lack of government consultation and the suitability of accommodation sites, in that order. Although most sought to distance themselves from far-right agitators, they simultaneously engaged with racist tropes. Dr Barry says it's time to level with people about the pros and cons of immigration without allowing the far right to set the parameters of the debate. He explains how racism is so embedded we hardly see it, how middle-income earners benefit from migration while those from lower-income groups may not, and how a failure to hold a discourse in politics and the media is exacerbating the situation. In The News attempts to have that conversation today with Dr Cannon and Irish Times Political Correspondent, Jennifer Bray.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak and produced by Suzanne Brennan and Aideen Finnegan.

For full access to Irish Times journalism including all the latest breaking news on immigration, go to www.irishtimes.com/subscribe

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Last week, Israeli authorities alleged that some employees of UNRWA, the Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, were involved in the October 7th Hamas attacks.

In response, several countries pulled their funding for the UN agency, jeopardising the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to the desperate citizens of Gaza.

UNRWA, which was founded in 1949 and employs more than 30,000 people, works with Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank and other Middle Eastern countries such as Lebanon and Syria. So what will be the impact of these financial cuts for Palestinians on the ground?

Mark Weiss in Jerusalem talks to Sorcha Pollak about UNWRA, hostage negotiations and the risk of a wider war.

Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Declan Conlon.

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AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Coventry City midfielder Kasey Palmer both paused their respective games last Saturday after they were subjected to racist gestures and shouts from the stands. Maignan and his team walked off the pitched before coming back and resuming the match. Football’s racism problem was again in the headlines.

In what seemed like a hardline solution, Gianni Infantino, the head of Fifa, the sports governing body, called for match forfeits after racist incidents.

Sports writer and Second Captains podcaster and Irish Times soccer columnist Ken Early explains why this idea is simply unworkable, for reasons that extend beyond the stands. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

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Toy Show: the musical lost €2.2m – that much was well known before Grant Thornton delivered its report on RTÉ’s 2022 ill-advised foray into live theatre.

What was not known until now was precisely how the RTÉ board allowed the broadcaster to risk public money on such a gamble.

Irish Times journalist Jack Power explains the sequence of events as revealed in the lengthy report, while culture columnist Hugh Linehan assesses its findings and whether it is now time for those still on the RTÉ board who failed in their duties to take responsibility.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.

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The case against actor Alec Baldwin in the death by gunshot of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on a film set in 2021 collapsed. But why has he been indicted again - same charge, same tragic event? New York Times reporter Julia Jacobs teases out the legal issues and explores what might happen next for the actor.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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On March 8th, voters will be asked to change the Constitution in two referendums: one concerns care and the removal of the reference to the role of women in the home; while the other seeks to expand the concept of the family.

Irish Times political correspondent Jennifer Bray gives a quick, clear explainer on what it all means and why now. Why, after been kicked to touch by several governments, the controversial clauses from another era are finally being addressed.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey.

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On Sunday, Ian Bailey, the prime suspect in the 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, died in West Cork from a suspected heart attack.

Despite decades of accusations and legal battles, Bailey maintained his innocence and was never charged for the murder of the French filmmaker.

But the family of Toscan du Plantier have always believed he did it - and never stopped pushing for the State to prosecute him.

Gardaí now say a cold case review of the investigation into the death of Toscan du Plantier will continue. But why are the authorities continuing this expensive and time-consuming investigation now that the prime suspect is dead?

Could new evidence and modern technology finally help crack this case? And what resolution, if any, is possible?

Sorcha Pollak speaks with Irish Times Southern Correspondent Barry Roche, who has been covering the case since the late 1990s.

Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan.

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Landlord Marc Godart is being taken to court by Dublin City Council for allegedly breaking planning laws and breaching fire safety regulations in the running of his rental property empire.

Former tenants and a former employee of Mr Godart spoke to The Irish Times' Naomi O'Leary about what they say were negative experiences with the controversial landlord.

Plus: Colm Keena on Mr Godart's day in court.

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It’s no secret that Cork GAA is in a financial hole. Rebuilding Páirc Uí Chaoimh went way over budget with a final cost – for the amateur organisation – topping €100 million. Little wonder it is casting around for sources of revenue. Selling the naming rights to the stadium seemed the most straightforward way to bring in much-needed cash – until it wasn’t.

As soon as it leaked at the start of the week that the county board was considering doing a deal with supermarket chain SuperValu to change the name of the 45,000 seater stadium to SuperValu Páirc controversy raged. Tánaiste Micheál’s Martin’s tweet likely stalled the move: he reminded the county board in advance of its Tuesday meeting to ratify the deal, that “Pádraig Uí Chaoimh was a key figure in the formation of the GAA at club and national level. Govt allocated €30m towards the development of the stadium and never sought naming rights”. The names of GAA stadiums throughout the country have been changed to reflect commercial sponsorship deals, but as Irish Times sportswriter Malachy Clerkin explains, this is different and is just one symptom of the many problems in Cork GAA.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey.

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For months all the polling and analysis has said Donald Trump is a huge favourite to win the Republican nomination for the US presidency. His win at the Iowa caucus this week made it official. Keith Duggan is The Irish Times' new Washington Correspondent. He was in Iowa to talk to voters and watch the other candidates try to win support in Trump's shadow. He talks to Bernice Harrison about where their hopes are now after being left in Trump's wake, and whether legal woes or awkward issues such as abortion can prevent Trump's procession to the nomination.

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On Christmas Eve, a shooting in a popular Dublin restaurant that resulted in the deaths of two men shocked the country. In a badly planned attack, Tristan Sherry entered the packed Browne’s Stakehouse on Blanchardstown’s main street and fired at a table where Jason Hennessy snr was sitting.

Both men where involved in criminality and were known to the Garda. Immediately after the shooting, Sherry was wrestled to the ground and fatally attacked; Hennessy died some days later in hospital. Sherry’s funeral took place on Tuesday in Finglas on Dublin’s northside, Hennessy’s is expected later in the week.

Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally explains why the funerals didn’t happen sooner, who are the key people involved in the shocking events of December 24th and explores the very real possibility – a certainty, he says – of more deaths in retaliation.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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The Army Ranger Wing (ARW), the most elite and secretive unit of theDefence Forces, is to undertake its largest restructuring in its 43-year history.

The most visible change will be a new name: Ireland Special Operations Force or IRL-SOF for short. But as Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher explains, there will also be dramatic changes to its command-and-control structure, making it a central part of military decision-making and, as a result, more likely to be deployed on missions in Ireland and abroad.

The changes mirror those in other western militaries which have increased the size of their special operations forces while also granting them more autonomy and status.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

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When Oscar Pistorius murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, he was one of the most famous athletes in the world. A double amputee and an Olympian – he was dubbed “Bladerunner” – his trial made global headlines. He was released from prison in South Africa earlier this month having served over half his sentence.

At his 2014 trial he claimed that in the early hours of St Valentine’s Day, he had fired his gun thinking there was intruder in his home. The facts, however, proved he murdered the 29-year-old Steenkamp, a model and TV personality who had only been dating Pistorius for four months. Her death added to South Africa’s staggeringly high rates of femicide and the levels of gender-based violence in the country have continued to climb. Bill Corcoran, who covered the former athlete’s trial in 2014 for The Irish Times, explains the reaction in South Africa to his release on parole.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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The asking price for a house in Ireland has risen by around four per cent in the past year. It's bad news for those who can't afford to buy their first home. And housing affordability and availability are serious issues for wider society. But there is a positive side for homeowners whose assets continues to increase in value.

That dichotomy is at the heart of a debate that may play a major role in the next general election. Last month, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said the average price of a home in Dublin should be €300,000 - that's €130,000 lower than the average Dublin house price, as it stands. Such a fall in value would help many while making homeowners poorer on paper.

Is it possible to reduce house prices by so much - and is it a good idea? Bernice Harrison talks to Irish Times columnist Cliff Taylor. Together they listen to some ideas about how to tackle the housing affordability issue from Lorcan Sirr, TU Dublin lecturer and housing policy analyst, and Conall Mac Coille, chief economist with Bank of Ireland.

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Today, Israel will appear before the International Court of Justice, to reject South Africa’s allegation that it is committing genocide in Gaza. South Africa is calling for Israel to end the military operation in Gaza that has left 20,000 people dead, and millions more displaced and hungry. South Africa says the actions of the Israeli military are in breach of the 1948 Genocide Convention, an accusation that Israel vehemently denies. In this episode, Shane Darcy, a law professor at the University of Galway and deputy director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights joins Sorcha Pollak to discuss what the court will have to consider in this case.

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Twelve months ago, Ukraine was optimistic about reclaiming more land after successes against the Russian army. However, the front line is still roughly where it was a year ago and Russia’s grip on the Ukrainian land it still occupies has barely loosened. Meanwhile, political pressure on the military and financial aid being provided by the US and European countries is mounting. Will the West continue to support Ukraine as uncertainty grows over the course of the war? Dan McLaughlin reports.

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Last November, after Josef Puska was sentenced to life for the murder of Aisling Murphy, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced that the State needed more spaces in prisons.

“If people want dangerous people locked up for a long time, we’re going to need more room in our prisons,” the Taoiseach said. Minister for Justice Helen McEntee later confirmed plans for 600 additional spaces across four prison estates.

But, not everyone agrees that building more prison cells is the answer.

The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has repeatedly called for a reduction in the number of people being jailed, noting that nearly three quarters of committals in 2022 were for 12 months or less. “We need to see a shift to people getting more community service,” IPRT director Saoirse Brady told today’s podcast. “I don’t think that we require extra spaces. It’s actually stated Government policy since August 2022 that we would reduce the number of people going to prison for 12 months or less.”

Irish Times Crime and Security Editor Conor Lally also joins the podcast to discuss the pros and cons of building more spaces for inmates in Irish prisons.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey.

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Imelda Keenan was just 22 when she went missing from Waterford. Originally from Laois but living and studying in Waterford, she was reported missing on January 3rd, 1994. Her glasses were still in her apartment as was a pile of carefully wrapped Christmas presents under the tree – two of the many details that, to this day, puzzle her family.

They are convinced that the young woman, a much-loved daughter and sister to her eight siblings, is dead. Last week on the 30th anniversary of the day she was reported missing the family held a vigil to remember her but also in the hopes that public attention might jog someone’s memory about what might have happened. For decades the case has been classified as a missing persons case but the family, as her niece Gina Kerry explains to In the News, want it upgraded to murder. Imelda, they say, would never have voluntarily gone missing. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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The Department of Justice is to introduce a new process for stripping citizenship from Irish citizens, three years after the previous system was struck down by the Supreme Court.

The system will allow the State to revoke the citizenship of Islamic terrorist Ali Charaf Damache, something it has been trying to do since 2018. A convicted terrorist, Algerian-born Damache is in jail in the US where his Irish citizenship helped earn him a shorter sentence through a plea bargain.

About 40 other revocation cases are also pending for a range of other issues, for example where an applicant has been later found to have given false information. Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher explains how Irish citizenship can be revoked, how rare the move is, on what grounds it might happen and how the planned new system will change the process.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

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Former RTE broadcaster Ryan Tubridy kicked off his new job, presenting Virgin Radio UK’s midmorning show, on Tuesday.

The London-based commercial radio station is very different from the national broadcaster and this new iteration of The Ryan Tubridy show, where he is more DJ than chat show presenter, is different from his former slot on RTÉ Radio 1; at three hours it’s certainly longer.

He was let go from RTÉ in June amid the payments controversy that in 2023 engulfed the broadcaster and in which he was centrally involved.

On the new show there is more music and less talk, but as Irish Times radio reviewer Mick Heaney notes on today’s In the News podcast, Tubridy has brought his familiar-to-Irish ears obsessions with him across the water.

But will English listeners find references to the Beatles, walks, books, Connemara and pint of Guinness quite so charming? Can he do a Terry Wogan and become a beloved Irish broadcaster in the UK - or are those days over?

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.

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Looking to feel happier and healthier in life, but don’t know where to start? Clinical Psychologist Dr Trudy Meehan joins Conor Pope to talk about the practical tools we can all start using to bring meaningful change into our lives.

Positive Health: 100+ Research-based Positive Psychology and Lifestyle Medicine Tools to Enhance Your Wellbeing is available now. This episode was originally published in January 2023.

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For decades, a prestigious Dublin school knowingly employed a former SS officer, Louis Feutren, as a French teacher. Now, former students of St Conleth's College allege that Feutren subjected them to physical and psychological abuse. The school has expressed 'regret' - but is that enough?

Guests: Uki Goñi, who attended St Conleth's, and reporter Ronan McGreevy

This episode was originally published in October 2023.

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Chuck Feeney, the Irish-American philanthropist, died in October this year at the age of 92. Two months after his death in San Francisco, he was laid to rest in Dublin's Glasnevin Cemetery. During his lifetime he quietly gave away almost all of his $8 billion fortune. Through his foundation Atlantic Philanthropies he funded massive life-changing education, health and science projects in Ireland, the US and around the world; as a proud Irish-American he helped fund the peace process leading to the Belfast Agreement. He wanted anonymity; he never wanted to be thanked or acknowledged or for his name to be on any of the buildings or institutions his money built. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. This episode was originally published in October 2023.

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In late July, four relatives attended a family lunch at the home of Erin Patterson, a 48 year-old mother of two from Leongatha in Australia. Within days of the lunch, three of the guests were dead, with a fourth left fighting for his life in hospital. A beef wellington that was served for lunch on the day is suspected to have contained poisonous death cap mushrooms. But why were they in there? Australian police must now decipher whether it was simply a tragic accident or if there is something more sinister at play? John Ferguson of The Australian explains the details of the case.

This episode was originally published in August 2023. In November, Erin Patterson was charged by Australian Police with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder. Her trial will take place in 2024.

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An investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) unearthed an underground “banking” network offering an international money transfer system to Irish criminals. It allowed Irish drug gangs to move cash to continental Europe at low risk and without trace. The first step in this process was to bring the ill-gotten money to a local Chinese restaurant.

Irish Times Crime Editor Conor Lally interviewed the head of Cab, who told him about the newly uncovered methods of hiding the proceeds of crime - and about how Instagram and reality TV are influencing the way criminals spend their money. This episode was originally published in November 2023.

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Earlier this Summer, a Netflix documentary, all about the hidden world of freediving, catapulted the sport in front of a global audience. The Deepest Breath, tells the story of Alessia Zecchini, a champion freediver from Italy and Stephen Keenan, an expert safety diver from Glasnevin in Dublin. It follows them as they rise separately through the ranks of the sport, before their lives eventually become intertwined. The film was directed by Irish filmmaker Laura McGann and gives an incredible insight into the world of freediving: which sees divers reach depths of more than 100 meters, without any equipment and with one single breath. In this episode, McGann explains how extraordinary archive footage and the generosity of Stephen’s father Peter helped shape the documentary. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. This episode was originally published in September 2023.

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The Late Late Toy Show is Ireland's most popular TV show every year by a distance, but Toy Show: The Musical was a complete flop, losing €2.2 million in its first year. How did it go so badly wrong? And what does the story tell us about the organisation RTÉ has become and where it is going? Bernice Harrison asks Hugh Linehan. This episode was originally broadcast in July 2023. A forthcoming report by auditors Grant Thornton into the controversial Toy Show: The Musical is expected in early 2024.

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To call Taylor Swift simply a pop singer is to miss the point. She’s a one woman global phenomenon; the 34 year-old is the first musician ever to become a billionaire solely based on her songs and performances. And yet it’s her relatability that her fans love so much. When her Eras Tour hits town – any town – its economic impact is so powerful that a new word has been coined: Swiftenomics. In 2024 she’ll be bringing it to Ireland, to Croke Park. So how did it happen for the pop queen who started out as a teenager singing country. Music journalist Zara Hedderman explains just why Time magazine named Taylor Swift its person of the year and how she has become, what it calls, “the main character of the world”.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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If you spent far too much time this year watching Robbie Williams sitting on a bed in his underpants unpicking his life, or tried to do the Beckham’s loved-up dance in the kitchen, you’re not alone: celebrity documentaries made big news this year with Netflix leading the way. They included Pamela, a Love Story (Anderson), Arnold (Schwarzenegger), and Sly (Stallone) all on Netlix as well as documentaries on other streamers such as the Michael J Fox film, Still, on Apple TV+. But as they are made in co-operation with their starry subjects, are these films worthwhile looks behind the scenes or simply PR-driven vehicles?

Patrick Freyne who writes a weekly Irish Times column on TV gives his take.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

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Last week Liam Byrne, the alleged leader of the Kinahan cartel’s Irish operations, was extradited from Spain to the UK to stand trial and face charges related to the alleged supply of firearms to other crime gangs.

The 43-year-old, who was arrested while eating in a restaurant with his family in Mallorca in early June, had been living openly in Dubai for a couple of years before travelling to Europe for a holiday. Britain’s gun-related allegations are the first gangland charges Byrne has faced after a 20-year run that saw him rise to the top of Ireland’s drugs trade.

If he is charged, what sentence could he face? What does Byrne’s extradition tell us about the state of play in Ireland’s fight against organised crime? And, will other members of the Kinahan gang be next?

On today’s podcast, Irish Times security and crime editor Conor Lally reflects on the life of Liam Byrne and what lies ahead for organised crime in this country.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Declan Conlon.

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On Saturday night, a fire destroyed most of a disused hotel in Co Galway that was set to begin housing up to 70 asylum seekers from Thursday, December 21st.

Minister for Integration, Roderic O’Gorman said the blaze, which gardaí believe was started deliberately, was a “deeply sinister” act designed to intimidate international protection applicants.

The fire at Ross Lake House hotel in Rosscahill, a remote area between Moycullen and Oughterard, is the latest in a growing list of incidents where buildings – particularly hotels – set aside to house asylum seekers, have been vandalised.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak with guests Crime and Security Correspondent, Conor Gallager, and Polical Correspondent, Cormac McQuinn.

Produced by John Casey and Suzanne Brennan.

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On Saturday, May 27th 2023 champion cyclist Gabriele Glodenyte was out on her bike for a morning spin in north county Dublin with her boyfriend Seán Landers.

Gabriele was 24 years-old, a vibrant young woman who shone at everything she did.

But what started as a typical, carefree day for Gabby and Seán ended in tragedy.

Gabriele was killed instantly when an oncoming driver crashed his car.

Seán (25) came upon the scene moments later.

He recalls finding first her mangled bicycle on the road and then her fatally injured body.

As the terrible shock has given way to deep grief, Seán wants to tell the story of that dreadful day in hopes, he says, that motorists will realise just how vulnerable cyclists are.

In his 10 years’ cycling, he says it has become increasingly dangerous for cyclists with drivers behaving more aggressively.

More than 1,600 cyclists have suffered serious crash injuries on Irish roads over the last seven years.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.

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As lead negotiator on climate finance for the EU at Cop28, Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan was at the table in Dubai when the final agreement was written.

The agreement “calls on parties to contribute to transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems”, a historic, if belated, first explicit reference to leaving fossil fuels behind in a Cop text.

Critics such as former president Mary Robinson were quick to point out that “transitioning away” is weaker than the alternative “phased out”.

Mr Ryan says the difference is minor. “Our advisors, legal advisors and others said it was equally strong, and sufficiently strong, compared to phasing out,” he says, arguing the Cop28 agreement, while imperfect, represents an important step-change.

He talks to Bernice Harrison about the rejection of the first draft, how consensus was reached (”fossil fuel lobbyists did not want this text. They fought against it tooth and nail”) and the loopholes that allow continued expansion of fossil fuel production - and defends Ireland’s own record on climate action.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.

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Last month, new figures revealed more than 800 primary school teaching posts across the country were lying empty, with the problem most acute in the Greater Dublin Area. Nearly 90 per cent of Irish schools say they’re experiencing recruitment issues, while many secondary schools have warned they’re being forced to drop or limit access to key subjects such as maths, Irish, biology, home economics, woodwork/construction studies and chemistry.

So, where are all our teachers gone and what can be done to attract people back into the profession? And what does this shortage say about how a career in teaching is perceived these days? Irish Times education editor Carl O’Brien discusses the ongoing teacher shortage and measures being taking to tackle this problem.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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The Israeli Defence Forces deny targeting civilians in Gaza and insist they take all practical measures to protect non-combatants in a war where their enemy, Hamas, hides among the civilian population. But Israeli intelligence sources told journalist Yuval Abraham that the tactics now being used in Gaza are much looser than they were in previous conflicts and are contributing to a huge number of civilian deaths, often in inexplicable circumstances. Yuval talks to Sorcha Pollak about how concepts like "power targets" and AI technology are defining the war in Gaza and increasing the danger for civilians. 

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A recent closure order issued by the County Council to a registered puppy farm in north Cork saw veterinary inspectors seize dogs worth over €80,000 from the premises. Dog breeding is big business in Ireland.

And while the majority of dog breeding establishments here are legitimate enterprises, the sheer demand for puppies means standards can vary hugely from one business to the next. 

Conor Dowling is today’s guest on In the News, and he is the Chief Animal Welfare Inspector at the Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA). He has seen the absolute worse effects of puppy farming and feels that the current rules around mass dog breeding here have led to a ‘confused picture’ and would like to see ‘a total revamp of the legislation that’s currently in place’.  

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

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