In The News

An apology that came 50 years too late

24 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The St John Ambulance organisation has been rocked by a report into its handling of child sexual abuse allegations. Jack Power tells Bernice Harr...

Capital murder: the trials of Steven Silver

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In June 2020, Garda Colm Horkan was shot and killed while on duty in Castlerea, County Roscommon. His murder shocked the community and his colleagues ...

Could another crisis engulf Irish banks?

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Banks in the US and Europe are failing. Why? And could this new banking crisis spread to Irish shores? Cliff Taylor explains what's happening, why it'...

What's behind the huge drop in Irish gun crime?

20 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Something strange is happening in the Irish gangland scene. After years of escalating violence, gun crime across the country has now reached record lo...

Will we ever escape the drunken Irish stereotype?

17 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A cringey segment on Saturday Night Live went viral earlier this week ahead of the Oscars; lampooning the Irish accent and playing into the drunken, f...

Will Lineker vs The BBC go to extra time?

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Gary Lineker will return to present Match of the Day on BBC this weekend. While it appears the story is reaching it’s conclusion, many questions sti...

"We need guns and men" - inside the group chat of Ireland's new far right party

13 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

At first glance, many of the policies of Ireland First seem conservative rather than extreme. But a private, invite-only Telegram group paints a much ...

Ozempic: the reality of the ‘miracle’ weight-loss jab

10 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ozempic is a drug, designed for diabetics, but which has a game-changing secondary use. It has the power to transform the lives of people with complex...

The mystery virus: why we still aren't certain where Covid-19 came from

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The idea that Covid-19 emerged from a lab in Wuhan was broadly dismissed as a conspiracy theory in the early stages of the pandemic. But experts have ...

What happened at the Ballyseedy Massacre?

06 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week marks 100 years since the Ballyseedy Massacre, arguably the worst atrocity of the Irish civil war. On that fateful night, nine Kerrymen were...

Sensible urban policy or sinister globalist plot? The uproar over 15 minute cities

03 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The concept of the "15 minute city" is pretty straightforward: designing urban areas so that most of what an individual needs is within a short walk o...

Why pharma giant GSK won't pay mother and baby home trial victims

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mari Steed was just five months old when she was subjected to an experimental vaccine trial at Bessborough mother and baby home in county Cork. She wa...

Bertie Ahern at the Mahon Tribunal: 'He said "I never lodged $45,000" - but they didn't believe him'

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Bertie Ahern is back. But why did he ever leave? New polling about Mr Ahern, conducted by Ipsos for The Irish Times, suggests there are plenty of peop...

Controversial sentencing laws: why the focus on Judge Martin Nolan?

24 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are our sentencing laws too harsh or too soft? Any opinion offered depends on who you ask. International research shows people tend to think sentencin...

It's the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine. Will there be a second?

22 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dan McLaughlin was in Kyiv on Monday morning when US President Joe Biden arrived for a surprise visit, pledging to support Ukraine against Russia's in...

In one of the world’s poorest nations, refugees are welcome

20 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Niger is one of the world'd poorest countries. Like many other places in Africa, it is suffering from the worsening impacts of climate change. On a re...

How high altitude balloons are taking spying to new heights

17 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Last night the US president said he would make "no apologies" for taking down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the east coast of America earlier th...

The GAA star and the alleged cancer claim fraud

16 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A former leading GAA star has been accused of taking large sums of money from people to pay for cancer treatment - treatment that some of those who ga...

Why are armchair detectives and TikTok sleuths obsessed with the case of Nicola Bulley?

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On Friday, January 27th, Nicola Bulley dropped her two children to primary school in a Lancashire village. She walked around the corner to a popular l...

Has Sinn Fein changed under Mary Lou McDonald's leadership?

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The weekend marked an important anniversary for Mary Lou McDonald, having been handed the reins of Sinn Fein this time five years ago. In her time as ...

Earthquake-stricken Syrians asked for help. Why didn't the world answer?

10 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The deadly earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria in the early hours of Monday morning – along the border of those two countries – has mobilised go...

Who's really benefitting from the Irish 'golden visas' bought by Chinese millionaires?

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

'Golden visas' give wealthy non-Europeans the right to live in Ireland in exchange for an upfront investment or donation. The scheme enacted in 2012 h...

The strange story of the man who spent 18 years in an airport

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The man who inspired Steven Speilberg’s 2004 movie The Terminal, died last year at what is believed to be the age of 77. Mehran Karimi Nasseri, or S...

'Hunk correspondent' Patrick Freyne on why we're obsessed with TV dating shows

03 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Love them or hate them, reality TV dating shows are one of the most enduring formats of the small screen. It seems like TV producers will take any con...

Lismore Protests: 'It would be like if The Shelbourne was used for Direct Provision.'

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Last weekend up to 300 people gathered outside the historical Lismore House Hotel in Co Waterford, protesting over plans to use the vacant building as...

Men with dogs, sticks and baseball bat attack Dublin migrant camp

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A number of men with dogs, sticks and a baseball bat attacked a migrant camp in Ashtown, north Dublin, on Saturday, telling the multinational group of...

Regency trial: Jonathan Dowdall's credibility is key

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After 52 days, 140 witnesses, 10 hours of secret audio recordings, phone call data, hours of CCTV footage, eyewitness testimony from 27 National Surve...

Ireland's Oscar joy: What it takes to turn a nomination into a win

27 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, the Irish film industry earned an impressive 14 Oscar nominations. The biggest haul in any one year. But what next? When a film has an Osca...

How mental health services fail families across Ireland

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week the Mental Health Commission released its interim report on the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs). It made for damning rea...

How did mafioso Matteo Messina Denaro evade capture for thirty years?

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Despite claims fugitive mob boss, Matteo Messino Denaro, was in Amsterdam, Liverpool and Brazil, the 60 year-old had been hiding in plain sight in Sic...

Richard Corrigan’s restaurant: ‘I would never work under those conditions ever, ever again'

20 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

"Elsa" had decades of experience waiting in restaurants before joining the staff at celebrity chef Richard Corrigan's new Dublin restaurant last year....

How the far right spreads misinformation and enflames anger at refugee protests

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ireland’s far-right is mobilising. Heated protests outside buildings used to house asylum seekers in Ballymun, East Wall and around the country show...

Religion in schools: What do people really want?

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

About 90 per cent of primary schools in Ireland are Catholic in ethos. The figure is increasingly out of line with the religious makeup of the populat...

Prince Harry: Apparently we do care about the heir and the spare

13 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Just when you thought there was nothing new to learn about Britain's Prince Harry's explosive memoir, it manages to generate even more headlines upon ...

"We need SWAT teams in every ED and CEOs on the frontline"

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Despite fears patients may die as a result of delays in our overcrowded Emergency Departments, we are yet again dealing with another trolley crisis th...

How China said goodbye to Zero Covid - and what it means for us

09 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What does China’s exit from its Zero Covid policy mean for Ireland and the rest of the world? The country has fully reopened, ending the requirement...

What did I miss over Christmas?

06 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode of In The News we are joined by our new co-host, Bernice Harrison, and departing presenter, Conor Pope. If you opted out of sc...

The tools you need to stay healthy and happy

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

Best of 2022: Barack Obama’s speech writer takes us behind the scenes of his presidency

02 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In his new book Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America, speech writer Cody Keenan gives readers an intimate portrayal of life i...

Best of 2022: Tibnin Bridge, the 1982 murder of 3 Irish peacekeeping soldiers.

30 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Since the 1970s, Irish soldiers have served as UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon, a region where complex conflicts ebb and flow. Last week, the tragic ...

Best of 2022: The Black Axe gang's Irish recruits

29 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Originating in west Africa the Black Axe gang has quickly become one of the most successful groups in Irish organised crime. In the Republic, the gang...

Best of 2022: What happens when the fun is taken out of childrens team sports?

28 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There are lots of reasons why team sports are a great activity for children to be involved in. They offer kids a chance to improve fitness, make ...

Best of 2022: Christy Kinahan's secret life in Africa

27 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In contrast with his son Daniel Kinahan, little has been known about the activities of Christy Kinahan snr, the founder of the Kinahan drug cartel. Ir...

Why would Irish peacekeeping troops come under fire in Lebanon?

23 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The tragic death of Private Sean Rooney in Lebanon last week marks the first Irish peacekeeper death in combat in the region since 1999. The 23 year o...

Will Enoch Burke get out of jail for Christmas?

21 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Teacher Enoch Burke could get out of jail today if he chose to.All he needs to do is say he’ll follow a court order to stay away from the school whe...

As 2022 draws to a close, what's the situation in Ukraine?

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This Christmas eve will mark ten months to the day since Russia launched their attack on Ukraine. In sub-zero temperatures, civilians are dealing with...

The baffling story of an apartment block left empty in a housing crisis

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The prestigious Capital Dock and Clancy Barracks apartments in Dublin were developed by Kennedy Wilson. Fulfilling their legal obligations for 10% soc...

ChatGPT: Could the new AI chatbot take your job?

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

ChatGPT is no ordinary chatbot. It’s a massive advance in AI and machine learning that can handle far more complex requests, and generate answers in...

Everything you need to know about Strep A

12 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The death of a 4 year-old girl in the north east from the invasive form of Strep A, and a five year-old girl in Belfast, has understandably put parent...

German coup attempt: Who is behind it and why?

09 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The arrest this week of 25 German citizens for allegedly plotting a coup against the German state came as a big surprise. Who are these people, and co...

North and South: What do Irish people think about reunification?

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Voters in the north and the Republic of Ireland would welcome a referendum on a United Ireland.A straightforward binary question would yield a resound...

"This is an epidemic" - Why can't we stamp out child sexual abuse in Ireland?

05 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Warning: This episode features discussion of child sexual abuse. Since an RTÉ radio documentary about child sexual abuse at Blackrock College aired l...

"Sean Quinn chooses not to understand" - filmmaker Trevor Birney on the making of Quinn Country

02 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

“Sean Quinn knows exactly what he did but chooses not to understand. It’s very easy for him to find others are to blame.”Enniskillen-born filmma...

What is the quickest way out of the housing crisis?

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We get the expert view on solving Ireland’s housing emergency from Dr Lorcan Sirr, Lecturer in Housing at TU Dublin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...

Regency trial: Everything that's happened so far - and what comes next

28 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Special Criminal Court has been hearing astonishing evidence in the trial of Gerard "The Monk" Hutch and two other men for their involvement in th...

How to survive the most expensive Christmas in decades

25 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As the permacrisis rumbles on, Christmas is rolling around again and this year’s challenge is the cost of… everything, really. With inflation at a...

Cop27: What was agreed and what difference will it make?

23 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What was agreed at Cop27 and will it make a difference to the climate crisis? Environment and Science editor Kevin O'Sullivan explains what happened a...

Will Trump and Biden face each other again in 2024?

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

“He is still fervently supported by a segment of the republican voter who is predominantly male, largely white and non-college educated.”The retur...

How can the Spiritans abuse survivors get justice?

18 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When the RTE Documentary Blackrock Boys aired nearly two weeks ago, it sent shockwaves through the country. Detailing sexual abuse at the Dublin schoo...

Qatar 2022: the rocky road to Doha

16 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After a 12 year lead-in time dogged by corruption scandal, human rights abuses and subversion of the football calendar, World Cup 2022 is finally abou...

"She spoke truth to power" - remembering Vicky Phelan

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Yesterday we learned of the death of Vicky Phelan, the outspoken campaigner whose own mishandled case led to reform of the cervical cancer detection s...

Revealed: Christy Kinahan's Zimbabwe connection

14 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In contrast with his son Daniel Kinahan, little has been known about the activities of Christy Kinahan snr, the founder of the Kinahan drug cartel. Ir...

Is Féidir Linn! Barack Obama’s speech writer takes us behind the scenes of his presidency

11 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In his new book Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America, speech writer Cody Keenan gives readers an intimate portrayal of life i...

Trouble in the tech sector: what will it mean for Ireland?

09 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For years, the tech sector has been Ireland’s golden goose. Multi-national companies like Facebook and Google are worth billions of euro to the Iris...

Cancelled: Is there any way back for Kanye West?

07 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Kanye West has arguably suffered one of the most spectacular downfalls in contemporary culture. Brands like Adidas, Balenciaga and JP Morgan have seve...

Elon Musk and Twitter: Can this end well?

04 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Having bought Twitter, Elon Musk is moving rapidly to change the troubled social media platform, both for its hundreds of millions of users and for it...

The Black Axe gang: a new frontier in Irish crime

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Originating in west Africa the Black Axe gang has quickly become one of the most successful groups in Irish organised crime. In the Republic, the gang...

The history of Ireland’s old fashioned licensing laws

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered why pubs and nightclubs in Ireland have a very strict closing time, whereas the rest of Europe has a more relaxed approach to h...

Face to face with a killer: Tibnin Bridge, part three

28 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The families of Corporal Morrow, Private Burke and Private Murphy watch on as Ireland's best criminal defence barrister tries to get Michael McAleavy ...

An unthinkable crime: Tibnin Bridge, part two

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Among soldiers who have served in Lebanon, no incident is more notorious than the 1982 killings of Corporal Gregory Morrow, Private Peter Burke and Pr...

Death at an Irish army checkpoint: Tibnin Bridge, part one

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Since the 1970s, Irish soldiers have served as UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon, a region where complex conflicts ebb and flow.47 Irish soldiers have ...

US midterms: Can a celebrity doctor deliver for the Republicans?

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With just two weeks to go until the 2022 midterm elections, all eyes are on Pennsylvania and the two nominees vying for the Senate seat, Republican ce...

How the death of Savita Halappanavar changed the course of modern Irish history

22 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This month marks ten years since Savita Halappanavar died at Galway University Hospital. At seventeen weeks pregnant, she had presented to the hospita...

Liz Truss resigns. Now what?

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After just 45 days on the job, UK prime minister Liz Truss has resigned. The proximate cause of her political demise was her mishandling of the econom...

Xi Jinping tightens his grip on China

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

China’s Communist Party is holding its National Congress this week. The highly choreographed event sets out the party’s plans for the country over...

What happens when the fun is taken out of children’s team sports?

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There are lots of reasons why team sports are a great activity for children to be involved in. They offer kids a chance to improve fitness, make ...

Who is Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brückner?

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

***Please note this episode discusses sexual assault and violence which some listeners may find distressing***German prosecutors have filed new sexual...

Iranian women's fight for freedom

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Iranian authorities are using increasingly violent force to suppress the female-led protests that are rocking the religious regime.Zahra Gholamvand is...

A tragedy in Donegal

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ten lives have been lost and many more irrevocably changed by the tragic events that took place last Friday in the small village of Creeslough, County...

John Murphy: A senior Garda’s fall from grace

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Rory Mason and the fighters of Ukraine's "international legion"

07 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 Ukrai...

Why former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall is facing life in witness protection

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Convicted criminal Jonathan Dowdall is about to lose his name, his identity and his home. The former Sinn Fein councillor and successful businessman h...

What does the Nord Stream sabotage mean for Ireland?

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 l...

Brazil election: Bolsonaro's January 6th moment?

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On Sunday, Brazilians will vote in a presidential election that pits former president Lula against incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro is behind in th...

Budget 2023: What happened and how it affects you

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 ye...

Does sportswashing work?

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After a controversial launch earlier this year, a breakaway professional golf league, backed by Saudi Arabia's investment fund, is still going, having...

Could Russian mobilisation change the course of the war?

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week Russian president Vladimir Putin tried to reclaim the initiative in his invasion of Ukraine by announcing a "partial mobilisation" of the po...

Why is the cost of childcare so high?

21 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

Murder in a Dublin Flat: the shocking death of Tony Dempsey

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How wealthy is the British monarchy?

16 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 do...

How ready are we for another Covid winter?

14 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 spea...

What's happening with Ukraine's counter-offensive?

13 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dan McLaughlin reports on the counter-offensive carried out in recent days by Ukrainian Armed Forces that has recaptured swathes of territory from the...

How climate change is bringing devastation to Somalia

12 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 yea...

For the love of Garth

09 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 criti...

How will the UK cope with losing Queen Elizabeth II?

09 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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...

How can Ireland find a way out of the energy crisis?

07 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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...

How Ireland’s asylum and refugee accommodation system has reached breaking point

04 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sorcha Pollak speaks to Irish Times crime correspondent Conor Gallagher about a recent incident in Dublin, which saw international protection applican...

The psychology of climate denial

02 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Climate denial can take many forms. Some refuse to accept the science, while others avoid the overwhelm by diverting their attention elsewhere. Profes...

Leaving Cert 2022: The points race and the housing race are harder than ever

31 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 syst...

Why it’s time to end the silence around stillbirths and baby loss

29 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...