Gardaí are investigating after a stag was beheaded in parklands attached to a popular family tourist attraction in north county Dublin.

A spokesperson said the force was investigating “a reported incident of wildlife crime” in the area in the early hours of this morning.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service has also launched an investigation into the incident, which happened at Newbridge House and Gardens in Donabate.

A herd of 16 Irish red deer, including the stag, have been living in the North Dublin parklands for over 20 years.

Martina Kenny from My Lovely Horse Rescue joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this shocking incident.

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More children and families turned to Barnardos in 2024 than in any previous year. Through practical, emotional and therapeutic supports delivered in family homes, schools and communities across Ireland, the charity worked with over 35,600 children and families, a number set to rise before the end of 2025. 

Barnardos mission is to ensure every vulnerable child in Ireland receives the support they need to overcome adversity. The latest figures are a stark reminder of how many children are struggling and how essential services like Barnardos are working in communities across Ireland providing hope and stability. 

Mary Gamble, Barnardos Director of Fundraising, joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about their annual Christmas appeal and about how you can get involved.

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Bank of Ireland (BoI) will pilot a new loan product allowing people to trade down to a smaller home.

The product is similar to bridging finance and is likely to appeal to people whose children have left home and who want to downsize.

Previous suggestions that older people in large properties whose families have left should move to free up houses for younger families have drawn a furious backlash from groups representing the elderly.

Most older people want to stay in their homes, according to surveys, and they resent suggestions they should move to somewhere smaller.

Others see trading down as a viable move involving less maintenance that would free up funds after selling a larger property.

Personal Finance Editor at The Irish Independent, Charlie Weston, joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this.

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A new Fianna Fáil survey of just under 1,000 Irish parents has revealed widespread concern about children’s exposure to online risks and overwhelming support for stronger protections including support for a ban on smartphones in all schools.

The Parenting in the Digital Age survey, carried out by Fianna Fáil’s parliamentary party working group as part of the party’s ongoing Online Safety Campaign, shines a light on the challenges families face in trying to keep pace with the fast-changing digital world.

Fianna Fail TD in Meath-West and spokesperson on children, Aisling Dempsey, joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this survey and its findings

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The disclosure of counselling notes to criminal trials “serves little purpose other than re-traumatising victims of sexual and gender-based violence”, according to a Louth TD.

Deputy Paula Butterly, who is Vice-Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, called for the practice of admitting counselling notes in court to be “banned in totality.”

Protests against the practice of using notes from a victim’s counselling sessions have been taking place, including outside Leinster House.

Deputy Butterly is calling upon Justice Minister Jim O’ Callaghan and the Department of Justice to take on the Committee’s proposals and ban the use of counselling notes in all forms during criminal trials.

Deputy Butterly joined us The Agenda this morning to speak to us in more detail about this.

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The difficulties faced by parents of sixth class who are missing out on places at their preferred secondary school was highlighted in Leinster House last week by Dundalk TD Ruairí Ó Murchú.

The Sinn Féin deputy said that a number of families had been in touch with him in the recent weeks after initial offers were made by Dundalk secondary schools.

He read quotes from several families and asked for a timeline for this rollout to be disclosed and the Tánaiste said he would ask then Education Minister McEntee to do this too.

Deputy Ó Murchú joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. 

We also heard the latest on the situation at Louth County Hospital in Dundalk and fears that a key radiographer position currently vacant in the hospital would not be filled following the retirement of the previous sonographer.

We also discussed the situation at Darver NS in Louth, where parents were asked to send in toilet paper and hand towels with their children last week. It was described as ‘extraordinary’ in the Dáil.

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The Government has agreed that a timebound scoping exercise be undertaken by an independent person in response to requests on behalf of victims and survivors of Michael Shine.

Shine worked as a consultant at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and private practice in Drogheda and was found guilty of sexual assaults on nine boys. He served three years in prison.

The draft terms of reference will be finalised following engagement with support group Dignity4Patients and other relevant Government Departments.

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Adrienne Reilly, CEO of Dignity4Patients.

We were also joined in-studio by Cianan Murray, who was the first survivor to go public about his abuse at hands of Michael Shine and he bravely told us his story and gave us his reaction to the approval of the scoping inquiry.

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The Cabinet is set to sign off on sweeping new immigration proposals that will result in a tightening of citizenship rules and the introduction of a contribution fee for international protection accommodation.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan will bring three memos to the Cabinet, which will also include changes to family reunification criteria for non-European Economic Area (EEA) citizens.

Those in international protection accommodation face paying up to €238 a week, depending on their income, under proposals going to the Cabinet.

The amount of money individuals will pay will be determined by how much they earn, and fees will be on a sliding scale.

Political Correspondent Sean Defoe joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us in more detail about this.

We were also joined by Chief Executive Officer at Irish Refugee Council, Nick Henderson, and Lucky Khambule, co-founder of the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland, to get their reaction to this.

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A Louth councillor has hit out at so-called “boy-racers” who are hosting weekend gatherings which are terrifying rural communities.

Councillor Pearse McGeough highlighted “racing” events taking place between the Mooremount roundabout and Greenmount, in the Dunleer and Castlebellingham area, along the R132 old Dublin to Belfast Road.

Cllr McGeough said “I have been contacted by residents over the past few weeks complaining of cars causing excessive noise as they are speeding and racing along the straight stretch of road and ‘drifting’ while spectators look on. It appears to be happening on Friday or Saturday nights.”

Councillor McGeough joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us in more detail about what is going on here.

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Portugal has told Ryanair it must accept passengers’ paper boarding passes if they are flying out of Portuguese airports. 

Euronews reports that Portugal’s National Civil Aviation Authority has told the budget airline the rule risks non-compliance with passenger rights. 

The news is a blow to Ryanair, which announced last month to great fanfare that it would no longer accept paper boarding passes. 

The company’s Chief Marketing Officer, Dara Brady, said the decision was “about moving with the times here”. 

Eoghan Corry says that he always expected a “little bit of pushback” when the decision was implemented.

Eoghan joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this.

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