Behind the Story

A documentary by RTÉ Investigates revealed multiple examples of care failings at one of Ireland’s leading nursing home providers.   Fran and Katie discuss the programme and the questions raised about how older people are cared for. Meanwhile, in the US, the bromance between Donald Trump and Elon Musk came to an abrupt end on social media after the tech boss criticised the President’s “bi...

Operation Spider’s Web was a Ukrainian attack that saw more than 100 drones target strategic bomber aircraft at sites deep inside Russia. The country’s domestic intelligence service claimed that it caused €6 billion worth of damage to Russia’s military in an attack that it had been working on it for 18 months. Fran and David talk to Dr Patrick Bury, Senior Associate Professor in Security at the Un...

The latest EPA report shows that Ireland will at best achieve a 23% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, which is substantially lower than the 51% target. It also suggests a backwards step from last year’s projection of 29%, so what is going on? In the latest episode of Behind the Story Fran and David pick the brain of RTÉ’s Environment Correspondent George Lee to try figure out why Irel...

Fran and Katie are joined by legal affairs correspondent, Orla O'Donnell and by Prime Time's Barry Cummins to reveal the inside story of the Richard Satchwell case. Satchwell was found guilty of the murder of his wife Tina, who he claimed disappeared in 2017.  Barry interviewed and met Satchwell on many occasions and he discusses his impressions of him and what it was like to interview him in...

Fourteen years after Shane O’Farrell was killed by a driver who should have been in jail at the time, his family have finally received an apology. Katie, Fran, and David take a look at the case and how Shane’s mother Lucia campaigned relentlessly for answers. The team also look at the crisis at CHI, and discuss RTÉ's appearance at an Oireachtas Committee.  See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

The latest garda figures have shown a surge in online fraud, as more fake websites, ticket hoaxes, and phishing texts are popping up. Fran and David are joined by Aengus Cox to go through what authorities say they are seeing, and how banks and tech companies are reacting to it. The team also take a look at the Donald Trump v Bruce Springsteen saga, as the veteran rockstar has been taking aim at th...

Katie and Fran chat about Donald Trump's latest threat to slap the EU with a 50% tariff on goods which could kick in as early as June 1st.  They also joined by Prime Time’s Kate McDonald to discuss Thursday’s programme which looked at the manosphere, and how some men are being shaped by online content.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s Behind the Story Fran and David are joined by The Independent’s Chief Foreign Correspondent Bel Trew to discuss a week which saw many of Israel's allies express frustration with it over the war in Gaza. Email: behindthestory@rte.ie New episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RTÉ's Southern Editor Paschal Sheehy joins David and Fran from Kerry to give them an insight into the investigation into Michael Gaine's death. There was a major development last Friday after the discovery of human tissue in slurry. Although testing is yet to be completed, gardaí are working under the assumption that the remains are those of the missing farmer, and a man known to Michael Gaine has...

Katie reflects on comments by former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the TV show ‘Uncharted’ on how he used to get regular abuse both in person and online and how the downsides of public life eventually overtook the good sides. The trio also discuss the impact of social media on children and the growing industry of child influencers. They tease out if Ireland could follow Australia's lead and ban social...

Europe's highest court has sided with the New York Times after it challenged the EU Commission on its witholding of texts between its President Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. The texts were sent ahead of the EU agreeing a deal for 1.8 billion vaccine doses in May 2021. Fran, David and RTÉ’s Europe Editor Tony Connelly dissect the finer details of the case and go through why it...

US President Donald Trump is embarking on a visit to the Middle East this week, and as he steps onto his plane it’s another one from the Qataris that has been making the headlines. Reports suggest the country will gift him a new Air Force One jet, and its being dubbed the “palace in the sky”. Fran and David discuss the latest news around the US president, which also includes a “deal” with China to...

This week the Government published new AI guidelines for the public sector, which got David, Katie, and Fran thinking about the tech’s rapid growth. AI is proving transformative for many industries, like health and education, but it is also threatening jobs, a generator for misinformation, and being used for scams. The trio discuss the technology’s rise, and how it will impact us all in the near f...

David, Katie and Fran discuss the Gaza aid blockade and RTÉ's call for discussion around Israel's participation in next week's Eurovision. The trio also tease out how the Papal Conclave will work and who might be the next Pope.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fran and Katie are joined by reporter Jackie Fox to talk US politics, as the country is in the process of selecting its next ambassador to Ireland. Trump’s golf buddy Edward Walsh is the current front-runner for the position, and yesterday he was told by the Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Ireland’s recognition of a Palestinian state was a ‘mistake’.  See omnystudio.com/li...

Fran, David and Katie discuss the recent controversy around the band, Kneecap. The band claims their controversial remarks were taken out of context, but Fran and Katie question what context those incidents are supposed to be taken in. The hosts look at their future gigs, from Glastonbury to their US tour due in October, and how their critics are mounting pressure on the organisers. See omnystudio...

Tune in for insightful and informed conversation as three of RTÉ’s top journalists, David McCullagh, Katie Hannon and Fran McNulty digest some of the news stories of the day. Expect deep dives, analysis, interesting guests and maybe even some laughs along the way.  New episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Starts April 30th 2025. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...