In The News

Last week, former garda superintendent John Murphy was jailed for six and a half years after he was caught holding cannabis worth nearly €260,000 in his home in Dublin. He is also at the centre of an investigation into allegations that information held by the force was supplied to the Hutch criminal gang. But how does a senior garda become involved in the drugs trade and end up collaborating with...

Rory Mason, the young man who died in combat in Ukraine this week, was one of thousands of young men from around the world who travelled to join Ukraine's "international legion" and help in the fight against Russia's invasion. But who was Rory Mason, and how important is the international legion to Ukraine's war effort? Ronan McGreevy and Dan McLaughlin report. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

Convicted criminal Jonathan Dowdall is about to lose his name, his identity and his home. The former Sinn Fein councillor and successful businessman has dramatically turned state witness in the upcoming Regency Hotel murder trial and will enter the Irish Witness Protection Programme. What exactly was Dowdall’s involvement in Regency shooting and how will his relocation be managed? Crime Correspond...

Last week the major pipeline bringing gas from Russia into the EU was sabotaged with explosions recorded at at least four different points along the line deep under the Baltic Sea. Flows of gas seeped into the sea, posing a serious threat to vessels in the area, damaging delicate eco-systems and further ratcheting the tension between Russia and all its neighbours to the west. The perpetrators are...

On Sunday, Brazilians will vote in a presidential election that pits former president Lula against incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro is behind in the polls and, continuing his record of Trump-inspired politics, has claimed a loss could only mean voter fraud. But could he really hang on to power? From Sao Paolo, Tom Hennigan has the story of an election that could have global consequences. Hosted...

One off lump sums, a 25% reduction in childcare costs and an increase in welfare payments.   Those are some of the notable measures announced in yesterday’s €11bn budget, aimed at helping offset the cost-of-living crisis.   That’s a big number, but what exactly does it represent for you and your finances?   To understand the picture for households, In The News speaks to: Consumer af...

After a controversial launch earlier this year, a breakaway professional golf league, backed by Saudi Arabia's investment fund, is still going, having survived criticism from players like Rory McIlroy and being called an exercise in sportswashing to improve Saudi Arabia's brutal image. But is anyone watching? Conor Pope asks Irish Times sports writer Malachy Clerkin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...

This week Russian president Vladimir Putin tried to reclaim the initiative in his invasion of Ukraine by announcing a "partial mobilisation" of the population. Will the move dent Ukrainian confidence that the Russians can be repelled? Daniel McLaughlin reports from Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parents in Ireland today are facing some of the highest childcare costs in the world. What relief can be expected for parents in the upcoming budget and what can be done to reform the sector?  Features writer Jennifer O’Connell reports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, the body of 28-year-old Tony Dempsey was discovered at a flat in Dublin’s north inner city. It’s believed his remains lay there for up to a week before the alarm was raised, with people coming and going from the premises during that time. How did this happen in a busy apartment complex and what were the circumstances that led to this tragedy? Security and Crime editor Conor Lally report...

The finances of the British monarchy remain, in part, a mystery. Royal wills are never made public, so it’s not quite clear what wealth is passed down to the next generation. So, where does the money come from and how is it managed? In this episode, Laura Clancy, author of ‘'Running the Family Firm: how the monarchy manages its image and our money’ tells Conor Pope how the royals operate more like...

While it may not be dominating the conversation like it did last year, Covid is still here and numbers are on the rise. Health Editor Paul Cullen speaks to Conor Pope about how prepared we should be as we face into a third winter, living alongside the virus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan McLaughlin reports on the counter-offensive carried out in recent days by Ukrainian Armed Forces that has recaptured swathes of territory from the Russians in the northeast and south. Will the operation change the course of the war and how will Russia react? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Somalia is on the brink of famine. By the end of this year, the country will have gone through five failed rainy seasons, which means for over two years, people have not been able to plant or harvest any crops and millions of livestock have died. Irish Times reported Sally Hayden visited the country in April this year and tells Sorcha Pollak about the devastation and suffering she witnessed there....

What is it about Garth Brooks we love so much? To find out, Conor Pope talked to superfans Anna O'Donoghue and Paul McKeever and music critic Tony Clayton-Lea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London editor Denis Staunton on the death of Queen Elizabeth II: how the world learned she was dying, what happens next, and the impact her death will have on the British people and the monarchy itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the colder winter months approach, the energy crisis shows no signs of abating. So, what is being done about it and how bad will it get? Conor Pope speaks to Irish Times political reporter Jack Horgan-Jones about the Government’s response to soaring energy prices and what measures they will take to further protect consumers, while ESRI energy economist Dr Muireann Lynch explains why we are faci...

Sorcha Pollak speaks to Irish Times crime correspondent Conor Gallagher about a recent incident in Dublin, which saw international protection applicants forced to leave their temporary accommodation centre, after a local campaign of intimidation and criminal damage. We also hear from Fiona Hurley of NASC Ireland, the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre who talks about the two-tier immigration system...

Climate denial can take many forms. Some refuse to accept the science, while others avoid the overwhelm by diverting their attention elsewhere. Professor John Sharry from UCD’s School of Psychology talks to Conor Pope about the reasons people choose to deny the crisis and why ultimately, it’s an unhelpful coping mechanism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Students now need more CAO points than ever to secure a spot in many university courses, thanks to grade inflation caused by the predicted grades system of the pandemic years. And while this year's grades will be raised to match the inflated grades of the past two years, the situation means some deserving students will miss out on their preferred places. Even if students do secure a place at unive...

In early 2006, just days away from her due date, Cork woman Mairie Cregan was told her unborn baby, Liliana, had no heartbeat. Here, she tells Sorcha Pollak about her experience of stillbirth and why it remains a subject that many people struggle to talk about. Mairie has since set up the charity Féileacáin to help parents going through the same grieving process and explains why it’s time to break...

Could psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, play a role in the treatment of PTSD, OCD and eating disorders? A global series of trials, including one in Tallaght, may add to the evidence that psilocybin can play a unique role in therapy. Patrick Freyne talks to Conor Pope about the potential of psychedelic therapy and how decades of research were lost to the "war on drugs". Hosted o...

Demands by Irish Catholics for major change in the church’s attitude to women, LGBTI+ people, those who are divorced or remarried, and single parents have been sent to Rome as part of a Vatican project to take the considerations of the faithful on board. But will the Church really change? Patsy McGarry is Religious Affairs Correspondent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The killing of Michael Collins created the greatest "what if" in Irish history. If he had lived, would Irish history have played out differently? Would the influence of the Catholic Church have been less? Would he have attempted to win back the six counties of Northern Ireland? 100 years on from Collins' death, Irish Times reporter and historian Ronan McGreevy looks at the outstanding questions ov...

One year on from the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, what is life like for the people living under their rule? Conor pope speaks to Fatema Mohammadi, an Afghan woman who has been living in Ireland since fleeing Kabul earlier this year. She explains what life is like for the women and girls there who have been denied access to work and education. We also hear from Colin P Clarke,  a senior re...