Opinions Matter with Adrian & Jeremy

This episode is a follow-on to our most listened-to show ever, as Adrian and Jeremy tackle the fallout from the M9 “joyriding” tragedy — and the argument that the online anger is “only because some were travellers”.

After a listener sends in a Facebook post claiming the hate is racist, we ask: is this just deflection from what actually happened, or is anti-Traveller abuse genuinely adding fuel to the fire?

With calls from Hughie Maughan, Joanne and Chloe (and plenty of rows), we debate sympathy, accountability, TikTok culture, and why the real focus should stay on the innocent family still in hospital.

A heartbreaking tragedy on the M9 sparks one of the most explosive debates we’ve had in a long time. Five teenagers are dead after a car was driven the wrong way up the motorway — and an innocent family on their way to Dublin Airport is still in serious condition in hospital.

But the real row kicks off online: people should “have a heart” because they were still children with grieving families… or is it fair game to feel zero sympathy because of what they were doing?

Callers go hard on parents, TikTok “joyriding” culture, Garda intervention, early warning signs, and the sickening comments flooding social media.

It’s the special weekend “Get It Off Your Chest” episode — the most random hour of Opinions Matter, where Adrian and Jeremy ditch the serious topics and just ramble.

Jeremy returns from holidays with a confession: one of his kids ended up joyriding the baggage carousel in Dublin Airport… and the whole place had to be stopped.

Then it’s onto time zones (Jeremy can’t cope with the fact it’s “tomorrow” in Australia), being judged online for drinking a pina colada served in an actual pineapple, and the eternal question: is it “manly” for men to drink cocktails?

Plus: Sicilian cannoli, posh Dunnes vs Finglas Dunnes, and a shout-out to the legendary Bernie Beirne???

Shocking new footage of joyriders driving against the flow of traffic on the M50 has Adrian and Jeremy asking the question: should Gardaí even be giving chase when a stolen car takes off?

With TikTok packed with “yup bros” filming themselves, live-streaming the madness, and soaking up the “legends” comments, callers debate whether pursuits only add to the buzz — and the danger. Others say Gardaí have no choice, and need spikes, road closures, helicopters, and a dedicated motorway task force.

A posh southside mum gets a one-year sentence for a vicious, unprovoked hotel assault… and she’s back out the door after just four weeks. So Adrian and Jeremy ask the question nobody wants to answer: should mothers with young kids ever be jailed at all?

The row kicks off over Alison Chawke’s early release with TD Gary Gannon saying prison isn’t the place for women with children, and whether “low risk of reoffending” is a cop-out.

Callers go hard on two-tier justice, overcrowded prisons, tagging, and the victims left living with the long-term effects — while one former inmate mum gives a brutally honest view from the inside.