The Indo Daily

Anonymous briefings, accusations of betrayal and a mystery phone call have exposed deep tensions within Fine Gael. Culture Minister Patrick O'Donovan has hit back after questions were raised about his health, describing the episode as the "ultimate betrayal". The controversy intensified after it emerged that Tánaiste Simon Harris had called O'Donovan shortly before he was hospitalised while hosting a major EU presidency event in Limerick. Why did it take weeks to confirm the Tánaiste was the caller, and what does the saga reveal about the state of Fine Gael behind closed doors? Today on The Indo Daily, Katie Byrne is joined by Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland editor at the Irish Independent, to examine the rumours of internal divisions and the growing questions surrounding leadership, loyalty and political strategy within Fine Gael. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A rising voice in the legal world. The country's foremost human rights lawyer. A "man for all seasons, needed for all sorts of reasons". These are just a taste of the growing list of superlatives used to describe Belfast-based solicitor Darragh Mackin. The lofty praise for the 35-year-old founding partner of Phoenix Law is matched by an extensive, attention-grabbing client list. From controversial rappers Kneecap to the Stardust families and the residents of the Garvaghy Road, Mackin has become the go-to legal eagle at the centre of some of Ireland's most high-profile court cases. Now, alleged crime gang boss Daniel Kinahan has become his latest client, ahead of a case that Mackin says has "fundamental holes" in it. On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Kevin Doyle is joined by Sunday Independent senior investigative journalist Catherine Sanz to profile Darragh Mackin as he prepares to represent Ireland's most notorious alleged criminal. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel’s election has produced no clear winner, leaving Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival battling to build a coalition. With Arab-led parties potentially holding the balance of power, could this be the end of Netanyahu’s long grip on power? Host: Kevin Doyle, Guest: Bel Trew See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeffrey Donaldson was doing paid work for the ministry of defence in Africa even as acute political turmoil was engulfing his party at home in Northern Ireland. Why was the then DUP leader undertaking sensitive work in dictator-led Cameroon just a week after he himself collapsed Stormont in 2022? Why was he helping sell arms in Egypt alongside a British general? Why did a special forces officer say he’d worked with Donaldson before? Profound political questions remain over who all the now convicted paedophile was working for – alongside concerns about whether he had access to children in developing countries. Host: Ciaran Dunbar Guest: Sam McBride This episode of The Indo Daily is brought to you by our sister podcast The BelTel. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Incidents of violent drug-debt intimidation are rising in Ireland – and the methods are becoming more concerning and elaborate. Brutal enforcers are now using 'disappearing' video technology on social media platforms to capture and distribute graphic footage of torture. The targeted aggression goes beyond those allegedly in arrears, with innocent friends and family members increasingly caught up in the cruel crossfire. What are the gardaí doing about it? Is there a class issue at play? And what about the incidents we're not hearing about? On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Irish Independent Southern Correspondent Ralph Riegel to examine a terrifying new trend in Ireland's underworld. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The grand vision was to create a modern metropolis to rival London, Paris or Madrid. But as the Celtic Tiger roared, Dublin's Docklands became emblematic of property speculation, unchecked largesse and broken promises. The transformation is celebrated as a triumph of regeneration. But it also sparked battles over planning, politics and public money. On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Irish Independent news correspondent Conor Feehan to explore how a neglected stretch of Dublin's waterfront became a model of urban renewal and a symbol of what happens when fortune-building is prioritised over building a community. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson is at the centre of a new Metropolitan Police investigation into an alleged rape said to have taken place in his Westminster office. The development comes just days after Donaldson was sentenced to prison for child sex offences, including the rape of a child. What do we know about this latest allegation, how did the investigation come about and what happens next? Today's Indo Daily comes from our sister podcast, The BelTel. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph crime correspondent Allison Morris to examine the facts of the case and the wider political fallout. This episode was originally produced by The BelTel The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rolex watches, luxury BMWs and designer handbags worth almost €300,000 have been seized in Garda raids targeting a prominent Irish charity. The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau has carried out searches linked to Liberty Recycling, a charity chaired by Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh. Sinn Féin have confirmed that there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD and none of the items seized are connected to him. The investigation centres on suspected money laundering. As the probe continues, Liberty Recycling remains operational and is still accepting donations through its website. On this Extra episode of the Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Irish Independent News and Security Correspondent Robin Schiller to address the latest developments, the garda operation and Sinn Féin's response to the investigation. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A strike by criminal defence lawyers is causing disruption across Ireland's courts, but the bigger question may be what happens next. With barristers and solicitors warning their action could escalate, pressure is mounting on Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan to find a solution. Is this a routine industrial dispute, or the first big political test of his tenure? On today's Indo Daily, Fionnán Sheahan examines what's at stake for the justice system, the Government and for O'Callaghan himself. He is joined by Irish Independent’s legal affairs editor Shane Phelan and political editor Mary Regan to explain the row, the politics and the potential fallout. And with neither side showing signs of backing down, they ask: who will blink first? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James McClean’s view that therapy is a “weakness” has been widely criticised. But where does that belief come from? Dan McDonnell, ghostwriter of McClean's new book The Walls, joins Kevin Doyle to discuss McClean’s difficult upbringing, the man behind the controversial opinions and the things he has spent much of his life refusing to talk about. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

France is burning. What began as student protests over crumbling schools has exploded into riots, looting and a political crisis that is shaking the country ahead of next year's presidential election. As President Emmanuel Macron struggles to restore order, many are asking whether this is a uniquely French revolt or a warning sign for the rest of Europe. Today on the Indo Daily Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Paris-based journalist Catherine Field to explain how France reached this breaking point and why support for far-right leader Marine Le Pen is soaring. Also, Irish Independent political correspondent Cónal Thomas examines whether the same cost-of-living pressures could spark unrest closer to home. And as anger grows across the continent, we ask: could protests in Ireland be on the horizon? The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A blacked-out van. A secret meeting. And a quest for answers that would consume decades of one man's life. In the concluding episode of this Indo Daily exclusive, Austin Stack recounts the extraordinary events that unfolded as he pursued the truth about his father's murder. What followed were revelations, confrontations and moments that were almost impossible to believe. More than 40 years after Brian Stack was shot, Austin believes he finally has many of the answers he spent a lifetime searching for. But has that brought justice? Today on the Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Austin Stack in the concluding episode of ‘I Know Who Murdered My Father’. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A respected prison officer, Brian Stack, is gunned down on a Dublin street. The investigation that follows fails to deliver justice. There are no convictions and no closure as his 14-year-old son is left with questions that will shape the rest of his life. As the years turned into decades, Austin Stack and his family began searching for answers themselves. What they uncovered would lead them into a world of secret meetings, hidden truths and extraordinary claims. Now, more than 40 years later, the story reaches another remarkable chapter as the Taoiseach prepares to address the case in the Dáil. But how did a family denied answers for decades get this far? Today on the Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Austin Stack in this first of a two-part series – ‘I Know Who Murdered My Father’. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon Harris’s much-hyped investment scheme is official, though there’s still some way to go before you can avail of it. But we’re not going to wait until next summer to analyse and scrutinise it. Today's episode of The Indo Daily is brought to you by our sister podcast Money Talks, as Katie Byrne is joined by Cian Carolan, managing director at DNG Financial Services, to tease out the forthcoming Personal Investment Account and discuss what you need to know ahead of time. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Burkes are back, but this time it's not Enoch grabbing the headlines, it's his sister Ammi. In 2019, Ammi Burke was dismissed from her role at one of Ireland’s most prestigious law firms, Arthur Cox, after just over three years with the company. Seven years, multiple legal battles and countless court appearances later, Ms Burke wants her job back. She and her former employer are facing off at the Workplace Relations Commission. So, what exactly happened between the two sides? And why is a dispute that began years ago still rumbling on in court today? On today’s The Indo Daily, Tessa Fleming is joined by court reporter Seán McCárthaigh as Ammi Burke takes on her old employer. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeffrey Donaldson received a 15 year sentence in prison for his crimes. He was given 11 years for rape against Victim B and four years for all offences against Victim A, to be served consecutively. The former MP and ex-DUP leader was sentenced in Newry Courthouse on Thursday morning. However, later on Thursday after the Lady Chief Justice confirmed Donaldson will actually walk free in seven-and-a-half years. That is because the crimes were committed before the law changed in 2008, so he will automatically be entitled to 50pc remission of his sentence. He was found guilty of 18 child sex abuse charges, including rape, in June. Donaldson is trying to win an appeal, and his denials were an aggravating factor in the sentencing. However, as it stands, the 63-year-old will emerge from prison as a 78-year-old pensioner. Ciarán Dunbar spoke to Allison Morris outside Newry Crown Court. This podcast was edited at 17.05pm on Thursday October 15th, to reflect the new information regarding the length of time Donaldson will spend in jail.Jeffrey Donaldson has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for historical child sex crimes. The ex-DUP leader was sentenced to 11 years for rape against Complainant B and four years for all offences against Complainant A, to be served consecutively. He will also be on the sex offenders register indefinitely. This extra episode of The Indo Daily is brought to you by our sister podcast The BelTel, as Ciaran Dunbar speaks with Allison Morris outside Newry Crown Court. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I could hear screams like in a horror film – it will never leave my mind.” These are the stark words of an onlooker on the streets of the Birchwood estate in Waterford as a scene of devastation stood before them. Philip and Kim English, alongside their two children Callum (12) and Jayden (9), died following an arson attack on their house in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The family had been repeatedly intimidated, and their home targeted in connection with a drug debt – one that they themselves had nothing to do with. Now, four people are dead, and two children remain in hospital. A murder investigation is under way, and there is considerable fury amid the sorrow. On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Kevin Doyle is joined by Pádraig Byrne, senior journalist with the Irish Independent, to get the latest from Waterford. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They collect millions in rent every year and own thousands of homes, but most Irish tenants have never heard of them. From a former Anglo Irish banker to Galway plasterers, Ireland’s super-landlords have quietly built property empires worth hundreds of millions of euro. So, who are the people shaping Ireland’s rental market, and how did they become some of the most powerful players in housing? Today on the Indo Daily, Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Irish Independent features writer Kim Bielenberg and author and Crazy House Prices podcaster Ciarán Mulqueen to go behind the front door of Ireland’s landlord class. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four members of the same family died in a house fire in Waterford city in the early hours of Tuesday morning. A murder investigation has been launched as the community reels from a devastating loss. On this Extra episode of the Indo Daily, host Kevin Doyle is joined by Irish Independent crime correspondent Ken Foy as they report on this developing story. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re now just hours away from a public sector strike that will bring disruption not seen in a generation. A row over public sector pay has brought more than 400,000 workers to the brink of industrial action, with teachers and nurse among those set to down tools on Wednesday. So why aren’t the Government and the unions talking, and what would a strike on this scale mean for the country? Host; Kevin Doyle, Guests; Donal O'Donovan and Aisling Moloney We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public lotteries have been a popular going concern for centuries. The prospect of winning big with a low stake is undeniably attractive – it could be you, as the famous slogan goes. In a fast-paced, lifestyle-focused social media age, the lottery takes on an ever more enviable quality when you can scroll through video after video of happy jackpot winners enjoying their prizes. Such a strategy is key to the success of competition giveaway platforms like Ooosch, which has been operating in Ireland and the UK since the turn of the decade. But do outlets such as Ooosch represent a form of gambling? If so, is regulation required? And if not, why not? On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Irish Independent journalists John Meagher and Sean Pollock to examine the ever-changing face of public giveaways. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent weeks, the 2020 French hack into the secret gangster phone network Encrochat has continued to see Northern Ireland drug dealers sent to Maghaberry.Multiple prison sentences have been handed down to some significant figures from Northern Ireland’s criminal world. Gangsters like ‘cute hur’, ‘mint wind’ and ‘ultra gold’ are just some of those who went down after the notorious platform spilled its secrets. Todays episode of The Indo Daily is brought to us by our sister podcast The BelTel as Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph’s crime correspondent Allison Morris. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was in April 1992 when Patrick 'Patsy' O'Sullivan called into his brother Jerry's home like it was any other day, but it’s a day that will forever remain etched in Jerry’s memory. Patrick went missing from his home in Co Kerry that year, and despite extensive searches and emotional appeals, efforts to find him proved fruitless. It would take the O'Sullivan family 34 years to find out the truth. On today’s Indo Daily, Tessa Fleming is joined by Kerryman journalist Sinead Kelleher and by Jerry O'Sullivan, Patsy’s brother, to discuss his disappearance and how they eventually found out what happened to him. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a few hours, Budget 2027 appeared to have escaped without a major political banana skin. Then came the news that RTÉ would receive €20m less next year than it had expected, and suddenly the national broadcaster and the Government were at loggerheads. RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst says the broadcaster had planned on the promised €260m, and has warned that some difficult decisions may now have to be made. But Media Minister Patrick O'Donovan says he isn't satisfied with the pace of reform at Montrose, raising the question of whether RTÉ is effectively being punished for failing to change quickly enough. So could the fallout ultimately mean cuts to programmes, sport or jobs, and what does this latest row tell us about the increasingly fraught relationship between Government and the national broadcaster? On this Extra episode of The Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Irish Independent political correspondent Conal Thomas to examine the €20m bombshell and ask what gets cut at RTÉ now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mysterious death inside a secretive Russian plague laboratory has triggered international concern and some deeply uncomfortable questions. As officials insist there is no wider threat, a sinister mix of rumours, misinformation and conspiracy theory is spreading almost as quickly as the story itself. But Russia has a dark history with biological weapons, so when Moscow says everything is under control, how much can we really trust what we’re being told? And in a world still scarred by Covid, could the fear of another outbreak itself become a weapon? Today on the Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Irish Independent World News Editor Gareth O’Connor to ask what really happened inside that Russian lab, and whether the truth could be the hardest thing of all to contain. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former prince Andrew is mounting a legal challenge against the warrants that allowed police to raid his home in February. It’s the first time in nearly four centuries that a member of the Royal Family has launched a legal battle to stop criminal proceedings against them. And while the legal claims have made headlines, Andrew has also been quietly welcomed back by Norfolk’s aristocratic set. Does this mean his time in social isolation may be coming to an end? Host; Fionnán Sheahan and Guests; Enda Brady and Jennie Bond We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Extra episode of The Indo Daily is brought to you by our personal finance show Money Talks. Budget 2027 is in the books, so it's time to do some calculations. How much better – or worse – off are we? Has the government done enough to ease Ireland's cost-of-living crisis? On this episode, host Katie Byrne is joined by Charlie Weston, Saoirse Hanley and Sinead Ryan of the Irish Independent's business team to tot up the winners and losers of this year's major financial shake-up. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism The content of this podcast is for information purposes and does not constitute investment advice or recommendation of any investment product. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Irish house prices finally showing signs of slowing, could the seemingly relentless rise in property values be reaching a turning point? Higher interest rates, the cost-of-living squeeze and the limits of what buyers can afford are beginning to take some heat out of the market, with Richard Curran warning that “we’re reaching the ceiling of what we can put our hands on or borrow or repay”. But with demand still high and housing supply struggling to keep pace, does a slowdown really mean prices could start to fall, or are we simply entering a period where, as Richard puts it, “we could actually see prices flatline for a while”? And after more than a decade of rising values, what would falling house prices mean for first-time buyers, homeowners and the Government’s housing strategy? Richard also looks back to Budget 2007 and the uncomfortable parallels with today, when a booming economy and apparently healthy public finances masked the trouble that was to come. Twenty years on, billions are once again pouring into the Exchequer, this time through corporation tax, but Richard warns that “we haven’t put away enough of that money”. And after €160bn in corporation tax receipts over the past decade, he asks a striking question: “How did we allow ourselves to get into a situation where that’s even an issue?” Today on the Indo Daily, Fionnán Sheehan is joined by Irish Independent columnist Richard Curran to ask if Ireland’s housing boom is finally running out of road and whether, when it comes to the lessons of 2007, “we have learned that lesson” at all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already transforming the legal world, but could we really trust it to decide someone’s fate in court? At the Kilkenny Law Festival, four leading AI models were asked to rule on a fictional but complex extradition case, complete with deliberately planted legal traps. The results revealed just how convincing AI-generated judgments can appear, while also exposing some significant flaws in how the technology understands and applies the law. Today on the Indo Daily, Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Irish Independent legal affairs editor Shane Phelan to examine the experiment and ask whether robot judges could one day become a reality. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Mark Little sold his news verification startup Storyful to Rupert Murdoch for $25m, he was summoned to the Australian's New York office. "Let's go make some f***ing money," Murdoch told him, according to Little. This episode of The Indo Daily is brought to you by our sister podcast The Big Tech Show, as former RTE anchorman-turned-entrepreneur talks in depth about his time running Twitter in Ireland, his challenges as a startup founder and what he thinks about the future of social media and AI. https://www.independent.ie/service/why-you-can-trust-the-irish-independent/a/98708550.html See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Through his Press Up group, Paddy McKillen Jr built one of Ireland’s biggest hospitality empires, employing thousands of people across dozens of venues. The son of billionaire property developer Paddy McKillen Sr, he appeared to be building a formidable legacy of his own. But last week, the High Court heard he had just €270 in a Revolut account, against liabilities of almost €28 million. So, how did it all unravel, and could he ever build again? Today on The Indo Daily, Fionnán Sheahan is joined by the Irish Independent’s Shane Phelan and John Burns to explore how Paddy McKillen Jr’s business empire came apart, and what might come next. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone wants a piece of the budget pie – so what will Budget 2027 do for you? With energy prices in turmoil, unfulfilled promises on childcare, soaring house prices and trade unions threatening strike action, expectations are building ahead of next Tuesday's announcement. On today’s Indo Daily, Tessa Fleming is joined by political correspondent with the Irish Independent Aisling Moloney to examine how far the Government will go, what is off the table, and who, if anybody, could be in for a windfall. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s Indo Daily is brought to you by our sister podcast, Indo Sport. Irish Independent soccer correspondent Dan McDonnell joined the team to discuss the FAI’s appearance before the Oireachtas. Among the issues raised at Leinster House were safeguarding and governance, including the fallout surrounding Ireland’s recent match against Israel. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two people who swore affidavits connected to Conor McGregor’s appeal in the Nikita Hand civil rape case have now been charged with perjury. Samantha O’Reilly and Steven Cummins had provided evidence that McGregor’s legal team initially intended to rely upon as part of his appeal, before that evidence was dramatically withdrawn. The development brings a fresh legal twist to a case that has already attracted international attention. In today's Indo Daily, Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Irish Independent security correspondent Robin Schiller to explain who the couple are, what they are accused of and what happens next. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christy Kinahan Sr is on the move after being issued a tight deadline to leave the United Arab Emirates. The 69-year-old has been forced to flee Dubai in the wake of a cancelled visa, and his options appear to be limited. So, where to next for Kinahan Sr? And why does he no longer sport an Irish accent? With Daniel Kinahan due back in court next week, is the Kinahan cartel collapsing in real time, or are rumours of its demise greatly exaggerated? On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Katie Byrne is joined by Bellingcat researcher Connor Plunkett and Irish Independent security correspondent Robin Schiller to discuss the departure of the ‘Dapper Don’. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. You can view our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a stalemate in Portadown and deep division in Stormont. On the Orange side, the issue is the rights of a small number of people to march their traditional route – backed by a legal ruling. On the Garvaghy Road, a community feels that march is sectarian harassment - and a relic of another age. This extra episode of The Indo Daily is brought to you by our colleagues at The BelTel as Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride and Allison Morris and hears from Claire Dickson in Portadown, and from Andrew Madden in Stormont. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twenty-five years ago, Sunday World journalist Martin O’Hagan was shot dead as he walked home with his wife in Lurgan, Co Armagh. A fearless investigative reporter who exposed the criminal underworld behind Northern Ireland’s paramilitaries, O’Hagan had made dangerous enemies on both sides, but no one has ever been convicted of his murder. Joining Fionnán Sheehan on the Indo Daily is Sunday World Northern editor Richard Sullivan and Irish Independent special correspondent Paul Williams, as they remember their friend and colleague and examine why, 25 years on, his killing remains unsolved. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Todays episode of The Indo Daily is brought to you by our sister podcast, The BelTel. Johnny Adair, commonly referred to as ‘Mad dog Adair’, was one the most well-known terror bosses of the Troubles. He said his war was aimed at the IRA, but innocent Catholics were more often than not his real victims. His C Company of the west Belfast UDA also turned their guns on their fellow loyalists. Who is Mad dog Adair, what does he believe, and how does he view his murderous reign? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Aaron Edwards, a Senior Lecturer in Defence and International Affairs at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and author of ‘Enemies within: The explosive true story of Johnny ‘Mad dog’ Adair’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been seven turbulent months since it was confirmed that the Republic of Ireland would face Israel in the Uefa Nations League. What began as a football fixture has since become one of the most divisive and politically charged moments in Irish sporting history. Since the draw was announced in February, protests, campaigns and fierce public debate have intensified, with pressure mounting on all sides. Just days ago, Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson sparked anger in Israel after saying his team would not be playing "with genocide, but against genocide" when the sides meet in Hungary on Sunday. The controversy has also reached the players themselves as protesters gathered outside the squad's training base in Castleknock this week, urging the team not to fulfil the fixture. Despite the growing scrutiny, the match is set to go ahead, albeit with a significantly scaled-back television broadcast. So, have the Ireland players been placed in an impossible position? And what can supporters expect when the teams finally take to the pitch? We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cash, water, food, batteries and a wind-up radio - would you know what to do if a major emergency hit Ireland? The Government is sending its Be Emergency Ready booklet to two-million households as Russia intensifies its hybrid war against Europe. Are countries across the continent preparing their citizens for the worst? Today on the Indo Daily Kevin Doyle is joined by Donnacha Ó Beacháin, professor of politics at the School of Law and Government at DCU, and Conal Thomas, political correspondent with the Irish Independent, to ask whether Ireland is prepared for what could come next, while Donald Trump brings his own brand of unpredictability to the United Nations. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you watched Louis Theroux’s documentary on the manosphere earlier this year, you should be familiar with a man by the name of Harrison Sullivan, or ‘HSTikkyTokky’ as he’s better known to his hundreds of thousands of online followers. Sullivan found himself in Dublin recently, hastily rescheduling a boxing event after his original choice of venue – the grounds of Dublin football club Bluebell United FC – abruptly cancelled the booking. Bluebell United has a long history, but recent events have placed it under a stark spotlight. In the past two years, the club has found itself linked to figures involved in drug dealing, debt judgements, an ownership switch and indeed – however briefly – the ever-controversial manosphere. On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Crime World journalists Alan Sherry and Neil Fetherstonhaugh to look at the curious case of Bluebell United. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“We’ll forget her soon enough.” That is the extraordinary comment Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's brother, claims King Charles made in the days following her death. Now, Spencer’s new book has reignited old tensions and prompted a rare response from Buckingham Palace. Daily Mail features writer Fred Kelly joins Kevin Doyle on the Indo Daily to ask why Spencer is speaking out now, whether his claims stack up and what this latest royal row means for Diana’s enduring legacy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two years after winning her civil case against Conor McGregor, Nikita Hand is telling her story in her own words. In her memoir Not the Perfect Victim, she writes about the assault, her battle for justice and the personal cost of becoming one of the most recognisable women in Ireland. Irish Independent writer Tanya Sweeney joins Fionnán Sheahan on the Indo Daily to share what she learnt from meeting Nikita Hand, and how she is trying to build a new life after the verdict. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In September 1956, a schoolboy in County Down made a shocking discovery after peering into a hen house and locking eyes with a child. Those eyes belonged to seven-year-old Kevin Halfpenny – better known ever since as ‘the hen house boy’. Robbed of social interaction, Kevin seemed to have learned his behaviour from the chickens around him. His widowed mother Margaret Halfpenny was arrested and pleaded guilty to neglect. 70 years later, we revisit a tragically human story that became overwhelmed by folklore. Host: Olivia Peden Guest: Kurtis Reid This episode of The Indo Daily is brought to you by our sister podcast The BelTel. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was the man who presided over one of the country’s most turbulent events, when Ireland’s Celtic Tiger came crashing down. Now, a new book chronicling the political life of Brian Cowen has hit the shelves. Cowen's time as taoiseach was defined by the banking crash, the recession and the financial crisis that transformed the country. So, what led to the Offaly man's political rise? What light does this book shed on his time in Leinster house? And how will history remember the man who handled the bailout? On today’s Indo Daily, Tessa Fleming is joined by the Irish Independent’s Ireland editor, Fionnán Sheahan, to discuss Gary Murphy’s new book, Brian Cowen: Anatomy of a Taoiseach, and the crisis that defined his tenure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.