Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

The Midlands Today Show with Will Faulkner & David Hollywood

Domestic violence exposed in harrowing court case — a Midlands man shows “zero remorse” after years of brutal abuse, coercive control and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, in what a judge described as the worst domestic violence case he has ever seen.

Families under pressure and public safety fears — calls grow to widen and strengthen the proposed domestic violence register; Graiguecullen residents are left shaken after an alleged knife-armed burglary attempt; and commuters lose hours on the M50 as politicians renew calls for flexible working rights.

Mental health, creativity and rural life — Sinn Féin highlights a national crisis in eating-disorder services; Birr filmmaker Nicky Larkin earns an IFTA nomination; eight-year-old Lillian Cully wins Young Designer of the Year; and farmers express cautious optimism amid rising costs and uncertainty.

Domestic violence law under scrutiny — Offaly Domestic Violence Support Service and the family of murder victim Jennifer Poole call for a far stronger domestic violence register, warning current proposals are too narrow, time-limited and fail to reflect the real patterns of coercive and repeat abuse seen every day.

Medical accountability and a family’s fight for justice — Regional Hospital Mullingar issues an unreserved apology over the death of 25-year-old Bryonny Sainsbury after a “catalogue of failures” in her care, as her parents speak out about pleading for help, missed chances to save her life, and their determination to drive real change.

Science, wellbeing and the natural world — researchers trial a finger-prick blood test that could revolutionise early Alzheimer’s diagnosis; women speak candidly about ADHD being missed in girls; Red Squirrels make a surprise comeback thanks to pine martens; and everyday advice ranges from home fixes to workplace etiquette.

Ancient history revealed by storm and chance — radiocarbon dating confirms human burials more than 1,300 years old at the sacred Lemanaghan monastic site in Offaly, exposed by Storm Eowyn on St Manchán’s feast day in what locals and archaeologists are calling an extraordinary and deeply moving discovery.

Carers hit with unexpected tax shock — thousands of family carers receive alarming letters from Revenue warning they may owe years of back tax on Carer’s Allowance and Benefit payments, sparking outrage, anxiety and political calls for compassion and reform.

Global tensions, tech feuds and everyday life — Elon Musk’s public spat with Ryanair escalates as he floats buying the airline; EU–US trade tensions rise over Greenland; Oxfam calls for a wealth tax on the super-rich; rare Northern Lights light up Irish skies; and local heritage is celebrated with the return of a historic Abbeyleix cross.

Digital danger and child protection fears — Mullingar tech expert Joan Mulvihill urges schools and public bodies to leave X, warning AI “nudification” tools and so-called AI girlfriend sites are fuelling a new wave of non-consensual sexual exploitation, with Ireland under pressure as the EU regulator.

Global unrest, local voices — Midlands residents with family ties to Iran share harrowing accounts as protests intensify, internet blackouts deepen fear, and international calls grow for stronger action against the regime.

Growth, wellbeing and the local environment — Bevcraft opens a major new production facility creating jobs in the Midlands; Blue Monday myths are unpacked with practical mental-health advice; EU–US trade tensions over Greenland escalate; and Offaly expands its Hare’s Corner biodiversity scheme.