Episode 162: The jailing of ex-garda John 'Spud' Murphy and his suspected links to the Hutch gang

A pensioner who is a serial conwoman and matriarch of a family business involved in frauds against insurance companies has been released from prison - just 60 days into a two-year jail term.74-year-old Winnie Lawrence has been let out the door of the Dochas Women’s Prison at Mountjoy because of overcrowding despite a massive garda investigation followed by a trial into her crimes.Nicola speaks with Niall Donald about Lawrence's many frauds and the revolving door system that has seen her walk free. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

27 Mars 24min

Irish and Spanish police have now arrested 12 suspects in a major investigation into The Family Organised Crime Group sparked by the Ghost encrypted phone hack.The criminals are suspected of involvement in large-scale drug trafficking, mainly by transporting drugs hidden in vehicles from Spain to Ireland.Nicola speaks to Niall Donald about developments in the case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26 Mars 12min

He's a former gangster who has told a court that he's turned his back on a life of crime after confessing to a gun attack.Now, Ian Maloney, who was once nicknamed 'Mad Dog', faces a final stretch in jail after admitting his role in a shooting incident at a rival's home.Nicola speaks with Niall Donald about Maloney and his road to Damascus, which has seen him become a published poet and a charity fundraiser. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26 Mars 23min

Devon Hennessy, a son of Browne’s Steakhouse murder victim Jason Hennessy Snr, has given up his hunger strike after 24 hours missing less than one meal.Hennessy and his brothers Brandon and Jason Jnr are all facing charges in connection with an alleged kidnap and torture of a man who has said that he was branded with a cattle iron and beaten.Hennessy told staff at Portlaoise Prison that he was going on hunger strike to protest about the conditions in which he was held on remand and was joined by his brothers, but the Blanchardstown brothers were back eating before staff could even implement their hunger strike policies.Nicola speaks with Eimear Rabbitte and Niall Donald about one of the quickest hunger strikes in prison history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

25 Mars 10min

The three top tier members of The Family - Ireland’s biggest organised crime gang - are in custody after a major operation by gardaí this morning as a direct result of the 'Ghost' hack.Armed with a treasure trove of evidence of drug trafficking and money laundering officers from the Garda Drug and Organised Crime Bureau are now hoping that the Director of Public Prosecutions will order prosecutions in the country’s first case centred on encrypted phones.Nicola speaks with Niall Donald about Ghost, The Family, and the future of Irish policing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 Mars 31min

The Kinahan Cartel have been named for a second time by FBI investigators involved in one of the biggest cocaine trials against a Sinaloa Cartel operation that saw cocaine smuggled into the US and Canada.Separately, a business partner of the Kinahans, Bosnian mob boss Edin Gacanin, has been arrested for the second time in Dubai and may now face extradition to the Netherlands.Nicola speaks with Niall Donald about the global networks that control the cocaine trade and the Kinahans' lofty placement within the billion-dollar business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 Mars 22min

He has said he is going to run as President of Ireland, has made false claims about the dangers of Dublin and was invited to the White House on St.Patrick's Day.As Conor McGregor emerges from a sports star to an increasingly far right influencer, Nicola speaks with Niall Donald and Eimear Rabbitte about a week of controversy in Camp McGregor and his ongoing appeal against a civil rape conviction in his case with Nikita Hand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21 Mars 29min

Gardaí have made a series of arrests after launching a major crackdown on a crew of teenage burglars nicknamed the 'Lucky Dip Gang'.The crew have been responsible for hundreds of break-ins and car robberies across Leinster over the last year.Niall speaks to Irish Independent crime correspondent Ken Foy about how the gang earned their nickname and how they openly post about their crimes on social media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21 Mars 18min