In The News

Only a few Irish eyes were smiling when Conor McGregor appeared alongside Donald Trump in the Oval Office on St Patrick's Day. The former UFC star, who is appealing a civil jury's finding that he was responsible for raping Nikita Hand, has long been a darling of the American far right. McGregor used the opportunity to spread disinformation about Ireland on the world stage, falsely alleging that Dublin is unsafe because of the high numbers of asylum seekers. But how did the ex-MMA star go from tweeting "f**k politics" in 2015 and being pro-lockdown in 2020 to teasing his ambitions to run for president this year? Crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher outlines the vague and shifting politics of Conor McGregor and how he's been quietly working moving into politics behind the scenes.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.

On Tuesday gardaí seized cocaine valued at more than €10 million when they stopped a truck on the M9 in Co Kilkenny.Intelligence led to the truck being stopped and finding no drugs in their initial search of the vehicle, they took it to be scanned, soon finding a hidden compartment packed with 152kg of drugs.As well as seizing the truck, they searched two business premises and a residential address in Co Waterford.A man in his 60s was arrested and taken in for questioning. He has been a target of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) for some time.Gardaí believe the suspect has links to the Dublin-based gang that is sometimes referred to in media reports as “The Family”. It has surpassed the Kinahan cartel’s Irish operation as the biggest drugs network in the Republic.Drugs with a street value of over €10m is regarded as a major seizure, but what impact will it have on the drugs trade in Ireland? Is The Family using the Kinehan playbook in its importation and distribution operation? And will losing such a valuable consignment damage the crime group?Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

Over the past two years, the pharmaceutical industry has quietly waged a massive lobbying campaign to try to block proposed EU regulations for the sector.Big Pharma companies have invested particular time and energy into lobbying the Irish Government, urging the State to push back against reforms to speed up the roll-out of new medicines across the EU, particularly to smaller and poorer countries.Correspondence now shows pharmaceutical companies are “disappointed and concerned” by the lack of support the Government has shown the sector in its push back against proposed European Union reforms.Irish Times acting Europe correspondent Jack Power joins In The News to discuss his investigation into pharma firms’ attempts to prevent further regulation of the sector and the implications of these changes for pharmaceutical companies' presence on Irish soil.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Declan Conlon. 

The High Court is set to hear revealing details on the workings of one of Ireland’s most high profile companies: Web Summit.In a civil trial that is set to last nine weeks, the three former friends who founded the tech events company – Paddy Cosgrave, David Kelly and Daire Hickey – will lay out their grievances against each other.Cosgrave, the better known of the three, has a majority stake in the company with a whopping 81 per cent, Hickey has 7 per cent and Kelly 12 per cent.There are five individual cases to be heard in a civil trial that is expected to last around nine weeks.Catherine Sanz, author of Drama Drives Interest: The Web Summit Story explains the background while Irish Times business reporter Ian Curren tells what dirty laundry might be aired.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan

Manchester United used to dominate the Premier League.During Alex Ferguson’s reign as manager, the team won 13 league titles – a record that’s unlikely to be beaten.Since he stepped down in the 2012-2013 season it’s been a trying time for Man U’s loyal fans who have looked on as successive managers made poor choices and owners wasted eye-watering sums.To understand just why the team’s glory days are a distant memory look beyond what happens on the pitch and take a closer look at how the owners – the American Glazer family who are the majority shareholders, and Jim Ratcliffe who bought 25 per cent of the club – are doing their business.Irish Times sports columnist Ken Early lays out the club’s problems.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.