27.03.26
The RTÉ Investigates team—Aoife Hegarty, Lucy Kennedy, David Doran, and Colm O’Brien—has won the 2025 Mary Raftery Prize, awarded annually by the School of Communications at Dublin City University (DCU). The award recognises outstanding social affairs journalism with significant societal impact.The winning documentary, Inside Ireland’s Nursing Homes, provided an undercover examination of care standards in private residential facilities in Ireland, reflecting the rigorous investigative approach and commitment to social justice exemplified by journalist Mary Raftery.Dr Declan Fahy, Head of the School of Communications at DCU, praised the team’s work for revealing hidden aspects of Irish society and emphasised the ongoing importance of investigative journalism.Other shortlisted nominees included Patricia Devlin (The Journal) for her report on female genital mutilation, and Luke Butterly (The Detail) for his investigation into HMRC practices affecting Northern Irish families.
Source: Dublin City University
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