Law and Literature, Luke Sheehan interviews David Langwallner for Village podcasts. First episode

Morgan C Jones interviews Village editor Michael Smith about the magazine's history, modus operandi and ideology; and how it deals with whistleblowers and defamation law.

Michael talks to London-based barrister David Langwallner and Amsterdam-based writer Patrick Healy about the place of 'The Intellectual' in Irish life and politics, and elsewhere. From John Scottus via James Joyce to Sally Rooney.The podcast explores the concept of intellectualism in Ireland, delving into historical, cultural, and political aspects. It discusses the role of public intellectuals, the influence of figures like James Joyce, and the challenges of fostering intellectual independence in contemporary society.TakeawaysIntellectualism in IrelandRole of Public IntellectualsChapters00:00 Exploring Intellectualism in Ireland

Morgan C Jones interviews Village editor Michael Smith about Village magazine: its history, ideology, biggest stories and approach. A lot about whistleblowing!

William interviews Frank Connolly about Bus Éireann illegal-use-of-funds scandal; Tony Lowes about bogs' surprising carbon capacity; and Michael Smith about the content of the Nov-Dec 2025 Village magazine

Interculturalism more than multiculturalism: Róisín O Shea interviews Ola Kamebugdani (Juneteenth 2022)

Paul Hyde and corruption in the planning appeals board

Micheál Martin publicly denied the existence of material evidence that had already been disclosed by an EU official Ian Livingstone. He later accepted that his Department had misled him, apologised, and undertook to correct the record. He had his Chef de Cabinet record his apology and commitment. — yet failed to do so

Michael Smith, editor, explains the background and ethos of Village magazine in conversation with Morgan Jones. Later he explains the Leo the Leak story and interviews Chay Bowes.

Barrister David Langwallner , in conversation with Luke Sheehan,argues that the rule of law is collapsing globally, and that literature provides powerful insights into how such breakdowns occur. Drawing on legal theory and a wide range of novels, plays, and historical examples, he outlines the core principles of the rule of law and the signs of its erosion.He begins with the principles identified by Lord Bingham:respect for human rightsrespect for international lawfair procedures / due processindependent and incorruptible judgesaffordable access to justiceLangwailner argues that these principles are increasingly undermined. When the law becomes disconnected from social expectations or captured by powerful interests, people resort to self-help, vigilantism, and mob justice. A key danger is the emergence of a “shadow state”, where legal institutions are controlled by corporate, political, or criminal forces.He illustrates these dynamics through literature:Medieval Icelandic sagas show systems where justice could be bought through compensation rather than adjudicated.The Oxbow Incident depicts the dangers of mob justice and wrongful lynching.The Leopard explores societal transition and the collapse of established social orders.Aristophanes’ The Wasps highlights the centrality of jury trials to democracy.Works by Leonardo Sciascia portray states corrupted by hidden power structures.Gabriel García Márquez’s News of a Kidnapping shows how criminal networks can effectively capture the state.Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People illustrates how whistleblowers are destroyed when they threaten powerful interests.Camus, especially in The Outsider and other writings, captures the moral dilemmas surrounding justice and authority.Langweilner also warns about modern threats:politicised judiciariescorporate influence over governmentsemergency laws replacing normal legal processessocial media–driven disinformation and trial by mobsurveillance capitalism and propaganda that undermine rational public debateHe argues that institutions meant to safeguard the rule of law—independent journalism, courts, and jury trials—are weakening. When this happens, societies risk reverting to forms of medieval justice or authoritarian “people’s courts”, where law becomes a tool of power rather than fairness.The discussion concludes by stressing that the humanistic tradition in literature—from Aristophanes to Camus—warns against these dangers, reminding us that the rule of law depends on independent institutions, truth, and moral courage.

William Campbell interviews Tony Lowes of Friends of the Irish Environment about bogs, investigative journalist Frank Connolly about Bus Éireann malpractice and Village's editor Michael Smith about the Nov-Dec 2025 edition

The conversation delves into the literary aspects of advocates and judges, highlighting the art of cross-examination and closing speeches as well as the role of judges in crafting judgments as literature. It explores the impact of these elements on the legal process and the portrayal of human stories within the courtroom. The conversation delves into the literary and societal impact of legal figures and their judgments. It explores the legacy of Thomas Jefferson and Oliver Wendell Holmes, the progressive movement, and the dissent of Holmes. Additionally, it discusses the downside of liberal progressivism and the implications of legal judgments on society.TakeawaysAdvocates and judges as literary figuresThe art of cross-examination and closing speeches Legal figures as literary iconsThe impact of legal judgments on societyChapters00:00 The Art of Cross-Examination and Closing Speeches39:44 Legal Figures as Literary Icons45:11 The Progressive Movement and the Dissent of Oliver Wendell Holmes50:42 The Downside of Liberal Progressivism

The conversation delves into the theme of miscarriages of justice in literature and real life, exploring the impact of religious fundamentalism on justice and the role of journalism in exposing miscarriages of justice. It covers the Dreyfus Affair and Emile Zola, the themes of The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible, and the Scopes Trial and the McCarthy Era. The conversation delves into the legacy of Roy Cohn, the impact of prosecutorial misconduct on miscarriages of justice, the trials of Oscar Wilde and Jean Valjean, and the prevalence of prejudice and demonization within the legal system.TakeawaysMiscarriages of justice in literatureThe impact of religious fundamentalism on justiceThe role of journalism in exposing miscarriages of justice Miscarriages of justice can occur due to prosecutorial misconductThe poor and marginalized often lack the resources to fight back against the legal systemChapters00:00 The Dreyfus Affair and Emile Zola13:37 The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible22:18 The Scopes Trial and the McCarthy Era28:48 The Legacy of Roy Cohn41:42 The Trials of Oscar Wilde and Jean Valjean

Podcast two The second Law and Literature podcast deals with the period from The Renaissance to the Nineteenth Century dealing with the obvious and continued relevance of Shakespeare not least in Measure for Measure (1604) and Francis Bacon his contemporary who may or may not have been Shakespeare. A crucial motif in the podcast is that Shakespeare and Cervantes died on the same day, and Don Quixote (1605-1615) is one of the great novels about the law. The central part of the podcast deals with The Irishman Jonathan Swift not least in describing Yahoos (humans) in Gulliver’s Travels (1726) to the enlightened horses the full force of his contempt cane down on lawyers and A Modest Proposal (1729) the greatest essay in the English language has the capacity in the Ireland today of pervasive inequality, unaffordable housing controlled by a landlord class to put a shiver down ones spine. Swift is discussed with his contemporaries Dr Johnson who had a cynical view of lawyers and Alexander Pope. The podcast ends with Voltaire the supreme creator of enlightenment values and campaigner against miscarriages not least in The Calais case and those values worldwide are the values we are losing or have lost. 

The conversation explores the connections between law and literature, focusing on the works of Albert Camus, Franz Kafka, Herman Melville, and Charles Dickens. It delves into themes of justice, extremism, detachment, and moral intelligence as portrayed in their literary works. The discussion also highlights the impact of great lawyers using literary techniques to promote the cause of justice.TakeawaysLaw and literature are interconnectedAuthors like Albert Camus, Franz Kafka, Herman Melville, and Charles Dickens have explored themes of justice and law in their worksChapters00:00 The Philosophy of Law and Literature06:18 Camus and Extremism11:30 Camus' Engagement and Humanism17:17 Dostoevsky's Characters and Ambivalence25:06 Dickens' Portrayal of Legal Cases31:12 Clarence Darrow and the Leopold and Loeb Case