In The News

4.5 (35)
News

In The News is a daily podcast from The Irish Times that takes a close look at the stories that matter, in Ireland and around the world. Presented by Bernice Harrison and Sorcha Pollak. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2d ago

Paul Howard watched every World Cup game – here’s what he learned

For his hosting duties on America 2026, the Irish Times podcast, Paul Howard watched every World Cup single match, even it was on at 4am and featured a no-hoper team in the tournament to make up the numbers. What did he make of England’s loss to Argentina? Why does he think the bloated half-time show featuring Shakira and Justin Bieber, planned for Sunday’s final, highlights just how much Fifa is enthralled to the US; and who will lift the World Cup when the final whistle blows on Sunday, Argentina or Spain? Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
3d ago

What will it take to bring prime suspect in Jamey Carney’s murder back to Ireland?

The body of Jamey Carney, a 43-year-old mother-of-one, was found by her teenage daughter at their home in Killarney last week. The American woman had suffered head injuries and a postmortem confirmed she had died a violent death by suffocation. Gardai traced her partner, Ahmed Al Saqar’s, movements immediately after the killing and found that he left Ireland hours after she was killed, flying to Turkey having taken the night bus from Kerry. He then travelled on to Jordan where he was arrested and is in custody. It is thought the 28-year-old had been in Ireland for two years and had sought asylum before fleeing back to Jordan after the murder. The investigation is a full-scale murder inquiry. Gardaí did not seek Al Saqar’s arrest in his home country, so why was he detained? How long can he be held by Jordanian authorities before he must be released? Ireland and Jordan do not have an extradition treaty so how can Al Saqar be brought back to Ireland? And when? Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally explains the complex road ahead in this investigation. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
4d ago

Was Ann Widdecombe murdered for her political beliefs?

Former British government minister Ann Widdecombe (78) was found dead at her home in rural southwest England last Thursday with what police described as “serious injuries”. On Friday, local police gave a press conference laying out what they knew noting they did not suspect a political motive for her death. By Monday all that had changed. British counter-terrorism police officers are now leading the investigation. Late on Saturday they arrested a white British man in Rotherham, northern England, on suspicion of her murder. He was then rearrested under anti-terrorism legislation although how a terrorism link was established has yet to be revealed. Widdecombe, as well has being a politician was a British celebrity having appeared on blockbuster TV shows including Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. She was a prominent and active member of Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK, having left the Conservatives after she stood down from parliament in 2010. As a socially conservative, devout Catholic, what were her political beliefs and why she was a divisive figure? And with her violent death now being treated as politically motivated, security for UK politicians is under increased scrutiny. Irish Times London correspondent Mark Paul reports. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
5d ago

What happened to Belfast teenager Noah Donohoe?

After three days of deliberations, the jury in the inquest into the death of Belfast teenager Noah Donohoe could not reach a verdict. They had sat in court hearing evidence for six months. His death six years ago has been one of the most high-profile cases in Northern Ireland in recent years, with conspiracy theories swirling on social media driving controversy and speculation. How did Noah die? What were the jurors tasked with deciding? How did the PSNI describe their search for the teenager, whose body was found six days after he went missing? And what happens now in an inquest many have repeatedly called “unprecedented”? Seanín Graham, Irish Times Northern correspondent, was at Belfast Coroner’s Court for the verdict. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan, with research by Ellen Clusker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
6d ago

How black-market betting sites lure Irish punters

Online gambling on black-market betting sites is big business. One company, Soft2Bet, which has been licensed in Ireland since 2022, and its related entities received €600 million from dozens of offshore casinos that regulators in Europe had blacklisted or fined. For gamblers using some of these sites, it means few rules apply. Unauthorised betting sites deliberately target people with gambling addictions and ignore local gambling regulations, including age limits to protect young people. While working on an investigation with cross-border journalism group Investigate Europe, Irish Times investigative reporter with The Irish Times, Mark Tighe discovered that Irish authorities granted gambling licences to six companies at the heart of this global network of black-market betting and casino websites. One of the scheme’s newest websites, OnlySpins, a bookmaker and casino with pornographic content targeting Europeans, does not verify whether Irish users are over the age of 18 or provide checks on a customer’s identity. He also discovered that two Irish companies were processing payments for Soft2Bet-linked unlicensed gambling sites operating in Europe. Soft2Bet is led by Ukrainian-Israeli millionaire Uri Poliavich. He joins In the News to explain how this investigation unfolded, what the activities of black market sites mean for vulnerable users and what the Irish authorities had to say. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 10

In court as Dublin man is found guilty of American nurse’s murder in Budapest

The details presented in court in the trial of a Dublin man for the killing of Mackenzie Michalski (31) were harrowing. The American nurse was travelling around Europe with friends and was on her last night in Budapest when, on November 4th, 2024, she met the 37-year-old man from Dublin in a bar. Later they went back to his apartment where he killed her. The judge rejected his defence that Mackenzie had died during consensual “rough” sex. Budapest-based journalist Bálint Dömötör has been in court for the trial and the verdict and he explains why, when the man has been found guilty, he still cannot be named. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan with research by Ellen Clusker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 9

Who is Marine Le Pen? The convicted criminal who wants to be the next President of France

Hard-right leader Marine Le Pen announced her candidacy in France’s 2027 presidential campaign in typically dramatic fashion on French TV this week. It came after an appeal court shortened her sentence for misappropriating European Parliament funds that had previously barred her from running. The court reduced the five-year ban on holding office to 45 months with 30 suspended, meaning that the suspension has already been served. A four-year prison sentence was reduced to two years suspended and one year served outside prison with an electronic bracelet, while imposing a fine of €100,000. Le Pen also announced that she would initiate another appeal, this time to France’s higher Court of Cassation, and that her sentence would not begin until after this final appeal is heard. Pending this appeal she is free to campaign without the electronic tag. If Le Pen’s legal troubles had ruled her out of the presidential race, her party had a backup plan in 30-year-old MEP Jordan Bardella. This will be her fourth run at the presidency. With France moving to the right, has her time finally come? Or will her legal difficulties ultimately mean that the charismatic Bardella will be the National Rally Party’s candidate? Paris-based Irish Times Europe Correspondent Naomi O’Leary explains who Le Pen is and how her campaign will unfold in the coming months. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 7

Inside the court as George Gibney is found guilty

On Monday, George Gibney (77), former Irish Olympic swimming coach, was found guilty of sexually abusing four girls in the 1970s and 1980s. After a two-week trial, the jury found him guilty of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape of children. He will be sentenced at the end of the month. One of Ireland’s most notorious paedophiles, he was extradited from Florida last year where he had escaped justice for decades. Due to reporting restrictions he was referred to as “sports coach” but as soon as the guilty verdict was announced, he could be named. So why did he plead guilty to five of the charges? What defence was put forward? What has his demeanour in court? And what does this guilty verdict mean after so long for the victims. Court reporter Isabel Hayes explains how the case unfolded in court and Gibney’s reaction to the verdict. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See All (1.1K)

Trailer

Trailer: In The News

COMING SOON: In The News, a podcast from The Irish Times that takes a close look at stories that matter, in Ireland and around the world. Hosted by Sorcha Pollak and Conor Pope. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conor Pope

Host
Sorcha Pollak

Host
Bernice Harrison

Host
Seanín Graham

Guest
Bálint Dömötör

Guest
Naomi O'Leary

Guest
Isabel Hayes

Guest
Conor Lally

Guest
Karen McHugh

Guest
Freya McClements

Guest

4.5

out of 5

35 Ratings

Andrew Lownie interview on arrest

Apr 30

Suzannah Troy

Hi, thank you for your interview. It is April 30, 2026 and I just feel kind of devastated this morning. I know if PTSD from a violent attack at a doctors in New York City in 2012 and everyone involved in breaking loss make Crimes disappear remains Teflon almost 14 years and prior to that I reported jeffrey epstein and Maxwell in 1996 to the NYPD so it was devastating to see Charles be treated in the way he was here in the USA when I believe he was involved in the cover-up for Andrew and the goal to sweep all crime under the rug, but Prince Charles early on learned about the power of the public relations machine he used that when he wanted Diana out and he’s using it now and it makes me sick. I don’t think the former Prince Andrew will go to jail, but he should on both sides of the pond in my opinion, but the people that broke how many laws in my case involving a doctors office we had to get Emergency surgery they’re all above the law.
Di

05/16/2025

DiMV19

I live in California and really appreciate getting a world perspective from Ireland and the UK. The news is balanced and offers news and culture from outside the U.S. bubble. Thank you.
Superficial

11/12/2025

Mac an tSionnaigh

Would be better served with a trained and experienced radio presenter. Subjects are more miss than hit.

In The News is a daily podcast from The Irish Times that takes a close look at the stories that matter, in Ireland and around the world. Presented by Bernice Harrison and Sorcha Pollak. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.