The Rise of the ‘Irish Defence Army’

A Garda–PSNI investigation into an alleged terror plot has led to charges against two men and a warning that violent far-right extremism is no longer confined to the online fringe. On today’s Newstalk Daily, Shane Beatty speaks to Cormac O’Keeffe, Security Correspondent with the Irish Examiner, about the group calling itself the “Irish Defence Army” — the small, secretive network at the centre of the investigation. The podcast explores how Ireland’s far-right has evolved from social-media agitation to real-world activity; the ideology fuelling it; and how authorities north and south of the border are responding. It also looks at the impact on Muslim and migrant communities, the verbal abuse of faith leaders such as Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, and the recent alleged arson attack on an IPAS centre in Drogheda. 🔗 Read more from Cormac O’Keeffe and the Irish Examiner: www.irishexaminer.com  📩 Share your thoughts or experiences with us: [email protected]