Victims' Group Renews Call for Action on Knife Crime after Qayyum Balogun Death - 11/06/2026

Victims' Group Renews Call for Action on Knife Crime after Qayyum Balogun Death - 11/06/2026

Knife crime has become a "scourge on Irish society" and requires urgent action from both the criminal justice and public health systems, according to Advocates for Victims of Homicide (AdVIC).  The victims' advocacy group renewed its call for stronger measures following the death of Qayyum Balogun, saying it had warned as far back as 2015 about the growing prevalence of knife carrying and the increasing use of weapons in violent assaults.  Qayyum (21), who was living in Dundalk, was fatally attacked after attending a gig at a premises on Grafton Street in the early hours of June 1st.  AdVIC co-founder Joan Deane said the organisation's concerns from more than a decade ago are "more real than ever" and urged policymakers to take action to prevent further families from experiencing the devastating loss caused by homicide.  Joan, whose son Russell was murdered in Drogheda in 2003 by his ex-girlfriends brother, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Warnings That World Cup Cup Will Mean ‘Spike’ in Violence Against Women - 11/06/2026

As excitement builds ahead of the World Cup, one charity is warning of a troubling trend that can emerge during major sporting events. ActionAid Ireland says international tournaments have been linked to spikes in domestic violence, with research from previous competitions showing incidents can increase significantly, particularly following matches involving national teams. The organisation says while sport brings communities together and creates a sense of excitement and shared experience, it can also be accompanied by increased alcohol consumption and heightened emotions, which may contribute to a rise in gender-based violence. ActionAid Ireland is now calling for greater awareness and support for those who may be at risk during the tournament, and Karol Balfe joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Chaos Unfolds on Streets of Belfast as Second Night Of Riots Take Place - 11/06/2026

Northern Ireland saw a second night of unrest with police using water cannons on rioters, as the Belfast stabbing attack victim’s family said they were “disgusted” by the disorder. Police were pelted with bricks and petrol bombs by balaclava-clad rioters in Co Antrim on Wednesday evening in the latest disorder following the Belfast knife attack on Monday. Footage showed dozens of men dressed all in black and wearing face coverings gathering on Antrim Road, where they could be seen tearing bricks from properties and smashing paving stones with sledgehammers to create projectiles to throw at police This morning on The Agenda, we went live to Belfast, where we got all the latest on this. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Ownership Row Delays Safety Measures on Ardee Town Centre Street - 11/06/2026

Longstanding concerns about safety on Sean O'Carroll Street in Ardee have once again come under the spotlight, but efforts to address the issue have hit an unexpected obstacle. At this month's meeting of Ardee Municipal District, councillors were told that Louth County Council cannot currently introduce measures such as weight restrictions on the street because parts of it are not actually in the council's ownership. The revelation came as councillors continued to raise concerns about the volume of large vehicles using the route and the potential risks for road users in the town centre. While the council says a process can begin to bring the street under its control, questions remain over how long that could take and what can be done in the meantime. We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Fine Gael Councillor and the new Cathaoirleach of Ardee Municipal District, Rachel Kerley, to tell us more about this. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Belfast Burns as Protesters Take to the Streets After Horrific Stabbing Attack - 10/06/2026

People were forced to flee their homes as multiple cars and homes were set alight during a serious disorder on Tuesday night in the wake of a serious knife attack in the city. Businesses were also attacked by groups of masked young men, with several hundred turning out in the city following calls on social media for anti-immigration protests. We went live to Belfast on The Agenda this morning to find out more about this. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.