In the wake of a new payments scandal, RTÉ Director-General Kevin Bakhurst has defended the broadcaster's decision to reclassify presenter Derek Mooney as a producer back in 2020 and said the move was not a side deal. How big of an embarrassment is this development for RTÉ? How resilient will it be moving forward? And is it losing the hotly-contested radio war? 




Host: Dave Hanratty 

Guest: Fionnán Sheahan 




We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism

In the wake of a new payments scandal, RTÉ Director-General Kevin Bakhurst has defended the broadcaster's decision to reclassify presenter Derek Mooney as a producer back in 2020 and said the move was not a side deal. How big of an embarrassment is this development for RTÉ? How resilient will it be moving forward? And is it losing the hotly-contested radio war?&nbsp;
 
Host: Dave Hanratty&nbsp;
Guest: Fionnán Sheahan&nbsp;
 
We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at <a href="https://www.independent.ie/about-us/our-journalism/a2146721679.html">independent.ie/ourjournalism</a>

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RTÉ rocked by fresh payments scandal over Derek Mooney salary amid ratings slump 

As Kinahan cartel lieutenant Sean McGovern was led away from the Special Criminal Court last week to begin a 24-year prison sentence, he took the time to wink in the direction of his watching relatives.




An act of defiance in the face of a crushing defeat, or a simple personal gesture?




In any event, the drugs empire that McGovern worked for is falling down, one foundation at a time.




At the top of this decaying tower sitsDaniel Kinahan, currently in police custody in Dubai. The clock has been ticking for quite some time, but finally it seems like a day of reckoning is now dawning.




But what of those left behind in the sunshine of Dubai and the shadow of Daniel Kinahan – particularly the wives and girlfriends?




And what kind of conditions should Kinahan expect to experience should he wind up serving a lengthy prison sentence in Ireland?




On this episode of The Indo Daily, Tessa Fleming is joined by Sunday Independent senior journalist Maeve Sheehan, Financial Times investigative reporter Miles Johnson and former prison officer David McDonald as they look to the future of a notorious outfit that may soon be consigned to the past.




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

As Kinahan cartel lieutenant Sean McGovern was led away from the Special Criminal&nbsp;Court last week to begin a 24-year prison sentence,&nbsp;he took the time to wink in the direction of his&nbsp;watching&nbsp;relatives.
 
An act of defiance in the face of a crushing defeat, or a simple personal gesture?
 
In any event, the drugs empire that McGovern&nbsp;worked for&nbsp;is falling down, one foundation at a time.
 
At the top of this decaying tower sits Daniel&nbsp;Kinahan, currently in&nbsp;police&nbsp;custody in Dubai.&nbsp;The clock has been ticking for quite some time,&nbsp;but finally it seems like a day of reckoning is now dawning.
 
But what of those left behind in the sunshine of Dubai and the shadow of Daniel Kinahan&nbsp;– particularly&nbsp;the wives and girlfriends?
 
And&nbsp;what&nbsp;kind of conditions should&nbsp;Kinahan&nbsp;expect&nbsp;to experience&nbsp;should he&nbsp;wind up serving a lengthy prison sentence&nbsp;in Ireland?
 
On this episode of&nbsp;The Indo Daily, Tessa Fleming is&nbsp;joined by&nbsp;Sunday Independent&nbsp;senior journalist Maeve Sheehan,&nbsp;Financial Times&nbsp;investigative reporter Miles Johnson&nbsp;and former prison officer David McDonald&nbsp;as they&nbsp;look to the future of a notorious outfit that may soon be consigned to the past.
 
The Indo Daily&nbsp;is part of the Trust Project. You can see our ethics polices at&nbsp;<a href="https://independent.ie/ourjournalism" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="https://independent.ie/ourjournalism">independent.ie/ourjournalism</a>

Kinahans’ cruel summer: A fallen drugs empire and the WAGs left behind 

Katie Simpson was a talented showjumper whose short adult life centred around the equine industry she'd grown up in. So, when first responders collected her, unconscious and not breathing, from the care of Jonathan Creswell, who would eventually be charged with her murder, police initially believed his claim that he'd found her hanging at home.

­

Creswell died by suicide in the early days of his trial. Since then, Ms Simpson’s story has been covered at length in documentaries, podcasts, a Police Ombudsman’s report, an independent case review, and a book by Nicola Tallant.

­

Although a tragic death among the showjumping set is far from her regular Crime World beat, Tallant believes Simpson’s is a dark story with more yet to be told.

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This episode contains material that may be distressing. Please take care while listening.

­

Host: Fionnán Sheehan | Guest: Nicola Tallant (author of Groomed: Coercion, Control and a Cold-blooded Murder, and investigations editor at the Sunday World)




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

Katie Simpson was a talented showjumper whose short adult life centred around the equine industry she'd grown up in. So, when first responders collected her, unconscious and not breathing, from the care of Jonathan Creswell, who would eventually be charged with her murder, police initially believed his claim that he'd found her hanging at home.
­
Creswell died by suicide in the early days of his trial. Since then, Ms Simpson’s story has been covered at length in documentaries, podcasts, a Police Ombudsman’s report, an independent case review, and a book by Nicola Tallant.
­
Although a tragic death among the showjumping set is far from her regular Crime World beat, Tallant believes Simpson’s is a dark story with more yet to be told.
­
This episode contains material that may be distressing. Please take care while listening.
­
Host: Fionnán Sheehan | Guest: Nicola Tallant (author of Groomed: Coercion, Control and a Cold-blooded Murder, and investigations editor at the Sunday World)
 
The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at <a href="https://independent.ie/ourjournalism">independent.ie/ourjournalism</a>

Nicola Tallant on why Katie Simpson’s tragic murder leaves so many unanswered questions

Last weekend was a busy one for the US. On the sporting side alone, you had the kick-off of the 2026 Fifa World Cup, the decades-ending wait for a New York Knicks championship victory, and the small matter of MMA fighters bruising up the White House lawn.




On the geopolitical front, there was the much-welcomed agreement of a peace deal between the US and Iran, three-and-a-half months after that conflict began.




At the centre of it all, in one way or another, stood president Donald J Trump.




Trump had his own personal milestone to celebrate on Sunday as he turned 80 years old.




Performing any high-pressure job at the age of 80 is challenging enough, but Trump is the leader of the free world.




Recent on-camera sightings might suggest that Trump is visibly withering, despite fiery pushback from his spokespeople and glowing medical reports from his medical team.




We’re only midway through Trump 2.0, but is he still up to the job?




And for those looking to travel to the US for short- or long-term stays, are Irish visitors still as welcome as Trump’s travel tsar so enthusiastically insists we are?




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

Last weekend was a busy one for the US. On the sporting side alone, you had the kick-off of the 2026 Fifa World Cup, the decades-ending wait for a New York Knicks championship victory, and the small matter of MMA fighters&nbsp;bruising up the White House lawn.
 
On the geopolitical front, there was the&nbsp;much-welcomed&nbsp;agreement of a peace deal between the US and Iran, three-and-a-half months after that conflict began.
 
At the&nbsp;centre&nbsp;of it all, in one way or another, stood president Donald J Trump.
 
Trump had his own personal milestone to celebrate on Sunday as he turned 80 years old.
 
Performing any high-pressure job at the age of 80 is challenging enough, but Trump is the leader of the free world.
 
Recent on-camera sightings might suggest that Trump is visibly withering, despite fiery pushback from his spokespeople and glowing medical reports from his medical team.
 
We’re&nbsp;only midway through Trump 2.0, but is he still up to the job?
 
And for&nbsp;those&nbsp;looking to travel to the US for short- or long-term stays,&nbsp;are&nbsp;Irish visitors&nbsp;still as welcome as Trump’s travel tsar so enthusiastically insists&nbsp;we are?
 
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" target="_blank" title="https://independent.ie/ourjournalism">independent.ie/ourjournalism</a>

RTÉ rocked by fresh payments scandal over Derek Mooney salary amid ratings slump

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