In The News

George Nkencho was fatally shot by gardaí on December 30th, 2020, in the front garden of his family’s home in Clonee, Dublin 15. The 27-year-old was killed after a stand-off developed between him and armed gardaí when the deceased refused to put away a kitchen knife. The incident occurred shortly after an altercation involving Mr Nkencho and a shop assistant at a nearby shop.The killing has been under investigation by the Garda ombudsman, Gsoc, for the past 2½ years and this week it announced it had concluded its findings and had sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Conor Lally, Irish Times crime and security editor, explains the background to the case and what Gsoc has to do now. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In her recent column Una Mullally pulled no punches about the state of Dublin city centre. It is once again, she says, a dirty old town.She writes: “It hasn’t rained much recently, so the streets are filthier than normal. I’m not talking about your standard litter here. I’m talking about grime. As the grime piles up, layer by layer – the urine, the bird poo, the chewing gum, the cigarette butts, the filth from people’s shoes and whatever other miscellaneous gunk graffitis the pavements.”Dublin City Council is charged with cleaning the city but, Mullally argues, its strategy is visibly failing. Irish Times Dublin editor Olivia Kelly reports on all aspects of the city, and she tells what elected councillors can do about it. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alice Coyle lost €10,000 in a matter of minutes in a Revolut scam. The Galway woman tells Bernice Harrison how the scam unfolded after she received a text from what she believed was Electric Ireland. We also hear from Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope, who explains what scams to look out for – from e-flow to Hey Mom – and what you should do if it happens to you. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Housing experts Rory Hearne and Phil Murphy believe they have the answers to Ireland’s housing crisis. The solution as they see it, is the establishment of a State-owned sustainable home building agency. But what exactly would it do and how would it work? And is the political appetite there for such a plan. Rory Hearne talks through the details with presenter Bernice Harrison. Dr Rory Hearne is a lecturer on social policy at Maynooth University and author of Gaffs: Why No One Can Get a House, and What We Can Do About It. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Scotland first minister Nicola Sturgeon spent Sunday in a police station being questioned as part of a criminal investigation into her party’s finances. The investigation concerns the whereabouts of about £666,000 in SNP donations collected after Brexit from supporters of a new independence referendum, which was never held. How has her arrest damaged her reputation, and how will it impact on the SNP a party already showing deep divisions? Mark Paul, Irish Times London editor, assesses the situation in Scotland. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Later today, former president Donald Trump will be arraigned at a Miami courthouse, in connection to the mishandling of hundreds of classified documents. Martin Wall, Irish Times Washington Correspondent, is in Miami to report from the court and he outlines the background to the case and whether it might hinder – or help – him in his bid for re-election in 2024. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2017, Orla Tinsley’s life was saved when she received a double lung transplant at the age of 31. Today, she is awaiting a kidney transplant and must undergo dialysis treatment three times a week. An activist for cystic fibrosis and organ donation, Tinsley has campaigned for the Dáil to pass the Human Tissue Bill, which would introduce a 'soft' opt-out system for all adults in the country. In this episode, she speaks to Bernice Harrison about the miracle of organ donation and why she believes the laws around organ donation need to be changed. Produced by Suzanne Brennan, with vox pops from Katie Mellett. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last weekend, senior Kinahan cartel member Liam Byrne was arrested while on a family holiday  in Mallorca, on suspicion of serious firearms offences. He now faces extradition to the UK and will be put on trial. If found guilty, the gang member could face a sentence of up to 20 years in jail. Crime and Security editor Conor Lally explains the significance of his arrest and how this will come as yet another blow to the Kinahan organised crime group. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With all the good weather we're having, it can only mean one thing: it’s Leaving Cert season. This morning, around 60,000 students around the country will sit down to English Paper One. For many of them, this marks the beginning of a gruelling CAO points race and a scramble over coveted university places. But with lots of alternative routes into further education available, why is there so much emphasis on the final year exam results? Irish Times education editor Carl O’Brien explains the options available to students, who favour a less stressful route. We also hear from Irish Times intern Katie Mellett, who completed her exams last year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Love them or hate them, reality TV dating shows are one of the most enduring formats on the small screen. It seems like TV producers will take any concept and turn it into a dating show. But if they didn’t net big ratings for TV execs, they wouldn’t keep making them. So what keeps us going back for more? Self-appointed ‘hunk correspondent’ for The Irish Times, Patrick Freyne, loves to review these shows as Features Writer. In this episode of In The News, he analyses the good, the bad and the ugly and why they make such compelling viewing. This episode was originally broadcast in February 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.