In The News

British socialite Constance Marten, 38, and her partner convicted rapist Mark Gordon, 51, prompted a 53-day police manhunt when they went on the run with their newborn daughter in the depths of winter two years ago.That hunt ended in tragedy after the decomposed body of their baby, Victoria, was discovered in a shopping bag buried under rubbish in Brighton; the couple were camping nearby.While no definitive cause of the baby's death could be established, they were found guilty in July of her manslaughter by gross negligence.The scenes in the Old Bailey in London were as chaotic as their lives and the details that emerged of the birth and death of their daughter were harrowing.It is thought they went on the run when Marten was pregnant as their four young children had already been taken into care.Their sentencing is expected in September.In the second of two episodes on their case, BBC news correspondent Helena Wilkinson takes us inside the courtroom and explains why it "was the most extraordinary trial" she has ever reported on. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British socialite Constance Marten, 38, and her partner convicted rapist Mark Gordon, 51, prompted a 53-day police manhunt when they went on the run with their newborn daughter in the depths of winter two years ago.That hunt ended in tragedy after the decomposed body of their baby, Victoria, was discovered in a shopping bag buried under rubbish in Brighton; the couple were camping nearby.While no definitive cause of the baby's death could be established, they were found guilty in July of her manslaughter by gross negligence.The scenes in the Old Bailey in London were as chaotic as their lives and the details that emerged of the birth and death of their daughter were harrowing.It is thought they went on the run when Marten was pregnant as their four young children had already been taken into care.Their sentencing is expected in September.BBC news correspondent Helena Wilkinson takes us inside the courtroom and explains how the tragic case unfolded.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kerry farmer Michael Gaine's disappearance on March 20th was first treated as a missing person's case.Soon though, it was upgraded to a murder investigation as the Garda searched for his body and explored multiple lines of inquiry.Then the farmer's body was found – in the most grisly of circumstances. He had been dismembered with his body parts deposited into the silage pit on his farm.One such line of inquiry involved Michael Kelley, an American who lived and worked on Gaine's 1,000-acre farm for the past three years.Kelley has identified himself to the media as having been arrested and questioned in relation to Gaine's murder. He was released without charge.So is he and what was he doing in Kerry? How did he come to live and work on the Gaine farm? And why is he giving interviews?Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.This episode was originally broadcast in June 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sports memorabilia is big business in the United States. Exceptional athletes can attain God-like status very quickly there, and everybody wants a piece. The baseball that Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit for his 50th home run last season, recently sold for $4.3 million. And if you are into buying sports memorabilia, chances are at some point you logged on to a website called Mister Man Cave, which boasts one of the largest football, baseball and basketball autograph inventories on the web. That's what it looked like, but all wasn't as it seemed. During an investigation into fraud and counterfeiting at Mister Man Cave, its owner 45-year-old Brett Lemieux took his own life. Host Bernice Harrison is joined by Irish Times contributor and America at Large columnist Dave Hannigan, who explains that before his death, in a Facebook post, Lemieux spelled out for investigators and sports fans how he had flooded the market with hundreds of thousands of fraudulent sports-related items over two decades, generating hundreds of millions of dollars for his company. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, hundreds of Ukrainians took to the streets across the country protesting a government move to slash the independence of two anti-corruption agencies.Volodomyr Zelenskiy faced the first street protests against his presidency since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 after he signed a controversial law that would curb the independence of Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office.Two days later, Mr Zelensky backtracked on the controversial changes after European officials warned the bill threatened to undermine Ukraine's ongoing bid to join the union. Mr Zelensky also said he had “heard the public opinion”.However, is this U-turn enough to end the controversy? And why did the Ukrainian president introduce the bill in the first place?Today, on In The News, is Zelensky losing the trust of the Ukrainian people?Irish Times eastern Europe correspondent Dan McLaughlin discusses the fallout from Ukraine's anti-corruption scandal, relations between Zelensky and Donald Trump and the latest on the front line of the war in Ukraine.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, after weeks of warnings, and growing reports of young children dying from malnutrition and starvation, a famine alert was issued for Gaza.UN-backed hunger experts announced that the “worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip”.The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC) said the latest evidence of widespread starvation, malnutrition and disease indicated famine thresholds had been reached for food consumption in most of the Gaza Strip.The UN's world Food Programme also warned the disaster unfolding in Gaza was reminiscent of the famine seen in Ethiopia in the 20th century. On today's In the News podcast, Dr Morgan McMonagle, an Irish trauma and vascular surgeon who has travelled to Gaza twice since the war began, describes how life in the strip has become “worse than hell on earth”.Video footage and pictures “do not do justice to the destruction” playing out in Gaza, he said. Children are undergoing surgery “for the most horrific injuries from the most sophisticated million dollar war machines,” he added.“What Gazan people need right now, more than a ceasefire, is food. Food and water. They don't even need medicine, because medicine is no good without food and water.”Today, on In The News, an Irish surgeon on the reality of violence and starvation in Gaza.The Irish Times contacted the Israeli government and Israel Defence Forces requesting that they respond to the points raised by Dr McMonagle in this podcast but they did not reply.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Andrew McNair and Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday, shortly after playing a round of golf at his luxury Turnberry resort in Scotland, US president Donald Trump agreed to a trade deal with the EU commission president. It followed months of tension and shifting deadlines over a threatened 30 per cent tariff and all-out trade war, which would have been devastating for the Irish economy.And while 15 per cent avoids the worst case scenario, business leaders here like IBEC chief executive Danny McCoy claim “Europe has capitulated” by accepting the deal.Sow how exactly will these tariffs affect Irish businesses and what are the longer term implications?Was Ms von der Leyen correct in agreeing to it or should the EU have followed French president Emmanuel Macron's call to hit back hard against US trade threats with a more aggressive response?Irish Times acting Europe Correspondent Jack Power and economics and finance writer Cliff Taylor join the podcast to discuss the fallout.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon, Aideen Finnegan and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The attack on an Indian man on a suburban street in south Dublin two weeks ago by a gang of teenagers was fuelled by racism and online misinformation.The married father of one, who had left his wife and child in India to take up a job in Dublin just weeks before, was brutally assaulted, robbed and stripped of some of his clothes.It is understood the group had falsely accused the man of acting inappropriately around children. These claims were later spread online, including by prominent far-right and anti-immigrant accounts.Garda sources said there is no truth to accusations the man was acting inappropriately.Local woman Jennifer Murray was driving when she noticed the bloodied and half-dressed man standing at the side of the road, shocked and injured. She tells In the News how events unfolded.Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher explains that this incident is the not the first of its kind and how the Garda are dealing with the spread of misinformation.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Michael D Higgins's 14-year term is in its final months with an election to decide his predecessor set to take place before November 11th.After months when a changing list of potential candidates tended towards the fanciful – for a while it seemed that anyone with a public profile was in the frame – now two names have emerged as definite contenders: Independent TD Catherine Connolly and former MEP Mairead McGuinness.Connolly has secured the backing of the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and several Independent members, while McGuinness is the Fine Gael nominee.Going by previous presidential elections, it won't be a two-horse race but when will other candidates declare? And do the two women have early-mover advantage?Irish Times political correspondent Ellen Coyne explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The All-Ireland senior men's football final takes place on Sunday, and following last week's takeover of In the News by Malachy Clerkin to look at the hurling final, this week Malachy is back with two former football greats, Dean Rock and Conor McManus, to look at the clash between Donegal and Kerry. We hope you enjoy. In the News will return with a regular episode tomorrow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, during a meeting at the White House with the president of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, US president Donald Trump launched an incendiary attack on one of his predecessors, Barack Obama.In a fluent speech he accused Obama of “treason” and “sedition”.No evidence was given and the“papers” he mentioned seemed to refer to last week's report from Tulsi Gabbard, his national security director, on the 2016 election that claimed to show “a treasonous conspiracy” with Russia to fix the election against Trump.Trump has frequently attacked his political opponents, regularly mentioning “Sleepy Joe Biden” and “Lying Hillary Clinton”. But is this different? And why now? Might it be another diversionary tactic to take the focus of the so-called Epstein files, as the controversy around their release – or even existence – shows no sign of calming? And what has Obama said?Scott Lucas, political analyst and professor at UCD's Clinton Institute, explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this month, a tanker laden with thousands of tonnes of crude oil, which had set off from a Russian port on the Baltic Sea, sailed down the west coast of Ireland. The decision by the Sierra, a 250-metre tanker which was destined for India, to sail around the British Isles and into the North Atlantic, rather than take the more direct route through the English Channel, has caused confusion and concern among maritime and naval experts. The tanker, which passed by the west coast of Ireland on July 10th, was just one of the rising number of sanctioned Russian ships, known as shadow fleet vessels, to sail through Irish-controlled waters in recent months. The suspicious and bizarre behaviour of these vessels has prompted the Irish Defence Forces and Government to step up maritime monitoring because of environmental and national security concerns. What is this Russian shadow fleet and why are some of their vessels taking the longer route around the Irish coast and sailing outside recognised shipping lanes? And what are the security and environmental risks posed by these ships? Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher discusses the dramatic increase in the number of sanctioned Russian ships sailing through Irish-controlled waters. Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In March of this year, the eyes of the world turned towards the occupied West Bank when the film ‘No Other Land', which tells the story of Israel's forced displacement of Palestinians in the region, won the Oscar for best documentary feature.Two months later, The Settlers, a BBC documentary where broadcaster and journalist Louis Theroux meets the growing community of religious-nationalist Israelis who have settled in the occupied territories, went viral.Driving around the West Bank, 14 years on from his first visit to the area, Theroux said “much was still the same” in the occupied zone. “The same sense of a two-tier society: Jewish settlers who lived protected under Israeli civil law; Palestinians who were subject to an opaque regime of military rule, with roads closed, life made difficult in ways big and small,” he wrote in a Guardian newspaper in May.Yet, the situation in the West Bank is not what it was a few years ago. In January 2025, Israel launched its Iron Wall military operation which left tens of thousands of Palestinians without proper shelter or healthcare, while the expansion of Israeli settlements – which are illegal under international law – has rapidly increased since Hamas's October 7th attack on Israel in 2023.In May, Israel announced that 22 new Jewish settlements had been approved in the occupied West Bank – the biggest expansion in decades.Meanwhile, in Ireland, the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Occupied Territories Bill, which would ban trade in goods with the occupied Palestinian territories, is continuing.But even if it passes, what will this Irish legislation actually achieve? Irish Times journalist Sally Hayden reports from the West Bank. Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An inquest doesn't typically hear questions about the consummation of a relationship or the validity of a marriage certificate, and it's not usual for there to be so many lawyers in a coroner's court. But when there's a farm, valued at €5.5 million at stake, and the circumstances around the death are somewhat confused, it's perhaps to be expected.The three-day inquest into the death of wealthy farmer Joe Grogan (75) at his home on April 15th, 2023 heard questions that a coroner's court is not there to answer. Its job is to establish cause of death.Grogan had been married the previous day, to his long-time friend and sometime carer Lisa Flaherty. A clear cause of death could not be established because he had been embalmed within hours.His 220-acre farm at Screggan, near Tullamore is well-known having hosted the National Ploughing Championships for two years and is set to do so again this year. As his widow, Flaherty stands to inherit his estate.Members of Grogan's family questioned the validity of the marriage – they said they were unaware it had taken place – and there were heated scenes in the court.Ultimately the coroner Raymond Mahon ruled that the newly-wed farmer probably died of an infection associated with his stage-four cancer, his immune system being compromised because of chemotherapy and significant weight loss. He said the evidence did not support a finding of unlawful killing as had been suggested and he rejected calls by Grogan's extended family to refer the circumstances of the death to the Garda.Irish Times reporter Colm Keena was in court to hear the verdict and explains the background.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the US and the Taliban signed a peace deal that saw all international troops leaving Afghanistan by May 2021, Britain promised to relocate those Afghans who had aided it in the war effort.They had to apply to the Ministry of Defence for consideration. But then in 2022 the list was leaked – in an administrative error – making those on it targets for retribution by the Taliban. It's thought that about 100,000 people were put at risk by the leak when wider family members were included.A panicked reaction followed in 2023 when the list appeared on Facebook and a series of decisions were made by a small number of senior civil servants that were only revealed to parliament and the British public this week.First a super-injunction was placed on the media and on anyone with knowledge of the leak leading to a blanket of secrecy.Then the UK government set up a secret multibillion-pound scheme to bring Afghans to Britain.The political fallout in the UK is ongoing as Mark Paul, Irish Times London correspondent, explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The All-Ireland senior men's hurling final takes place on Sunday.To mark the occasion, The Irish Times sports department takes over our podcast feed to bring you a conversation between sports writer Malachy Clerkin and columnists (and legends of the game) Nicky English and Joe Canning.They look at the teams and tactics they expect to see on Sunday, and make some big predictions. Whether you are a die-hard fan, or simply want to jump on the hurling bandwagon before kick-off, we hope you enjoy this conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump once said that he would "probably" release documents relating to the life and crimes of late billionaire and notorious sexual abuser Jeffrey Epstein. Others in his circle went further, pledging to reveal any information held on Epstein. Such files have long been rumoured to include the names of fellow abusers Epstein conspired with. Now that his administration has said it will not release the files, many among Trump's MAGA base believe that a sacred promise has been broken.But was it a promise that should ever have been made? Is there anything to the "Epstein client list" conspiracy theories? And could the controversy cause Trump real harm? Keith Duggan reports from Washington. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the last academic year, hundreds of schools around the country have been affected by the ongoing teacher shortage. It's a crisis which has left almost 1900 teaching posts vacant. But with record numbers of teachers employed in Ireland and a healthy supply of teaching graduates coming down the pipeline, what's going on? Why are schools scrambling for teachers and what are the knock on effects for students?In today's episode, Sorcha Pollak talks to Irish Times Education editor Carl O'Brien to find out more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Opposition parties including the Social Democrats and Sinn Féin have been criticising the Government over its record on the cost of living, and especially the price of food, alleging that supermarkets have been allowed to "price gouge" customers. It's true that food price inflation has hit Irish shoppers hard in recent years. But are supermarkets really ripping us off, and does the Government have the power to influence prices? Sorcha Pollak asks Conor Pope. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Salt Path, a memoir published in 2018, told an inspirational story; how Raynor Winn and her husband Moth lost their home following an unwise investment while the couple were dealing with Moth's diagnosis of a rare terminal illness.It was how they dealt with these blows that was so uplifting: they embarked on a 1,000km coastal walk and a journey of self-exploration. The book sold more than two million copies and prompted a film adaptation starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs.And while creative licence is usual and even expected in any memoir, an investigation by Chloe Hadjimatheou, a reporter with the Observer newspaper, claims Raynor – real name are Sally Walker – had embezzled money from a former employer.Hadjimatheou also raises a sceptical eyebrow about the diagnosis of corticobasal degeneration that Moth received in 2013, though she does say that nothing she has seen contradicts his diagnosis or the book's account of it.So what has been the reaction from the publishers, the film-makers and the couple in the eye of this literary storm – the Walkers, aka the Winns.Statements responding to the allegations came as the week went on including one from Raynor posting on her website.She admitted her deep regret for any mistakes she made while working for her former employer and is devastated by “unfair and false” accusations that her husband's illness was fabricated or exaggerated. She said the book's account of the way they lost their home is true and that their property in France is “an uninhabitable ruin”. She noted the couple have no outstanding debts.Chloe Hadjimatheou explains the fallout to her report.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The seizure of the MV Matthew, with its massive consignment of drugs, off the Irish coast in September 2023 was as daring as it was skilful.After days of a cat and mouse chase in challenging weather between the Naval Service and the Matthew, members of the elite Army Ranger Wing descended from a helicopter on to the deck of the cargo ship. The crew were arrested and the drugs found.Operation Piano – which brought Revenue, the Garda and the Defence Forces together – resulted in Ireland's largest ever drugs seizure, worth €156 million.While the operation was an undoubted success, a showcase of ability, power and intent, it also highlighted how ill-equipped the Defence Forces are.Only one ship was available for the operation, and only one helicopter. So many things could have gone wrong.Eight men have been jailed over the drugs seizure, their significant sentences a signal from the Irish courts that anyone involved in such international drug smuggling will be treated severely.Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher describes how the Matthew was intercepted and seized.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parliament Street, the short, wide road that has Dublin's quays at one end and City Hall at the other was, up to last week, clogged with traffic.Not any more.In the latest phase of the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan it has now been closed off to motorised vehicles. It is not fully pedestrianised – cyclists can still use it.That's another car-free initiative ticked off the city council's list, with the development of College Green Plaza next on the agenda. But that's been in the works for years and it still seems a long way off.And already the costs have spiralled from €10m to €80 – with no start date in sight.So what's happening? Irish Times Dublin editor Olivia Kelly explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, a catastrophic flood tore through central Texas, killing more than a hundred people, including over two dozen children attending a Christian girls' summer camp.An entire summer's worth of rain water was dumped on the region within hours, leaving total devastation in its wake.Now, as the search and rescue efforts continue, the political blame game has well and truly begun.Some Democrats quickly warned about the “consequences” of the Trump administration's cuts to the federal government workforce, including meteorologists within the National Weather Service.The Trump administration responded that the floods were a “once-in-a-generation natural disaster” and accused the Democrats of pushing “falsehoods” through the media.Today, on In The News, the political fallout from the Texas flooding disaster.Irish Times Washington correspondent Keith Duggan discusses the aftermath of the Texas floods and the political posturing that has followed the human catastrophe.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2025 Leaving Cert exams are finally a thing of the past and 18-year-olds have begun their annual pilgrimage to party hotspots across southern Europe to blow off steam after a year of study.And while these trips are regarded as a rite of passage for some students, it can also be a worrying time for parents, with some tracking their children for the entire holiday.Last week, Irish Times reporter Niamh Browne travelled to the Greek island of Zakynthos, or Zante as it's better know, where she spent a week speaking to South Dublin students, local Greek residents and even the mayor of the island.Why did these students choose to travel to Zante, how do they pay for these holidays and how bad is the drugs and drink scene on the party strip?And are parents taking things a step too far by online tracking, and sometimes following, their children on their post-Leaving Cert overseas celebration?Today, on In The News, What happens in Zante, stays in Zante. That is, until now ...Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Taoiseach Micheál Martin wraps up his four-day visit to Japan today with a visit to Hiroshima where he will lay a wreath at the cenotaph commemorating those who died after the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city in 1945.It's been a hectic few days with an itinerary that included the opening of Ireland House in Tokyo, which at more than €20 million is the largest capital project overseas since the foundation of the State, as well as a visit to Osaka to visit the Irish pavilion at Expo 2025, an international exposition that is expected to attract more than 28 million people.Irish Times Beijing-based correspondent Denis Staunton explains why this visit is so timely and why it has focused on an economic relationship that has doubled in size over the past decade.He also explains the deep interest in Irish culture that has been building in Japan, from the development of Irish pubs to the thriving branch of Comhaltas.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

George Gibney was arrested on Tuesday in Florida after a Garda request was made to the US State Department to extradite him to Ireland to face charges relating to alleged historical child sex abuse.The 77-year-old former swim coach, who avoided trial on sexual abuse charges in 1994 after successfully challenging his prosecution in the High Court, is now accused of 78 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape relating to four girls; and the alleged attempted rape of one of the girls.All four were minors, aged between eight and 15, and were coached by Gibney.They made complaints to the Garda between 2020 and 2022 after the BBC and Second Captains podcast Where is George Gibney? was aired in 2020.But why did it take over 30 years for Gibney to face fresh charges - and what happens next?Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally explains the background.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last month, a 22-year-old man named Evan Fitzgerald walked into the busy Fairgreen shopping centre in Carlow and opened fire. He then turned his weapon on himself and ended his own life.Following the incident, details quickly emerged about the young man's fascination with guns and his previous run-in with gardaí.And this week, it emerged Fitzgerald had possession of more weapons than previously reported.The shooting, and gardaí's interaction with Fitzgerald before the Carlow incident, have become the subject of much debate and discussion in recent weeks. Senator and former minister for justice Michael McDowell described the Garda operation to sell Fitzgerald guns as “entrapment”, while Labour TD Alan Kelly questioned the need for gardaí to have delivered weapons to the young man.Today, on In The News, Irish Times Crime and Security Correspondent Conor Gallagher discusses the twists and turns of the Evan Fitzgerald case.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On June 30th 1922, a massive explosion ripped through Dublin's Four Courts, after the Irish Free state national army opened fire on anti-treaty republicans occupying the building.Inside the building, the old, dry files housed in the Public Record Office quickly caught fire. The blast sent a dramatic pillar of black smoke hundreds of metres into the air and flung files, books and scrolls high in the sky above the Liffey. Paper scraps and fragments fell across the city with some even landing in Howth, 10km away.The explosion destroyed nearly seven hundred years of documented Irish history, including pre-famine 19-century census records and files detailing espionage, politics and the lives of ordinary Irish people.The blast also marked the start of the Irish Civil War.Three years ago, the Government launched Beyond 2022 – an international effort to try to recover the information lost in the fire and recreate a virtual treasury for future generations.And this week, 175,000 documents have been made freely and publicly available online through the Virtual Record Treasury.Today, on In The News, the online project reconstructing 700 years of Irish history.Dr Ciarán Wallace, codirector of the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland, discusses the implications of the information lost in the1922 Civil War blast and the efforts to reassemble the millions of words lost in the fire.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two court cases this month will have signalled to those supplying so-called ‘dodgy boxes' that there is a high penalty to be paid.A man who appeared before Trim District Court charged with selling the boxes was jailed for 3½ years, while in the High Court Sky Ireland alleged that another man may have earned up to €450,000 a year from operating a different dodgy service.These cases occur periodically as the law catches up with those selling the means to illegally watch content that broadcasters and streamers services charge for.But could people who buy these boxes be hauled before the courts?Sky Ireland chief executive JD Buckley has warned of “consequences for those identified as operating illegal services and for those who watch them”.Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Renters and landlords alike are confused about exactly how the forthcoming changes to rules governing tenancies will affect them. In what circumstances can rent be raised? In what circumstances can a landlord legally ask a tenant to move out? Consumer Affairs Correspondent Conor Pope sets out to answer their questions, as submitted to The Irish Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new chapter in the fractious relationship between Iran and the US began this week with America's bombing of three Iranian nuclear-development sites; Iran's retaliatory strike on a US military base in Qatar, and the tentative ceasefire in the Israel-Iran war announced by President Donald Trump.The two countries have history: Key dates include 1953 when a CIA-orchestrated a coup, with British support, overthrew Iran's democratically elected government and installed the monarch in exile, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi – the Shah of Iran; 1979 when Iranians, rebelling against his autocratic rule and fuelled by anti-American sentiment ousted the Shah putting the theocratic revolutionaries in power with their hard-line rule; November 4th, 1979 when Iranian students held more than 50 American citizens hostage at the US Embassy in Tehran in captivity for 444 days; and 1980 when US-Iran diplomatic relations broke down and stayed that way until US President Barack Obama struck a deal in 2013 with Iran to curtail its burgeoning nuclear programme.In his first presidency Trump called that nuclear deal “the worse deal over” and pulled the US out. This left the way open for Iran to ramp up its nuclear programme.But what happens now? Are the days of diplomacy over and how will Iran react?Borzou Daraghi, Iranian-American journalist and long-time Middle East-based Journalist, explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last weekend, former Ireland international and premier league star Damien Duff sent shock waves through Irish football when he announced he was resigning as manager of Shelbourne FC.In a statement, the Tolka Park club said it was “regretfully” announcing Duff's departure.“While all at Shelbourne FC are deeply saddened by Damien's decision, we fully respect that he feels this is the right choice for him at this time,” it said in a statement.“His impact on Shelbourne FC was transformational ... we are eternally grateful for the indelible mark he has left on our club,” said the club.Duff steps away from the club four and a half years after taking on the managerial role. During that time, he rebuilt the north Dublin club and delivered last season's League of Ireland Premier Division title – its first since 2006.Duff will also be a huge loss to the League of Ireland having built a new legacy for himself as the man who helped to transform the credibility of league.Why did he suddenly leave and what does it mean for the future of Shelbourne FC? And what about the ongoing revival of League of Ireland football?Today, on In The News, why did Damien Duff walk out on Shels?Irish Times sports writer Malachy Clerkin discusses the fallout from Duff's decision to step down.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early hours of March 15th 2024, a woman walked into a hospital in the city of Boston and reported she had been raped.The following day, Dublin firefighter Terrence Crosbie (38) was arrested at Boston Logan International Airport when he was boarding a plane to fly back to Ireland.Last week, after a six-day trial and more than 22 hours of jury deliberations, a Boston judge declared a mistrial after the jury failed to make a unanimous decision.Mr Crosbie, who has spent 15 months in jail, has been sent back to prison until his next trial, which is set for October 14th.Today on In the News, investigative journalist Susan Zalkind discusses the details of the Boston rape trial.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At least 184 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, according to Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a non-profit organisation that advocates for press freedom and the rights of journalists. Of these, 176 were Palestinian.For nearly 19 months, Israel has blocked the foreign press from entering Gaza to report on the war, leaving a small number of local Palestinian journalists to cover the conflict.Israel's ongoing refusal to grant foreign journalists access to the strip is “without precedent in modern times”, a recent letter from the world's media warned.Today on The Irish Times In the News podcast reporter Sally Hayden and CPJ chief executive Jodie Ginsberg discuss the implications of barring journalists from entering Gaza and the realities of reporting from a war zone.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

Since Israel launched air strikes on Iran last Friday, the two states have traded missiles with mounting casualties on both sides.Iranian military leaders have been killed as have some of its nuclear scientists but the country's citizens have borne the brunt of the air attacks.Israel has said its rationale for the middle-of-the-night attack that sparked the war was its need to ensure, for its own protection, that Iran's nuclear programme is halted.How close Iran is to actually having a nuclear bomb is unclear but for Israel to obliterate entirely the nuclear threat it needs the US to join the war, to send its “bunker buster” mega bomb to destroy the Fordo uranium enrichment facility buried deep in the mountains.But if the US does enter the war, what will that mean for the region? And what is Donald Trump's position on entering the war?Is there any chance that Iran, whose military capabilities have been weakened, will surrender?Faraz Gergez, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is the author of several books on the Middle East including The Great Betrayal: The Struggle for Freedom and Democracy in the Middle East.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Someone in Ireland has just won €250 million. It's the biggest ever lottery win in Europe and it means the winner's life will never be the same again. But history shows that suddenly coming into vast wealth is not always a good thing. Conor Pope talks to Bernice Harrison about the pitfalls of winning the Euromillions - and what you should do in the extremely unlikely event you find yourself in that position. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, preparatory works began at the former site of the mother and baby institution in Tuam, Co Galway in advance of the long-awaited excavation to identify the remains of nearly 800 infants. The excavation, which is due to start in mid-July, takes place 11 years after research by local historian Catherine Corless found 796 children had died at the institution run by the Bon Secours religious order between 1925-1961. How long will the excavation take, what does it expect to find and what will happen to the remains of the infants uncovered at the former mother and baby home? Irish Times reporter Órla Ryan reflects on the decade since the Tuam revelations and the latest steps in bringing closure to family members still seeking answers. Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday night, 57-year-old Vance Boelter was arrested and charged with murder following the largest manhunt in the history of the US state of Minnesota.Mr Boelter is suspected of shooting and killing a Democratic politician and her husband and of shooting and wounding a Democratic senator and his wife on Saturday.That same day, Donald Trump celebrated his birthday by holding a carefully choreographed military parade in Washington DC, while across the country, millions of protesters took part in ‘No Kings' demonstrations.What do we know about the Minnesota attacks and what do these shootings mean for the safety of American lawmakers?To what degree is Trump's rhetoric prompting violence against politicians in the US?And what do these mass demonstrations, and Trump's response to protesters, tell us about the country's deteriorating political situation?Today, on In The News, have the divisive politics of Trump's second term reached boiling point?Professor of International Politics at the UCD Clinton Institute Scott Lucas joins the podcast.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On her last gruelling day on the stand in the murder trial that has gripped Australia, Erin Patterson faced three succinct questions from the prosecutor.She put it to Patterson that she had deliberately sourced death cap mushrooms in 2023, deliberately included them in the beef Wellington she served her former in-laws; and did so intending to kill them.Patterson uttered three words: Disagree. Disagree. Disagree.She is accused of killing her former husband's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt, Heather Wilkinson. They took seriously ill after eating the lunch and died a few days later. Wilkinson's husband, Ian, was hospitalised but survived. She has maintained her innocence since her arrest in 2023. She says the deaths were accidental.All the evidence has now been heard, and deliberations will now begin.John Ferguson, associate editor with The Australian, broke the story in August 2023. He came on the podcast then to outline the events; now he's back with details from the court.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel has launched widescale strikes against Iran, saying it targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders, raising the potential for an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries. Iran's leadership has called the attacks "a declaration of war" and promises reprisals. Mark Weiss reports on why the Israeli government has chosen now to launch "a war that's been planned for a decade" and what might happen next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.