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Rapid rise through the academic ranks

'They found St. Monica out the back in some shed and there she is, now,' says Dr. James Heaney, looking at a newly installed stained glass window.

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The Indo Daily

The many masks of serial con artist Samantha Cookes

Carrie Jade Williams. Sadie Harris. Lucy Fitzwilliams. Jade Cookes. Samantha Black. Rebecca Fitzgerald. These are just some of the fabricated identities used by serial con artist Samantha Cookes. In 2024, her Walter Mitty-style life finally collapsed as online communities, journalists and a WhatsApp group of victims cross-referenced the inconsistencies in her story, joining the dots that authorities had missed. In March 2025, Samantha Cookes was jailed for three years for deception and theft. Yet her story keeps getting fresh chapters. On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Katie Byrne is joined by Alan Bradley, documentary filmmaker and author of new book Unmasking Samantha Cookes: The Many Lives of a Serial Fraudster, to discuss the breadth and the impact of an incredible deception. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism

21:16
The Big Tech Show

The hidden catch in Ireland’s fibre broadband deals

Why does one fibre broadband package cost nearly twice as much as another using the same line? Are Irish households paying more than they need to for internet access? And do speed guarantees matter when choosing a provider?Adrian Weckler is joined by Irish Independent reporter and journalist Saoirse Hanley to examine the gap in broadband pricing across Ireland, with some fibre packages costing almost twice as much as rivals. They discuss rising prices after introductory offers, minimum guaranteed speeds, long term contracts and what consumers should focus on when choosing a broadband.You can listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts. Why you can trust the Irish Independent: learn about our editorial guidelines and AI use

28:27
Indo Sport

Leinster's identity crisis | Leo Cullen's future | The Frawley mistake | The Rugby Show

Will is joined by Ian Madigan and Ruaidhri O’Connor to break down Leinster’s Champions Cup final defeat to Bordeaux.Leinster’s error count, Leo Cullen’s future, Ciaran Frawley’s move to Connacht and the team’s identity under Jacques Nienaber are all up for discussion. The lads also go over Ulster’s heavy defeat to Montpellier in the Challenge Cup final.Rugby on the Indo Sport podcast is sponsored by Energia.

1:08:58
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