Unmasking Graham Dwyer: How forensic psychology helped catch and convict Elaine O’Hara’s killer

Michael D. Higgins has been President of Ireland for almost 14 years. As his second term draws to a close, the hunt is on for a new head of state. With July now upon us, it’s remarkable how few would-be candidates are offering themselves ahead of the election (which must take place by November). For a while, it seemed like the Presidency was the best-paid Irish job nobody wanted. Now, several names from Fianna Fáil have emerged in connection with a tilt at the Park. Fine Gael says it WILL run a candidate for an election the party has never managed to win. And a number of prominent names from the charity sector and media seem at least open to conversations about a run for the Presidency. Ciara Doherty and Seán Defoe get together to take a look at the early runners and riders in the race for the Áras. Presented by Ciara Doherty with guest Seán Defoe, group political correspondent with Bauer Media Audio Ireland. You can contact the podcast by email to [email protected].

A recent report from Women’s Aid found that, in 2024, all categories of violence against women rose considerably. Research shows that one of the drivers of this increased violence is the easy availability of hard-core pornography, especially via smart phones, which is changing perceptions of women and sex. Dr Richard Hogan is a family psychotherapist, author of ‘Parenting the Screenager’ and a long-time campaigner against early sexualisation of children. He claims that “to be sex-positive is to be porn-critical.” He talks to Ciara Doherty about why explicit material has become more widespread in society, the links between pornography and violence, and what parents can do to protect their children. If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast you can contact the Women’s Aid 24-hour national freephone helpline on 1800 341 900 or womensaid.ie. The National Male Advice Line is 1800 816 588. Get in touch with the Newstalk Daily team by email on [email protected].

Jury deliberations in the federal trial of hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs are set to begin in New York. The Harlem-born rapper and founder of Bad Boy Records is charged with racketeering conspiracy and two counts each of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution – charges he denies. Combs’ alleged victims include his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, who testified for the prosecution during the lengthy trial, alongside dozens of others, including former employees who gave graphic evidence about what happened at the infamous ‘freak-off’ parties. The musician chose not to testify in his defence. Now, after more than six weeks of gripping testimony, it’s finally over to the jury. Anastasia Tsioulcas is culture correspondent with NPR. She tells Ciara Doherty about the case against Combs, discusses some big moments from witnesses’ testimony, and describes the massive public and media interest in the trial. Contact the podcast by email to [email protected].

The Trump administration has problems with Ireland’s regulation of what people see on social media and the internet more broadly. According to reports, US officials threatened to impose visa bans on Irish officials who impose strict EU rules on online content because that - according to the MAGA philosophy - is censorship. Meanwhile, Irish students heading to the States on summer visas face having their own social media accounts analysed for content the US State Department regards as hostile “toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States.” Today on Newstalk Daily, we look at the importance of the social media giants to the Irish economy, ask how our regulators might respond to the American demands, and consider what freedom of speech really means. Ciara Doherty is joined at Newstalk Daily HQ by business editor Joe Lynam and journalist and entrepreneur Mark Little, who co-founded Storyful and Kinzen and worked for tech giants Twitter and Spotify. Email us at any time on [email protected].