A serial fraudster collected the passport details of vulnerable and disabled children under the guise of preparing them for a bogus trip to Lapland. Samantha Cookes has been deceiving people across the country for at least eight years. Host Kevin Doyle is joined by special correspondent Ellen Coyne to examine the many faces of Samantha Cookes. 

Stay in the know, on the go. The Indo Daily brings you in-depth, 20 minute stories that fit into your day.

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EXCLUSIVE: Fraud, fake identities and exploiting vulnerabilities – The Samantha Cookes story

The famous residents of an exclusive suburb just outside Barcelona have included footballers like Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta, and international pop stars like Shakira. Recent World Cup winner Lamine Yamal is currently enjoying the spoils of a multi-million euro purchase there.




But a German businessman’s address in the neighbourhood has now scuppered his chance of application to be declared bankrupt in Ireland.




Last year, 44-year-old former convict Denis Melcher, who had amassed debts of close to €8m, convinced Ireland’s High Court to adjudicate him bankrupt.




As part of this process, Melcher submitted a sworn statement in which he declared that he was living in a modest rental home in Carlow.




However, at the time, Melcher was secretly spending €8,500 per month to lease a four-storey mansion overlooking Barcelona, with an option to purchase the property for €2.6m.




The revelation has raised fears that the Irish bankruptcy regime is now seen as an easy target for foreign nationals looking to shed colossal debts.




On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Irish Independent Legal Affairs Editor Shane Phelan to examine the implications of this curious case.




The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism

The famous residents of an exclusive suburb&nbsp;just outside Barcelona&nbsp;have included footballers like Gerard Pique and Andres&nbsp;Iniesta, and international pop&nbsp;stars&nbsp;like Shakira. Recent&nbsp;World Cup winner Lamine Yamal is currently enjoying the spoils of&nbsp;a&nbsp;multi-million euro purchase there.
 
But a German businessman’s address in the neighbourhood&nbsp;has&nbsp;now scuppered&nbsp;his chance of application to be declared bankrupt in&nbsp;Ireland.
 
Last year,&nbsp;44-year-old&nbsp;former convict&nbsp;Denis Melcher, who had amassed debts of close to €8m, convinced Ireland’s High Court to&nbsp;adjudicate&nbsp;him bankrupt.
 
As part of this process, Melcher&nbsp;submitted&nbsp;a sworn statement in which he declared that he was living in&nbsp;a modest rental home&nbsp;in Carlow.
 
However, at the time, Melcher was secretly spending €8,500 per month to lease a four-storey&nbsp;mansion overlooking Barcelona, with an option to purchase the property for €2.6m.
 
The revelation has&nbsp;raised fears&nbsp;that the Irish bankruptcy regime is now&nbsp;seen as&nbsp;an easy target for foreign nationals looking to shed colossal debts.
 
On this episode of&nbsp;The Indo Daily, host Fionnán Sheahan is&nbsp;joined by&nbsp;Irish&nbsp;Independent&nbsp;Legal Affairs Editor Shane Phelan to&nbsp;examine&nbsp;the implications of&nbsp;this&nbsp;curious case.
 
The Indo Daily&nbsp;is part of the Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at&nbsp;<a href="https://independent.ie/ourjournalism" rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://independent.ie/ourjournalism">independent.ie/ourjournalism</a>

The German ex-con, the Irish bankruptcy and the €2.6m Spanish mansion

Amy Winehouse’s time at the top was brief, but her impact was anything but.

With era-defining tracks like Rehab and Back to Black, she laid bare her life through brutally honest songwriting, delivered in a voice that was as soulful as it was unforgettable.

But alongside the awards and global success came something darker.

Winehouse’s rapid ascent was shadowed by addiction, relentless scrutiny, and a tabloid culture that often seemed to feed off her struggles.

And the media machine didn’t stop after Amy Winehouse tragically passed away aged just 27; if anything, it found new gears to crank up.

Her death, though tragic, was not altogether unexpected for those who had watched her very public battle play out in real time.

Fifteen years on, is the entertainment industry more protective of its stars?

On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Tessa Fleming is joined by Phil Udell, music lecturer at Ballyfermot College of Further Education and artist manager with Word Up Collective, and by Ian Winwood, music journalist and author of Bodies: Life and Death in Music, to look at the legacy of Amy Winehouse.

The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism

Amy Winehouse’s time at the top was brief, but her impact was anything but.
With era-defining tracks like Rehab&nbsp;and Back to Black, she laid bare her life through brutally honest songwriting, delivered in a voice that was as soulful as it was unforgettable.
But alongside the awards and global success came something darker.
Winehouse’s rapid ascent was shadowed by addiction, relentless scrutiny, and a tabloid culture that often seemed to feed off her struggles.
And the media machine&nbsp;didn’t&nbsp;stop after Amy Winehouse&nbsp;tragically&nbsp;passed away aged just 27; if&nbsp;anything,&nbsp;it found new gears to crank up.
Her death, though tragic, was not altogether unexpected for those who had watched her very public battle play out in real time.
Fifteen years on,&nbsp;is&nbsp;the entertainment industry more protective of its stars?
On&nbsp;this episode of The Indo Daily,&nbsp;host&nbsp;Tessa Fleming is&nbsp;joined by Phil Udell, music lecturer at Ballyfermot College of Further Education and artist manager with Word Up Collective, and by Ian Winwood, music journalist and author of Bodies: Life and Death in Music, to look at the legacy of Amy Winehouse.
The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at <a href="https://www.independent.ie/service/our-journalism/a/98708550.html">independent.ie/ourjournalism</a>

Amy Winehouse: Talent, tragedy and the curse of the '27 Club' 

On a spring morning in June 2001, an eight-year-old girl gathered moss for her grandmother’s hanging baskets in a forest near Ballinamore in Co Leitrim. The child let out a scream: she had discovered a body.  The remains belonged to Enniskillen businessman Gerry McGinley, and it was clear that he been murdered.  He had been killed by his own wife Julie and her lover.  But it wasn’t a simple tale of adultery. It involved hotel sex with strangers, lies, blackmail and videotape – and included many prominent people in Fermanagh.

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Today's Indo Daily was originally released on April 14, 2026, and is brought to you by our sister podcast The Bel Tel, as Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Andrew Madden.

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The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism

On a spring morning in June 2001, an eight-year-old girl gathered moss for her grandmother’s hanging baskets in a forest near Ballinamore in Co Leitrim. The child let out a scream: she had discovered a body. &nbsp;The remains belonged to Enniskillen businessman Gerry McGinley, and it was clear that he been murdered. &nbsp;He had been killed by his own wife Julie and her lover. &nbsp;But it wasn’t a simple tale of adultery. It involved hotel sex with strangers, lies, blackmail and videotape – and included many prominent people in Fermanagh.
­
Today's Indo Daily was originally released on April 14, 2026, and is brought to you by our sister podcast The Bel Tel, as Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Andrew Madden.
­
The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism

EXCLUSIVE: Fraud, fake identities and exploiting vulnerabilities – The Samantha Cookes story

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