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The Irish Independent became the story today when a bomb threat forced the evacuation of our newsroom on Dublin's Talbot Street. As journalists across Europe reported on a wave of aviation threats, cyber incidents and security alerts, an email claiming an explosive device had been planted in our building landed directly in our inbox. What followed was a garda operation, a full sweep of the building and a dramatic morning for staff who suddenly found themselves at the centre of a breaking news story. But was this an isolated hoax, or part of a wider campaign of disruption targeting Europe? Today on The Indo Daily, Katie Byrne is joined by Kevin Doyle, executive editor of the Irish Independent, and Gareth O'Connor, deputy news editor at the Irish Independent, to discuss the threat, the response and the growing fears around a new wave of hybrid attacks across Europe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lorcan Hanlon was a successful executive at one of the country's leading and most respected newspaper groups. By all appearances, he had it all. But on a work trip to Stockholm in 2024, things would change dramatically for the commercial executive. So, what exactly happened in Stockholm? And how did Hanlon go from a successful newspaper executive to a convicted criminal? On today’s Indo Daily, Tessa Fleming is joined by Sunday Independent senior investigative reporter Catherine Sanz to unpack the extraordinary chain of events that led to the fall of Lorcan Hanlon, from the upper ranks of Irish media to a criminal conviction in Sweden.The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A jury has found Russell Brand guilty following one of the most high-profile celebrity trials in recent British history. Over several weeks, jurors heard evidence from six women who independently accused the comedian and former broadcaster of rape and sexual assault, with allegations spanning a decade from 1999 to 2009. Brand denied all of the charges and insisted the encounters were consensual, but today the jury convicted him of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The case has reignited debate about fame, power and whether allegations of sexual misconduct were ignored during a very different era of British media. So what evidence persuaded the jury, and what happens next for Brand? Today on The Indo Daily, Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Courts Editor for the Press Association Tristan Kirk, to unpack the verdict and the long road to this dramatic conclusion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Democrats have stormed back into power, seizing control of both the House and Senate and delivering a political blow to Donald Trump. But while the mid-terms may be over, the race to define America’s future is only just beginning. Is Trump now a lame-duck president, or can he still dominate the Republican Party from the White House? And as cracks begin to appear in the MAGA coalition, who is ready to take up the mantle? With Republicans facing difficult questions about their future and Democrats already looking towards the next presidential race, the battle for 2028 has begun. Today on the Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Lorcan Nyhan of The Communications Clinic and Professor Scott Lucas of the Clinton Institute at UCD to examine what the mid-term results mean for Donald Trump, the Republican Party and the future of US politics. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RTÉ is heading back before the Oireachtas as politicians demand answers on reform, funding and the future of Ireland's national broadcaster. More than two years after the payments scandal plunged the organisation into crisis, questions remain over whether RTÉ is really becoming the leaner, more efficient broadcaster it promised to be. With a €20m funding dispute still hanging over Montrose and TV licence fee revenue continuing to decline, pressure is growing on director general Kevin Bakhurst and his leadership team. Fresh controversy surrounding RTÉ's new sports podcast with Ger Gilroy has only added to scrutiny of the broadcaster's strategy and decision-making. As TDs prepare to put RTÉ executives under the spotlight once again, can they convince critics that meaningful change is finally happening? Today on the Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Irish Independent Ireland Editor Fionnán Sheahan to examine the challenges, controversies and questions facing RTÉ.The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Voting is under way in the US mid-term elections, with the potential for a major impact on Donald Trump's presidency.   One man who knows what it's like to be inside the pressure cooker of Trump's White House – albeit briefly – is former communications director Anthony Scaramucci.   Having long shaken off the ignominy of his 11-day reign, Scaramucci has repositioned himself as a prolific political commentator and author.   His new book, All the Wrong Moves: How Three Catastrophic Decisions Led to the Rise of Trump, places his former employer back under the microscope, though Scaramucci is adamant that it's no cheap takedown.   Instead, he argues that Trump is reflective of an America long on the precipice of oblivion.   On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Anthony Scaramucci to forecast the US mid-terms, the effect they're likely to have on Donald Trump, and who the president is likely to blame if the Republicans are on the receiving end of a drubbing.   The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years, ‘Red’ Larry McCarthy was one of the most feared figures in Irish gangland, emerging from the bloody feud that gripped Limerick and left a trail of violence across the city. ­ ­ After prison sentences in Ireland and Britain, the alleged crime boss has repeatedly claimed he has left that life behind. ­ ­ But now he is back in the headlines as he challenges a Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) case over properties that Cab says were bought with the proceeds of crime. ­ How did Red Larry rise through the ranks of the McCarthy-Dundon criminal network, and why does Cab still consider him a major figure in organised crime? ­ ­ As his latest legal battle heads to the Court of Appeal, questions remain about his past, his present and his future. ­ ­ Today on the Indo Daily, Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Sunday World journalist Eamon Dillon to trace the rise of Red Larry and examine the latest chapter in his long-running battle with Cab. ­ The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI could soon make cyber-attacks on public services far more frequent, with Ireland potentially facing serious disruption to everything from healthcare to banking and transport. This episode of The Indo Daily is brought to you by our sister podcast The Big Tech Show, as Adrian speaks to Peter Tanham, analyst at TheState.ie, former founder, political strategist and recently departed Meta global data policy executive, about why AI is changing the hacking game, how exposed our computer systems really are and why the HSE cyber-attack of 2021 could offer a warning of what lies ahead. Is it time to stop hoping for the best and start preparing for the worst? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anonymous briefings, accusations of betrayal and a mystery phone call have exposed deep tensions within Fine Gael. Culture Minister Patrick O'Donovan has hit back after questions were raised about his health, describing the episode as the "ultimate betrayal". The controversy intensified after it emerged that Tánaiste Simon Harris had called O'Donovan shortly before he was hospitalised while hosting a major EU presidency event in Limerick. Why did it take weeks to confirm the Tánaiste was the caller, and what does the saga reveal about the state of Fine Gael behind closed doors? Today on The Indo Daily, Katie Byrne is joined by Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland editor at the Irish Independent, to examine the rumours of internal divisions and the growing questions surrounding leadership, loyalty and political strategy within Fine Gael. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism ­ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A rising voice in the legal world. The country's foremost human rights lawyer. A "man for all seasons, needed for all sorts of reasons". ­ These are just a taste of the growing list of superlatives used to describe Belfast-based solicitor Darragh Mackin. ­ The lofty praise for the 35-year-old founding partner of Phoenix Law is matched by an extensive, attention-grabbing client list. ­ From controversial rappers Kneecap to the Stardust families and the residents of the Garvaghy Road, Mackin has become the go-to legal eagle at the centre of some of Ireland's most high-profile court cases. ­ Now, alleged crime gang boss Daniel Kinahan has become his latest client, ahead of a case that Mackin says has "fundamental holes" in it. ­ On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Kevin Doyle is joined by Sunday Independent senior investigative journalist Catherine Sanz to profile Darragh Mackin as he prepares to represent Ireland's most notorious alleged criminal. ­ The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel’s election has produced no clear winner, leaving Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival battling to build a coalition. With Arab-led parties potentially holding the balance of power, could this be the end of Netanyahu’s long grip on power? Host: Kevin Doyle, Guest: Bel Trew See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeffrey Donaldson was doing paid work for the ministry of defence in Africa even as acute political turmoil was engulfing his party at home in Northern Ireland. ­ Why was the then DUP leader undertaking sensitive work in dictator-led Cameroon just a week after he himself collapsed Stormont in 2022? Why was he helping sell arms in Egypt alongside a British general? ­ Why did a special forces officer say he’d worked with Donaldson before? ­ Profound political questions remain over who all the now convicted paedophile was working for – alongside concerns about whether he had access to children in developing countries. ­ Host: Ciaran Dunbar ­ Guest: Sam McBride ­ This episode of The Indo Daily is brought to you by our sister podcast The BelTel. ­ The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Incidents of violent drug-debt intimidation are rising in Ireland – and the methods are becoming more concerning and elaborate. Brutal enforcers are now using 'disappearing' video technology on social media platforms to capture and distribute graphic footage of torture. The targeted aggression goes beyond those allegedly in arrears, with innocent friends and family members increasingly caught up in the cruel crossfire. What are the gardaí doing about it? Is there a class issue at play? And what about the incidents we're not hearing about? On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Irish Independent Southern Correspondent Ralph Riegel to examine a terrifying new trend in Ireland's underworld. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism ­ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The grand vision was to create a modern metropolis to rival London, Paris or Madrid.       But as the Celtic Tiger roared, Dublin's Docklands became emblematic of property speculation, unchecked largesse and broken promises.       The transformation is celebrated as a triumph of regeneration.      But it also sparked battles over planning, politics and public money.       On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Irish Independent news correspondent Conor Feehan to explore how a neglected stretch of Dublin's waterfront became a model of urban renewal and a symbol of what happens when fortune-building is prioritised over building a community.        The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson is at the centre of a new Metropolitan Police investigation into an alleged rape said to have taken place in his Westminster office. The development comes just days after Donaldson was sentenced to prison for child sex offences, including the rape of a child. What do we know about this latest allegation, how did the investigation come about and what happens next? Today's Indo Daily comes from our sister podcast, The BelTel. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph crime correspondent Allison Morris to examine the facts of the case and the wider political fallout. This episode was originally produced by The BelTel The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.