Behind the Story

Drug initimidation gangs are threatening families in rural areas. At a recent community meeting in Co Galway, a young women told people how an armed and masked gang turned up to her parents house demanding money. Reporter Jacqueline Hogge joined Fran and co host, Eamon Horan to chat about drug use in rural areas.
Later, Fran and Eamon discuss Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen's outburst at a press conference in Japan on Thursday night. Verstappen took issue with a reporter and demanded he 'get out'.

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You Tuber Stephen McCullagh was found guilty of the murder of his pregnant girlfriend Natalie McNally on Monday in a Belfast court. Northern Correspondant Conor Macauley was in court and shares details from the case with Paul and co-host, Dyane Connor. Conor says he had never seen anything like the reaction after the jury delivered the guilty verdict.
Natalie McNally was killed in December 2022, her boyfriend had created an elaborated alibi that fell apart once the police investigated his computer, phone and movements on the night.

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It's widely anticipated the Government will announce fuel supports in an attempt to soften the blow of increasing petrol and diesel prices. Paul Deane, Senior lecturer in Clean Energy Futures joins Evelyn O'Rourke to discuss market reaction to President Trump claim that he is close to a deal with Iran and that the price of oil will 'drop like a rock'.
Later, reporter Jenn Gannon explains why 'Love Story' on Disney has become such a hit with Gen Z. She also outlines why the real people featured in the drama are upset at how they are protrayed.

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Earlier this week, a leading figure in the Kinahan crime gang, Sean McGovern pled guilty at the Special Criminal Court to directing a criminal gang in relation to the murder of one man and the surveillance of another.
McGovern is the first person to be extradited from the UAE to face trial.
Author and crime reporter Barry Cummins joins Fran to discuss the case and examine why the Kinahan crime group are ‘comfortably trapped’ in Dubai as the Iran war continues in the region.

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One of the world's leading tech billionaires, Peter Thiel is in Rome this week, giving a series of 'behind closed doors' lectures on the Antichrist. The Vatican is not impressed. Reporter Amy Kazmin of the Financial Times joins Fran and Paul to discuss the reaction to Thiel's talks. Later, Professor of Ecclesiology, Massimo Faggioli explains the tension between advances in AI, Pope Leo and Catholic America's involvement with investments in the technology.

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