LAST UPDATE | 20 Mar 2025

GOOD MORNING.

Here’s all the news you need to know as you start the day.

Michael Shine case

1. In our main story this morning, Saoirse McGarrigle reports on the latest from the Michael Shine case about the disgraced who allegedly abused dozens.

It has emerged that a private law firm is representing the State in an independent review to determine whether a congregation of nuns can take back money set aside to deal with the sex abuse claims.

Israeli continues Gaza assault

2. Israeli strikes continued overnight, killing at least 70 Palestinians according to local hospitals.

It came after Israel issued what it called a “last warning” for Palestinians to return hostages and remove Hamas from power, or face “total devastation” by Israeli troops and air strikes.

Ukraine

3. Donald Trump has suggested that the US government take over and run Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, as a means to ensure security guarantees during a ceasefire with Russia.

EU summit

4. Leaders of the European Union’s 27 member states have gathered in Brussels today to discuss the major issues facing the bloc, including the war in Ukraine, defence spending and economic competitiveness.

Here’s what to expect from the meeting.

McGregor and Trump

5. TDs expressed their outrage in the Dáil yesterday at Conor McGregor’s visit to the White House earlier this week.

Dublin West TD Ruth Coppinger told the Dáil that “two rapists met each other in the White House” on St Patrick’s Day.

McGregor was deemed liable for sexually assaulting a woman, Nikita Hand, in a decision last November – his appeal against the ruling will be heard tomorrow.

Trump, meanwhile, was last year ordered to pay over $83 million in damages for defamation to writer E Jean Carroll after she accused him of sexually abusing her.

Web Summit case

6. Web Summit co-founder and majority shareholder Paddy Cosgrave engaged in a “vendetta” against former director Daire Hickey in an attempt to “blackmail” him into giving up his shares in the company, lawyers have alleged before the High Court.

Trump to shut down education department

7. President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order calling for the shutdown of the US Education Department, according to a White House official.

It will advance a campaign promise to eliminate an agency that has been a long-time target of conservatives.

Synge Street

8. Plans to convert a Dublin secondary school to a Gaelscoil will go ahead in September 2026, despite the vast majority of the school’s staff being against the move.

Major drug seizure

9. Britain’s King Charles spoke Irish during a visit to Belfast yesterday, where he met with First Minister Michelle O’Neill, PSNI officers and a number of sportspeople representing Northern Ireland.