In The News

Taoiseach Micheál Martin wraps up his four-day visit to Japan today with a visit to Hiroshima where he will lay a wreath at the cenotaph commemorating those who died after the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city in 1945.It’s been a hectic few days with an itinerary that included the opening of Ireland House in Tokyo, which at more than €20 million is the largest capital project overseas since the foundation of the State, as well as a visit to Osaka to visit the Irish pavilion at Expo 2025, an international exposition that is expected to attract more than 28 million people.Irish Times Beijing-based correspondent Denis Staunton explains why this visit is so timely and why it has focused on an economic relationship that has doubled in size over the past decade.He also explains the deep interest in Irish culture that has been building in Japan, from the development of Irish pubs to the thriving branch of Comhaltas.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

George Gibney was arrested on Tuesday in Florida after a Garda request was made to the US State Department to extradite him to Ireland to face charges relating to alleged historical child sex abuse.The 77-year-old former swim coach, who avoided trial on sexual abuse charges in 1994 after successfully challenging his prosecution in the High Court, is now accused of 78 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape relating to four girls; and the alleged attempted rape of one of the girls.All four were minors, aged between eight and 15, and were coached by Gibney.They made complaints to the Garda between 2020 and 2022 after the BBC and Second Captains podcast Where is George Gibney? was aired in 2020.But why did it take over 30 years for Gibney to face fresh charges - and what happens next?Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally explains the background.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon

Last month, a 22-year-old man named Evan Fitzgerald walked into the busy Fairgreen shopping centre in Carlow and opened fire. He then turned his weapon on himself and ended his own life.Following the incident, details quickly emerged about the young man’s fascination with guns and his previous run-in with gardaí.And this week, it emerged Fitzgerald had possession of more weapons than previously reported.The shooting, and gardaí’s interaction with Fitzgerald before the Carlow incident, have become the subject of much debate and discussion in recent weeks. Senator and former minister for justice Michael McDowell described the Garda operation to sell Fitzgerald guns as “entrapment”, while Labour TD Alan Kelly questioned the need for gardaí to have delivered weapons to the young man.Today, on In The News, Irish Times Crime and Security Correspondent Conor Gallagher discusses the twists and turns of the Evan Fitzgerald case.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

On June 30th 1922, a massive explosion ripped through Dublin’s Four Courts, after the Irish Free state national army opened fire on anti-treaty republicans occupying the building.Inside the building, the old, dry files housed in the Public Record Office quickly caught fire. The blast sent a dramatic pillar of black smoke hundreds of metres into the air and flung files, books and scrolls high in the sky above the Liffey. Paper scraps and fragments fell across the city with some even landing in Howth, 10km away.The explosion destroyed nearly seven hundred years of documented Irish history, including pre-famine 19-century census records and files detailing espionage, politics and the lives of ordinary Irish people.The blast also marked the start of the Irish Civil War.Three years ago, the Government launched Beyond 2022 – an international effort to try to recover the information lost in the fire and recreate a virtual treasury for future generations.And this week, 175,000 documents have been made freely and publicly available online through the Virtual Record Treasury.Today, on In The News, the online project reconstructing 700 years of Irish history.Dr Ciarán Wallace, codirector of the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland, discusses the implications of the information lost in the1922 Civil War blast and the efforts to reassemble the millions of words lost in the fire.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon. 

Two court cases this month will have signalled to those supplying so-called ‘dodgy boxes’ that there is a high penalty to be paid.A man who appeared before Trim District Court charged with selling the boxes was jailed for 3½ years, while in the High Court Sky Ireland alleged that another man may have earned up to €450,000 a year from operating a different dodgy service.These cases occur periodically as the law catches up with those selling the means to illegally watch content that broadcasters and streamers services charge for.But could people who buy these boxes be hauled before the courts?Sky Ireland chief executive JD Buckley has warned of “consequences for those identified as operating illegal services and for those who watch them”.Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

Renters and landlords alike are confused about exactly how the forthcoming changes to rules governing tenancies will affect them. In what circumstances can rent be raised? In what circumstances can a landlord legally ask a tenant to move out? Consumer Affairs Correspondent Conor Pope sets out to answer their questions, as submitted to The Irish Times.

A new chapter in the fractious relationship between Iran and the US began this week with America’s bombing of three Iranian nuclear-development sites; Iran’s retaliatory strike on a US military base in Qatar, and the tentative ceasefire in the Israel-Iran war announced by President Donald Trump.The two countries have history: Key dates include 1953 when a CIA-orchestrated a coup, with British support, overthrew Iran’s democratically elected government and installed the monarch in exile, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi – the Shah of Iran; 1979 when Iranians, rebelling against his autocratic rule and fuelled by anti-American sentiment ousted the Shah putting the theocratic revolutionaries in power with their hard-line rule; November 4th, 1979 when Iranian students held more than 50 American citizens hostage at the US Embassy in Tehran in captivity for 444 days; and 1980 when US-Iran diplomatic relations broke down and stayed that way until US President Barack Obama struck a deal in 2013 with Iran to curtail its burgeoning nuclear programme.In his first presidency Trump called that nuclear deal “the worse deal over” and pulled the US out. This left the way open for Iran to ramp up its nuclear programme.But what happens now? Are the days of diplomacy over and how will Iran react?Borzou Daraghi, Iranian-American journalist and long-time Middle East-based Journalist, explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. 

Last weekend, former Ireland international and premier league star Damien Duff sent shock waves through Irish football when he announced he was resigning as manager of Shelbourne FC.In a statement, the Tolka Park club said it was “regretfully” announcing Duff’s departure.“While all at Shelbourne FC are deeply saddened by Damien’s decision, we fully respect that he feels this is the right choice for him at this time,” it said in a statement.“His impact on Shelbourne FC was transformational ... we are eternally grateful for the indelible mark he has left on our club,” said the club.Duff steps away from the club four and a half years after taking on the managerial role. During that time, he rebuilt the north Dublin club and delivered last season’s League of Ireland Premier Division title – its first since 2006.Duff will also be a huge loss to the League of Ireland having built a new legacy for himself as the man who helped to transform the credibility of league.Why did he suddenly leave and what does it mean for the future of Shelbourne FC? And what about the ongoing revival of League of Ireland football?Today, on In The News, why did Damien Duff walk out on Shels?Irish Times sports writer Malachy Clerkin discusses the fallout from Duff’s decision to step down.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon. 

In the early hours of March 15th 2024, a woman walked into a hospital in the city of Boston and reported she had been raped.The following day, Dublin firefighter Terrence Crosbie (38) was arrested at Boston Logan International Airport when he was boarding a plane to fly back to Ireland.Last week, after a six-day trial and more than 22 hours of jury deliberations, a Boston judge declared a mistrial after the jury failed to make a unanimous decision.Mr Crosbie, who has spent 15 months in jail, has been sent back to prison until his next trial, which is set for October 14th.Today on In the News, investigative journalist Susan Zalkind discusses the details of the Boston rape trial.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.