The Agenda

A journalist who was mocked online for wearing ashes on his forehead on Ash Wednesday has described his critics as “bigots”.Last week, Fionnán Sheahan of the Irish Independent appeared on Virgin Media’s The Tonight Show. Of all the panellists, he was the only one wearing ashes on his forehead - something many viewers noticed at home. Fionnan says he had been surprised by the negativity directed at him afterwards. His issue isn’t so much with the reaction, because that's just the moron hurlers on the ditch on social media,” he said. What surprised him was the sane and sensible people saying, ‘Oh, but you should expect to be slagged off in a situation like that’.Fionnan joined us on The Agenad this morning to talk to us some more about this.

Fresh calls have been made for specialised training for Louth County Council housing staff dealing with victims of domestic violence who may be at risk of homelessness.The issue was raised at this month’s meeting of Louth County Council, where Councillor Sionnain McCann questioned what supports are available to tenants - whether in social housing or HAP-supported accommodation—who must flee their home due to domestic abuse.Councillor McCann said people escaping violent or abusive situations can find themselves in a difficult position when seeking help, as they are still technically considered housed and therefore may not qualify for homeless services.She asked whether training is available to ensure staff can appropriately support those who find themselves in such situations.Councillor McCann joind us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

Gardaí have found gang affiliation clothing and memorabilia as part of searches against the international Black Axe fraud and money laundering gang.The Black Axe gang operates as a mafia-style organisation which originated in Nigeria and has an estimated 30,000 members across dozens of countries worldwide, including having members here in Ireland.The homes of 11 senior gang members, also known as the Neo Black Movement (NBM), were raided.Security and Crime Editor of The Irish Times, Conor Lally, joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this.

Today marks four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading to the most devastating conventional conflict in Europe since World War II.From day one of the invasion, fierce Ukrainian resistance has kept Russia from achieving its goal of dismembering the Ukrainian state.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by a Ukrainian woman named Santa, who fled Ukraine 4 years ago when the war broke out and she says "Ireland is now by home".Santa told us about the day she fled Ukraine with her son, and told us about how things have been in Ireland for them both since.

European leaders will mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine by reaffirming their political and financial backing for Kyiv, as a top EU official in Brussels played down the prospects for a peace deal in the near future.Ukrainian cities continue to face sustained bombardment from Russian missiles and drones. Targeted attacks on critical energy infrastructure have left millions of civilians facing rolling blackouts without power and heating in sub-zero temperatures, while ceasefire negotiations stall.The European Union’s representative on foreign policy, Kaja Kallas, on Monday said she was not optimistic that peace talks would yield any results “in the coming weeks and months”.We are joined on The Agenda by Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence & Meath-East Fianna Fail TD, Thomas Byrne, to find out more about this.

Following the government's late evening announcement that there will be no SNA cuts in September, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Education and Youth and Meath-East TD, Darren O’Rourke TD, has said it is a reprieve for schools, families and SNAs, but warned that the fundamental issues at the heart of the policy remain unaddressed.Speaking in advance of Tuesday’s Dáil debate on Sinn Féin’s Dáil motion, Deputy O’Rourke said that while the reversal is necessary, it does not fix the broken system that put children with additional needs in jeopardy in the first place.He said the government’s actions over the past fortnight had caused enormous upset, and showed a total lack of respect for SNAs, schools, students and their families. He also questioned whether the €19m extra funding the government pledged tonight is new money or a reallocation from the existing education budget.Deputy O’Rourke joined us on The Agena this morning to talk to us some more about this.

A 16-year-old girl who died in a hit-and-run in Navan, Co Meath has been named as Mia Lily Keogh O’Keefe.The young girl was killed after being struck down while out walking with her dog on Saturday evening after 8pm on the Slane Road in the town.The driver fled the scene but a man in his 20s has since been arrested by investigating gardaí.In an update this morning, a garda spokesperson has confirmed that the man has been released without charge and a file will be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Crime Editor at The Irish Sun, Stephen Breen, to find out more about this horrific incident and about the GoFundMe which has been set up for Mia’s family.

A 12 year old Drogheda United fan ended up in the Emergency Department of Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda on Friday night, after he was struck by a flare fired from the Away fans end at Oriel Park during the Louth derby.The boy sustained burns to his face and hand but was not hospitalised. During the game flares were fired at the newly laid artificial playing surface leaving over 30 burn marks, which may see the Boynesiders sanctioned in the coming days. Before the match, flares had been fired when rival fans clashed outside Clarke train station on the Carrick Road.Drogheda United and Dundalk also issued a joint statement yesterday condemning crowd trouble at Friday night's Louth derby, which resulted in major damage to the pitch at Oriel ParkThis morning on The Agend we spoke to Minister for Sport, Patrick O'Donovan, who condemned these "gougers" with the flares who destroyed the game for everyone.Minister O'Donovan also has called for any investment into artificial pitches to be pulled.