Episode 286: Fat Freddie Thompson's bust up behind bars and who's who in Portlaoise Prison
20 May 2023 - 51 minsIreland’s most secure prison is a melting pot of some of the most dangerous, notorious and difficult inmates where each landing is ruled by a top dog and where official and underworld rules apply.
But troublemakers in the real world don’t change behind bars as killer Fat Freddie Thompson has proved in recent weeks with his volatile behaviour and ability to fall out with family and friends.
But who else is a prominent figure at Portlaoise Prison and what is their role on the various wings?
Nicola's joined by Niall Donald to talk about the Turkish heroin dealer whose risen through the ranks of influential prisoners, of the television seizures that have pitted Thompson against his fellow lag...
Episode 527: Inside Merchants Quay - Dublin’s Drug use and homelessness support service
He is the CEO of Merchants Quay Ireland with a lengthy career behind him in the prison service making him perfectly placed to understand and empathise with the complexities of long term addiction. Later this year the first injecting rooms will open at the Liffeyside facility and Eddie Mullins hopes the pilot programme will prove that giving addicts back some dignity will help with the public perception of them. Nicola speaks to Eddie about his career, his experiences with the marginalised of society and his hopes for the future of addiction services. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hour 9 mins
29 March Finished
Episode 526: Tensions continue between associates of slain gangsters Jason Hennessy Snr and Tristian Sherry
Tensions have continued to simmer in the feud between associates of murdered Jason Hennessy and Tristan Sherry with houses burned out and fears attacks could escalate. The Christmas Eve massacre at a Dublin restaurant which saw Hennessy shot by Sherry who was then overcome and murdered in front of festive crowds is using up huge policing resources as rivals vow to avenge both men’s deaths. Nicola speaks to Niall Donald about the latest in the ongoing Blanchardstown feud. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
13 mins
27 March Finished
Episode 525: The kidnap and rescue of a Belfast-based sport star
A suspected drug dealer is bundled into a car in Belfast and driven across the border to Dublin amid allegations he owes a senior criminal figure a debt. A Garda operation saves the man before he can be tortured or killed by his kidnappers but in true gangland style, the victim refuses to make a complaint. Nicola speaks with Niall Donald about the dramatic scenes that prove that for gangland there is no border. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
18 mins
27 March Finished
Episode 524: Senior Kinahan cartel lieutenant Peadar Keating fights extradition to the UK
Encrochat phone hack evidence has been heard for the first time in an Irish court as Senior Cartel member Peadar Keating fights extradition to the UK on firearms charges. Nicola speaks with Niall Donald about the messages the Crown say were passed between Keating and criminal kingpin Thomas ‘Bomber’ Kavanagh along with Cartel lieutenant Liam Byrne as they plotted a firearms double cross to get the boss a shorter jail term. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
38 mins
25 March Finished
Episode 523: Serial con-artist Samantha Cooke duped Kildare family
A serial fraudster was employed by a family in Kildare as a live in au pair after being outed on a hit podcast and in a series of newspaper articles as a conwoman. Samantha Cooke managed to reinvent herself as child care worker Sadie Harris and lived for six months with the family while her real identity faced the eye of a publicity storm about a series of cons across Ireland. Nicola speaks to journalist Mark Tighe of the Sunday Independent about the extraordinary story of a woman who keeps changing her name, look and background and who is currently gone dark somewhere in Ireland. He tells her about her latest scam which terrified a young mother returning to work and about her colourful background as an artist, a writer and even a psychotherapist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
36 mins
23 March Finished
Episode 522: Republicans Colin Duffy and Henry Fitzsimons acquitted of terrorism charges
Two republicans Colin Duffy and Henry Fitzsimons have been acquitted of terrorism charges following a long-running trial at Belfast Crown Court. Earlier their co accused Alex McCrory was also acquitted in the M15 bugging case. So how did their trial take ten years in the court and what is the fallout from their acquittals? Did the M15 succeed in infiltrating the New IRA while the old order was caught up in the case and on strict bail conditions or was the decade-long case a fiasco for Public Prosecution Service. Nicola speaks to Belfast Telegraph Crime Correspondent Allison Morris about M15 bugs and the long-running case Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
45 mins
23 March Finished