Show Notes
Jeffrey Donaldson received a 15 year sentence in prison for his crimes. He was given 11 years for rape against Victim B and four years for all offences against Victim A, to be served consecutively. The former MP and ex-DUP leader was sentenced in Newry Courthouse on Thursday morning. However, later on Thursday after the Lady Chief Justice confirmed Donaldson will actually walk free in seven-and-a-half years. That is because the crimes were committed before the law changed in 2008, so he will automatically be entitled to 50pc remission of his sentence. He was found guilty of 18 child sex abuse charges, including rape, in June. Donaldson is trying to win an appeal, and his denials were an aggravating factor in the sentencing. However, as it stands, the 63-year-old will emerge from prison as a 78-year-old pensioner. Ciarán Dunbar spoke to Allison Morris outside Newry Crown Court. This podcast was edited at 17.05pm on Thursday October 15th, to reflect the new information regarding the length of time Donaldson will spend in jail.Jeffrey Donaldson has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for historical child sex crimes. The ex-DUP leader was sentenced to 11 years for rape against Complainant B and four years for all offences against Complainant A, to be served consecutively. He will also be on the sex offenders register indefinitely. This extra episode of The Indo Daily is brought to you by our sister podcast The BelTel, as Ciaran Dunbar speaks with Allison Morris outside Newry Crown Court. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More from The Indo Daily
James McClean’s view that therapy is a “weakness” has been widely criticised. But where does that belief come from? Dan McDonnell, ghostwriter of McClean's new book The Walls, joins Kevin Doyle to discuss McClean’s difficult upbringing, the man behind the controversial opinions and the things he has spent much of his life refusing to talk about. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
France is burning. What began as student protests over crumbling schools has exploded into riots, looting and a political crisis that is shaking the country ahead of next year's presidential election. As President Emmanuel Macron struggles to restore order, many are asking whether this is a uniquely French revolt or a warning sign for the rest of Europe. Today on the Indo Daily Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Paris-based journalist Catherine Field to explain how France reached this breaking point and why support for far-right leader Marine Le Pen is soaring. Also, Irish Independent political correspondent Cónal Thomas examines whether the same cost-of-living pressures could spark unrest closer to home. And as anger grows across the continent, we ask: could protests in Ireland be on the horizon?
A blacked-out van. A secret meeting. And a quest for answers that would consume decades of one man's life. In the concluding episode of this Indo Daily exclusive, Austin Stack recounts the extraordinary events that unfolded as he pursued the truth about his father's murder. What followed were revelations, confrontations and moments that were almost impossible to believe. More than 40 years after Brian Stack was shot, Austin believes he finally has many of the answers he spent a lifetime searching for. But has that brought justice? Today on the Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Austin Stack in the concluding episode of ‘I Know Who Murdered My Father’. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A respected prison officer, Brian Stack, is gunned down on a Dublin street. The investigation that follows fails to deliver justice. There are no convictions and no closure as his 14-year-old son is left with questions that will shape the rest of his life. As the years turned into decades, Austin Stack and his family began searching for answers themselves. What they uncovered would lead them into a world of secret meetings, hidden truths and extraordinary claims. Now, more than 40 years later, the story reaches another remarkable chapter as the Taoiseach prepares to address the case in the Dáil. But how did a family denied answers for decades get this far? Today on the Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Austin Stack in this first of a two-part series – ‘I Know Who Murdered My Father’. The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Simon Harris’s much-hyped investment scheme is official, though there’s still some way to go before you can avail of it. But we’re not going to wait until next summer to analyse and scrutinise it. Today's episode of The Indo Daily is brought to you by our sister podcast Money Talks, as Katie Byrne is joined by Cian Carolan, managing director at DNG Financial Services, to tease out the forthcoming Personal Investment Account and discuss what you need to know ahead of time. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.