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The Indo Daily

Irish Independentwww.independent.ie
Stay in the know, on the go. The Indo Daily brings you in-depth, 20 minute stories that fit into your day.
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Episodes

‘Life is going on, then everything stops for a funeral’: Four years into war

In February 2022, just days before Russia invaded Ukraine, Ksenia Samotiy’s mother drove her and her two younger siblings to the Polish border. They thought they would be gone for a few days. Four years later, the war continues. Now living in Dublin, Ksenia has returned to her hometown of Lviv for the first time since she fled. What did she find, and what does the future hold for Ukraine? ­ Host: Fionnán Sheahan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Feb 25, 202624 min

Extra: American man re-arrested in Mike Gaine murder investigation

There were dramatic developments in the Mike Gaine murder investigation on Tuesday morning following the arrest of 53-year-old Michael Kelley. The American was previously arrested in connection with the investigation last May. Irish Independent special correspondent Catherine Fegan joins The Indo Daily with the latest details. Host: Fionnán Sheahan Guest: Catherine Fegan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Feb 24, 202615 min

If the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal won’t bring down the royals, what will?

The headlines keep coming following last week’s arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The former prince was briefly immortalised in the Louvre, while UK officials aren’t ruling out a judge-led inquiry into his links with Jeffrey Epstein. As calls grow for Mountbatten-Windsor to be formally dropped from the line of succession, we assess the long-term damage to the royal family – and where this story goes next. Host: Tabitha Monahan Guests: Enda Brady and Sinéad Ryan See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

Feb 24, 202624 min

'Within seconds it turned violent': The ‘Love Ulster’ riots 20 years on

Description: Twenty years ago this week, the planned ‘Love Ulster’ march ended in some of the worst riots ever witnessed in Dublin city centre. So how did a bright and busy Saturday afternoon descend into violence, disorder and chaos? We hear a first-hand account from a journalist who reported on the scene. ­ Host: Fionnán Sheahan | Guest: Neil Fetherstonhaugh See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 23, 202622 min

Indo Sport: Eamon Dunphy interview: Taking a stand on Ireland vs Israel

Eamon Dunphy welcomes Joe Molloy into his home for an in-depth discussion about the decisions facing Irish football ahead of the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Israel. Who should make the decision? What should it be? And what are the likely consequences? Host: Joe Molloy Guest: Eamon Dunphy This interview was originally broadcast on our sister podcast Indo Sport See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 22, 202649 min

Indo Politics: SNA cuts, social media ban and Rotunda row: a week of pauses and public outcry

A tricky week for the Government inside and outside of Leinster House goes under the microscope on the latest Indo Politics. On the agenda: public outcry at proposed SNA cuts, the planning permission row at the Rotunda Hospital, and the much-mooted social media ban for under-16s and how it might work, not to mention the Coalition tensions it’s causing. Host: Tabitha Monahan Guests: Mary Regan and Maeve McTaggart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Feb 21, 202628 min

Nancy Guthrie abduction: Ransom notes, key evidence and armchair detectives

The baffling disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has captivated America. The 84-year-old mother of television journalist Savannah Guthrie disappeared from her Arizona home earlier this month in what police believe was a targeted kidnapping. Nearly three weeks on, despite emotional public appeals from her family, puzzling ransom notes, and an army of online sleuths, authorities appear to be at a loss. What makes this case so different from the countless missing-persons investigations that come and go?...

Feb 20, 202626 min

Extra: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested by UK police

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested by UK police and taken into custody following dramatic events on Wednesday morning. The arrest came on the same day that Mountbatten-Windsor turned 66. Enda Brady brings us the latest developments. Host: Ciarán Dunbar Guest: Enda Brady See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 19, 202613 min

The ‘rough sex’ claim at centre of Budapest trial of South Dublin man accused of murdering US nurse

American woman Mackenzie Michalski was just 31 at the time of her death, in November 2024. What began as a night out in Budapest, in a well known tourist bar, would end hours later in tragedy. A South County Dublin man who stands accused of her murder continues to plead not guilty. He claims her death was accidental as a result of “sadomasochistic activities”, which he says the deceased woman had encouraged. Host; Fionnán Sheahan, Guest; Ali Bracken The following podcast contains discussion of d...

Feb 19, 202623 min

How ICE detainee Seamus Culleton went from “perfect victim” to public scrutiny

A week ago, the nation was introduced to Seamus Culleton and his harrowing story of life inside an ICE detention centre in Texas. The Kilkenny man quickly gained the sympathy of Ireland’s public and politicians, only for the tide to suddenly turn as new developments emerged. So, how did Seamus Culleton go from “perfect victim” to publicly scrutinised? And is Micheál Martin likely to push Donald Trump’s immigration buttons when he visits the White House next month? Host: Fionnán Sheahan Guest: Ni...

Feb 17, 202627 min

The Cork restaurateur, the $16m Miami mansion and the romantic legal bust-up

Coral Gables in Miami is the kind of coastal paradise you tend to see glistening on a postcard. It’s also home to a $16m (€13.5m) mansion at the heart of a transatlantic romantic breakdown – one that prompted an explosive legal battle. But how did an Irish restaurateur get caught up in such an opulent dispute? Host: Tabitha Monahan Guest: John Mulligan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 17, 202618 min

Is The Monk bound for Dáil Éireann? And does he even want to be a politician?

Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch has confirmed his intentions to run for public office once again following a remarkably close effort in the 2024 general election. Would a successful bid in the upcoming Dublin Central by-election represent the political heist of the century? What exactly does Gerry Hutch stand for? And does he genuinely want to be a politician? Host: Fionnán Sheahan Guests: Mary Regan and John Downing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Feb 16, 202621 min

Killer dentist Colin Howell’s daughter on learning her father murdered her mother

This episode of The Indo Daily comes from our sister podcast The BelTel. Lauren Bradford-Clarke grew up believing her mother Lesley had taken her own life before finding out the truth – her father was a murderer. She was told her mum Lesley took her own life, eventually being told it was part of an apparent ‘suicide’ pact with a man, Trevor Buchanan – the husband of the woman who would eventually become a mother-like figure to her. That woman was Hazel Stewart, how had been having an affair with...

Feb 15, 202648 min

Indo Politics: Airbnb U-turns, rent resets and enter… The Housing Tsar

The Government has pushed through major rent reforms, softened its Airbnb crackdown and appointed a brand new housing supremo... all in one week. On this episode of Indo Politics, Tabitha Monahan and Conal Thomas unpack what the rent reset really means for tenants, why some towns are dodging the Airbnb squeeze, and whether the new housing tsar can actually speed up supply, or if it’s just another layer of bureaucracy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Feb 14, 202614 min

Rex Ryan’s ‘The Monk’: An ordinary decent criminal rebrand?

Ten years on from the Regency Hotel shooting, a one-man play about Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch is returning to the stage in the Ambassador Theatre after last year’s sold-out run. Written and performed by Rex Ryan, son of the late broadcaster Gerry Ryan, the show charts the life of one of Ireland’s most infamous and divisive figures. The Monk’s name is etched into the public consciousness through an unprecedented gangland feud that reshaped the country’s criminal landscape. So, does putting his story ...

Feb 13, 202626 min

Chappell Roan leaves agency over its Epstein links – will Irish acts follow?

The fallout from the latest batch of Epstein files continues apace, with major developments in the entertainment industry and beyond. US pop sensation Chappell Roan has cut ties with her talent agency – an agency that boasts a wealth of Irish star names – after its boss was named in the files, while exiled royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces renewed pressure regarding his relationship with Epstein. ­ Host: Kevin Doyle Guests: Dave Hanratty and Enda Brady See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Feb 11, 202627 min

Ryan Tubridy's RTÉ rebirth: A comeback, contrition or career rehab?

Three years ago, Ryan Tubridy walked away from RTÉ at the centre of a scandal that shook Irish broadcasting to its core. Now, after a stint in London and a period out of the spotlight, Ryan Tubridy is back on Irish screens and back talking. So, is this really the start of a redemption arc, or just a carefully managed comeback? ­ Host: Fionnán Sheahan Guest: Melanie Finn See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 11, 202622 min

Extra: Alan Shatter could sue Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon over false Epstein claim

Former justice minister Alan Shatter said he has been the target of a vicious and antisemitic smear campaign since Social Democrats justice spokesman Gary Gannon put up a social media post that linked him with Jeffrey Epstein. Mr Shatter, who was Fine Gael’s justice minister from 2011 to 2014, said he has twice written to Mr Gannon and Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns in the last week seeking the withdrawal of false claims that he met Epstein while in office. It is understood Mr Shatter is c...

Feb 10, 202610 min

Epstein files: Keir Starmer on the brink, and Irish connections explored

It’s been a rough week for UK prime minister Keir Starmer. First, he offered a direct apology to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking network while declaring that “none of us knew the depth and darkness” of the relationship between Epstein and former British ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson. Then came the resignations of Morgan McSweeney and Tim Allan. Can Mr Starmer hold onto his job? Meanwhile, the latest tranche of Epstein files contained references of a distinctly Irish natu...

Feb 09, 202622 min

How Dunnes Stores won Ireland’s shopping war

Ireland’s high street – or main street if you prefer – has seen quite the evolution over the past hundred-odd years. Today, it is an arena of mixed fortunes. On one hand, the recent liquidation announcement of EuroGiant has thrown a popular discount chain’s future into question. On the other, Dunnes Stores is just edging out Tesco as Ireland’s most popular shopping store. Who gets the credit for such success? And what does it all mean for you, the valued consumer? Host: Fionnán Sheahan. Guests: ...

Feb 09, 202621 min

The inside story of Ozempic and the race to cure obesity

How did weight-loss drugs move from medical niche to global phenomenon Aimee Donnellan, Reuters columnist and author of Off the Scales: The Inside Story of Ozempic and the Race to Cure Obesity, joins Karl Henry on this week’s episode of The Real Health podcast. This episode of The Indo Daily is brought to you by our sister podcast, Real Health with Karl Henry See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 08, 202632 min

Indo Politics – By-Elections Loom and Bord Bia under fire

Whilst heavy rain and winds battered parts of the East coast this week, temperatures rose inside Leinster House. As Bord Bia chairman Larry Murrin appeared before the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee. The government continued to push through regulations on the ban on scramblers, and we now have a date for the upcoming by-elections in Galway West and Dublin Central. So how is the field shaping up? Mary Regan joins Tabitha Monahan to discuss the runners and riders in the upcoming by-elections. Hos...

Feb 07, 202624 min

Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance: Chaos behind the curtain

The 30th anniversary of Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance spectacle threatens to be overshadowed by turmoil behind the scenes. Those with tickets for the show in Dublin’s 3Arena have likely had just one question on their minds this week - is this thing going ahead? Flatley has been locked in a spiky legal battle with Switzer, the events company contracted to run the multi-million-pound stage show. The drama peaked earlier this week when Switzer issued a statement cancelling the show with immed...

Feb 05, 202625 min

Six minutes at The Regency: Behind the scenes at the attack that changed Irish gangland

Ten years ago today, a gun attack at the Regency Hotel sent shockwaves through Ireland and marked a turning point in modern gangland history. In broad daylight, heavily armed men disguised as gardaí stormed a boxing weigh-in, killing David Byrne and triggering a violent feud that would leave Dublin gripped by fear for years to come. ­ Former senior garda Michael O’Sullivan looks back on the day that reshaped Irish organised crime, and its lasting consequences. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

Feb 05, 202624 min

Radio Wars: RTÉ and Newstalk go to battle as Claire Byrne takes the hot seat

Claire Byrne kicked off her new mid-morning broadcast gig this week, signalling a new chapter in Ireland’s radio wars as Newstalk and RTÉ square up. In the space of just a few months, big names have switched sides and fresh schedules have been dreamed up. What’s driving these moves? Who has the upper hand? And will audiences get a better product in the end? Host: Fionnán Sheahan Guests: Declan Lynch and John Meagher See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Feb 04, 202625 min

Melania: The Movie – We saw it, so you don’t have to...

Amazon stumped up $75m for a Melania Trump documentary that opened to dismal reviews and even worse box-office returns. So, why invest in such a precarious project? Who is the previously exiled director at the helm? And, in a bid to answer the “is it any good?” question, we went along to a sparse opening-day screening to deliver our review. Host: Fionnán Sheahan Guest: Dave Hanratty See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Feb 03, 202626 min

‘One strong punch’: Trinity law graduate gets six-year sentence for killing Limerick student after Greek trial

Anne O’Brien saw her son leave for a holiday on a Greek island, only to return home in a coffin. For more than four years, the family of Niall O’Brien (21) have sought justice. Joseph Patrick Connolly (24), from Rostrevor, Co Down, was found guilty of fatal bodily harm when he punched Niall in the early hours of August 30, 2021. Connolly was found guilty after a court hearing in Ermoupoli, on the island of Syros. He received a six-year sentence, but was released on bail pending an appeal. “My so...

Feb 02, 202627 min

‘We saved 14 houses from the sea’: What climate change looks like in Ireland

We Irish have always talked about the weather. It’s our great shared obsession - the small talk, the punchline and the meme that does the rounds when the rain refuses to stop. However, as increasingly violent storms batter our shores and flood our towns, for many across the country, what was once a national pastime has become a source of real anxiety. So, what does climate change actually look like on the ground in Irish communities? And can we keep up with a crisis that’s moving faster than eve...

Feb 02, 202625 min

Indo Politics: The fallout from Storm Chandra and what awaits the Taoiseach in Washington on St Patrick's Day?

It's been a busy week in Irish politics. As the country reels from Storm Chandra, government ministers have accused Met Éireann of withholding information about the extent of the storm. The death of Grace Lynch has placed the Government's inability to police scramblers at the heart of political debate. Cónal Thomas joins Tabitha Monahan to discuss the Government's next steps in the wake of the tragedy, and to look ahead to ministers’ St Patrick’s Day assignments, but what will await the Taoiseac...

Jan 31, 202625 min
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