2026 Nominees

First Conviction

RTÉ Documentary On One, RTÉ Investigates

IRELAND

- Podcasts

This series tells the story of Ireland’s first and only conviction for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). A young couple seek help from an Irish hospital but instead end up in prison. We ask how and why did this happen? Giving voice to this couple hasn’t been easy. Legally, we could not identify them or their children in any way. Narrated by Academy and Bafta nominated actress Ruth Negga, this is a story that no one has wanted to tell, most of all the state. Working on this case over a 15 month period, we were able to gather evidence, documentation, gain the trust of this couple in interviews and piece together a story that shows major sytemic issues in the Irish system. As we were making the series, court proceedings were ongoing, making it one of the most legally complex ever told by an Irish broadcaster. Shortly before the series completed, the Court of Criminal Appeal granted this couple a miscarriage of justice hearing, due to take place in late January 2026.