In The News

The Ashling Murphy murder trial began last week at Dublin’s Central Criminal Court. The 23-year-old teacher was killed in 2022 while out for a run on the banks of the Grand Canal near her home in Tullamore, Co Offaly, on a bright January afternoon. Last week, the nine men and three women of the jury listened as the prosecution laid out its case against Jozef Puska, a 33-year-old Slovakian national. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder.As the trial starts its second week, Irish Times legal affairs correspondent Mary Carolan reports on what the court has heard so far. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two weeks on from the savage assault on Israeli civilians by Hamas that left 1,400 men, women and children dead, Israel’s fierce response continues to ramp up. 3,785 Palestinians have been killed and 12,493 wounded, the health ministry in Gaza said on Thursday. Hundreds of those were killed at a hospital in an incident that enflamed the Middle East but that Israel denies responsibility for. With no water, food or fuel getting in, and its citizens having nowhere to go, a dire humanitarian crisis is growing.On today’s In the News podcast, Tel Aviv-based journalist Hannah McCarthy gives an overview of the Hamas-Israel war. In a recording interrupted by an incoming missile warning, she explains the current situation, explores the impact of the visit of US president Joe Biden, the likelihood of a planned ground invasion of Gaza and the information war that has been a feature of this bloody conflict. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, just one day after a record number of Poles voted in their country’s general election, opposition leader and former prime minister Donald Tusk claimed a victory for his Civic Coalition. By Tuesday, it was clear that the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party would not be returning to power for a third term.The political change marks a massive shift in Poland and an end to PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s eight turbulent years in power which saw huge changes to the country’s rule of law, media freedom, migration policies and LGBTQ+ rights. Opposition parties have vowed to undo these reforms, which critics say undermine democratic standards, while also re-establishing international ties with Brussels.In this episode, Berlin-based Irish Times journalist Derek Scally speaks to Sorcha Pollak about how Mr Tusk plans to form a new Government, the challenges he faces in reversing PiS policy, and the international implications of what has been described as the most consequential European election in recent years.Presented by Sorcha Pollak and produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the homelessness crisis has deepened over the last decade, the Peter McVerry Trust, a key pillar in the State’s provision of homeless services, significantly expanded in an effort to tackle the problem.Now, with more than 600 properties and an annual income of €60 million, the charity finds itself in a major financial crisis, sparking fears of a collapse.On today’s In the News podcast, Irish Times reporter Jack Power explains what we know about how the charity ran into trouble - and what the crisis says about how Ireland tackles its chronic homelessness issue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chuck Feeney, the Irish-American philanthropist, died last week at the age of 92. 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.Journalist Conor O’Clery got to know Feeney when he was based in New York for The Irish Times and he went on to write his biography, The Billionaire who Wasn’t: How Chuck Feeney Made and Gave Away A Fortune Without Anyone Knowing. It was the beginning of long friendship. He tells In the News about this most inspirational, generous and visionary philanthropist whose legacy will live on. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tomorrow in Paris, Ireland will know has the hex been lifted, the bogeyman slain – has the team been able to make it out of the quarter-final stage in a Rugby World Cup? The team made it through the group of death, nailing a fourth win to top Pool B and progress in what has been an exciting tournament in France, characterised by a huge number of travelling Irish fans.The team has been picked with the same starting XV as faced Scotland last Saturday – but there are some changes on the bench.Irish Times sports writer John O’Sullivan who is in France for the duration, reporting on all games, talked to In the News at the start of the tournament to analyse Pool B. He’s back now to explain what might happen in the quarter-finals, the Joe Schmidt factor – and what he makes of Andy Farrell’s team selection for Saturday night in Paris. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How will the tax cuts and new spending announced in yesterday's Budget 2024 affect you? Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope is here to tell us.Plus: As a political set piece, Budget 2024 ticked a lot of boxes, but also handed the opposition some ammunition to attack the Government, especially the generous tax break for landlords, explains political reporter Jack Horgan-Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday morning, Hamas launched an unprecedented offensive by land, sea and air into Israel. A catastrophic failure by Israeli intelligence, the attack left hundreds dead, even more injured and an unknown number of hostages of all ages taken over the border into Gaza. One of the missing is a young Irish-Israeli woman, 22-year-old Kim Damti, who was at the festival in the desert on Saturday when it was attacked by Hamas insurgents. By the end of the day the bodies of 260 young festival-goers had been counted.Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is at war and that Hamas would pay a heavy price. On Monday, Israel began air strikes on the densely inhabited Gaza Strip. A ground invasion is set to follow. On today’s In the News podcast, Jerusalem-based journalist Mark Weiss talks to Bernice Harrison about how the attack on Israel unfolded, why the mood within the country means a fierce response is inevitable and how civilians will pay the highest price. And Irish Times Europe correspondent Naomi O’Leary explains how the crisis has exposed divisions within the European Union - with Ireland relatively isolated for its traditional support of the Palestinian cause. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A threatened “strike” by rank and file gardaí next month has been lifted following a compromise between Garda staff associations and senior management in the dispute over rosters. Rank and file gardaí have dropped plans to refuse overtime over the next four Tuesdays and will not withdraw their service, a strike in all but name, on November 10th.What happened at that meeting on Friday between the Garda Representative Association (GRA), the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), the Association of Garda Superintendents and the Association of Chief Superintendents and senior Garda management at Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park, Dublin? Security and crime editor Conor Lally explains the background to this bitter dispute and explores how much of this is personal, an antipathy towards Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, an outsider in a force used to their own rising through the ranks to bag the top job.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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?Uki Goñi, who attended St Conleth's, and reporter Ronan McGreevy tell the story on today's In the News podcast.Support our journalism: subscribe to The Irish Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.