In The News

For almost a week there were blockades and go-slows which severely disrupted the country’s road network and Dublin city centre was at a standstill for several days. By the weekend a third of the country’s service stations were out of petrol and diesel because fuel depots were under siege. Gardaí were out in force from the start; on the streets, beside fuel depots, on motorways – watching. So what changed on Thursday? Why did the policing response notch up several gears? Did gardaí expect the Defence Forces to join them on the streets and what did the army know Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan’s was about to call on it to act? While it was called a fuel protest – about rising prices – it became clear that anger at the Government motivated many who took to the streets. Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally assesses the policing response to the largest protest in the State.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There have been 45 deaths on Irish roads so far this year – that’s six more people than this time last year. Tragically, 2025 ended as the deadliest on Irish roads in more than a decade with 190 fatalities. Why?

What makes Ireland so different from our European neighbours who are successfully tackling this devastating problem?

Business economist Sinead O’Sullivan, skilled in collating and analysing data, was prompted by the high level of road deaths to explore the figures to see if she could see a pattern and, by assessing what happens in other countries, suggest five proven solutions.

Her findings led her to conclude that this is a public health crisis and needs to be treated as such.

On this podcast she explains what those five actions are and why a lack of accountability at official level is costing young lives by ignoring the clear pattern of preventable harm.

O’Sullivan runs a road safety accountability campaign at stoproaddeaths.ie.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Andrew McNair.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John O’Brien’s scam was simple. Arriving in the US on a tourist visa in 2021, he set himself up as a building contractor in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. By the time the authorities caught up with the 28 year-old, he had conned more than 100 victims out of an estimated $2.5 million.

Many of the homeowners who handed him their life savings for promised building work were charmed by his Irish accent and friendly demeanour.

Sentencing him to four years and eight months in prison, the judge talked about “the extent and breadth of the harm” done to victims who opened their doors to O’Brien out of kindness and trust. He had pleaded guilty.

Many of his victims gave statements in court including Candace Gauvin, a retired school crossing guard, who emptied a life insurance account, eventually paying him more than $90,000 for shoddy work.

One of the more than a dozen people who provided character references for O’Brien included fellow Traveller Senator Eileen Flynn who advocated for his early release for the “benefit of his young family”.

Local reporter Susan Zalkind was in court in Rhode Island for O’Brien’s case and she explains how the scam worked, how it funded his lavish lifestyle and the impact on the victims.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wednesday, as fuel protests over the Government’s response to rising petrol and diesel prices entered their third day it became clear the demands of the protesters showed no signs of being met.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said fuel protesters blocking cities and towns around Ireland are “wrong” and those breaking the law will be penalised.
Several distinct but co-ordinated protests took place over the past three days, involving slow-moving convoys on motorways, such as the M1 and M50, as well as the blocking of main roads in Dublin.

Those taking part include hauliers and agricultural contractors using large trucks and tractors to disrupt traffic.

Irish Times political editor Pat Leahy analyses the political reaction to the protesters and Colm Keena explains who the protesters are and what they want.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US, Israel and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday barely an hour before US president Donald Trump’s deadline to obliterate Iran was set to expire, with Tehran agreeing to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The ceasefire is based on a 10-point proposal from Iran which Trump said was a “workable basis on which to negotiate”.
So what is in the proposal and why was Pakistan key to the negotiations?

The proposal requires Israel to stop its bombardment of Lebanon, something it has not done with the Israeli ‌military saying ​on Wednesday it has ​carried out ⁠the largest ‌strikes ‌against Lebanon’s ​Hizbullah ⁠since ​this ​war ‌began.

So how will that impact on the negotiations which are set to begin on Friday?

And what role did China play in the ceasefire negotiations?

Beijing-based Irish Times correspondent Denis Staunton analyses the proposal and its chance of delivering lasting peace in the region.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.