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The BelTel brings you some of Northern Ireland's top journalists, Allison Morris, Sam McBride and Suzanne Breen to name but a few, giving you the inside stories behind what is in the news. Presented by Ciarán Dunbar, the Bel Tel investigates, debates and informs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
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An ex-partner of Natalie McNally has told a court that he did not kill the Co Armagh woman. Ms McNally, 32, was 15 weeks pregnant when she was killed at her home in Lurgan on December 18 2022. On his third and final day of evidence, the witness shouted “you killed her” in an angry courtroom outburst at Stephen McCullagh, who stands accused of her murder. Her partner, Stephen McCullagh, 36, of Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, denies the murder charge. Allison Morris is covering the case for the Belfast Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A former partner of Natalie McNally was arrested last week on suspicion of making threats to kill a woman he had been seeing at the time of Ms McNally’s death, court has heard. The anonymous ex-boyfriend of Ms McNally told the court he reset his phone to factory settings after learning detectives were at his home in connection with the murder investigation, claiming he did so because he had cannabis in his home. Yesterday while giving evidence after he looked at murder accused Stephen McCullagh and shouted “you killed her”. Allison Morris was in court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pathologists at the inquest into the death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe have agreed that his cause of death was drowning, with no indication of assault. All three pathologists agreed there was “no positive evidence” of toxicological contribution to Noah’s death, but this could not be excluded because of the limitations on toxicological analysis. Liam Tunney joins Olivia Peden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the early hours of December 3, 1995, a small aircraft vanished over the Mediterranean. On board was Belfast-born engineer Desi Boomer, travelling home from Libya’s oil fields to Northern Ireland via Malta. Instead of welcoming him home, Desi’s wife Mandy received a visit from two RUC officers telling her the plane had disappeared. Initially treated as a routine aviation accident, the case of Piper Lance 9H-ABU has since become a long-running mystery, with allegations of negligence, espionage, and claims of hostage taking. Abdullah Sabri speaks to Desi’s brother Mark about dealing with his unexplained loss, unanswered questions, and what he thinks could have happened. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The trial of Stephen McCullagh for the murder of Natalie McNally is continuing at Belfast Crown Court. In court today, a former partner of the murder accused gave evidence. The woman alleged that McCullagh had ‘recorded’ counselling sessions after she had suffered a stillbirth. She also said she withdrew a 2019 police statement relating to an alleged assault by McCullagh. Natalie McNally was 15 weeks pregnant when she was killed at her home on December 18, 2022. Mr McCullagh denies any involvement with the murder. Olivia Peden is joined by Allison Morris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The inquest into the death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe has concluded its sixth week. Today in court the jury was shown a transcript of anonymous phone call involving man selling schoolboy’s possessions. On Wednesday, Sergeant Hutchings, a leading officer in the search for Noah, faced questions over whether police actions had delayed the identification of the culvert where the teenager was found. Hutchings said He “would’ve done anything" to find the teenager alive. Olivia Peden is joined by Liam Tunney. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
One of the main suspects in the murder of west Belfast man John George has been shot dead in the Costa Blanca. Michel Maly, a former soldier from the Czech republic, was shot dead in the early hours of Sunday morning in Torrevieja in the Alicante region of Spain. He had been on bail in connection with the murder of father-of-two John George, whose body was discovered in January 2025 – 24 days after he was reported missing. Olivia Peden is joined by Allison Morris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A man who was abused at a so-called ‘Christian nightclub’ has accused the Presbyterian Church and the PSNI of failing him and other potential victims. Ross Hunter, now 39 years old, says he was sexually abused by his cousin Jonathan Hyndman, who was a youth leader in a co. Londonderry church in the 1990s. Hyndman, who became a policeman in the 2000s, was suspended from duty after a criminal investigation was launched but took his own just days later. The victim has accused PCI of “trying to keep abuse buried”. Olivia Peden is joined by Belfast Telegraph’s Brett Campbell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The trial of Stephen McCullagh for the murder of 32-year-old Natalie McNally has entered its second week. Today in court a transcript was read out of McCullagh’s first interview with police, where he said Natalie was “having problems with her ex”. Ms McNally was killed at her home in Lurgan, suffering fatal injuries in what has been described as a “prolonged attack”. McCullagh (36) denies murdering Ms McNally, who was 15 weeks pregnant at the time of her death. Last week footage of the movements of a ‘person of interest’ was played to the court. Niamh Campbell was joined by Allison Morris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Twenty years ago this week, Willie Frazer's planned ‘Love Ulster’ march ended in some of the worst riots ever witnessed in Dublin city centre. So how did a bright and busy Saturday afternoon descend into violence, disorder and chaos? We hear a first-hand account from a journalist who reported on the scene.Host: Fionnán Sheahan | Guest: Neil Fetherstonhaugh Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Individuals who ‘inserted themselves’ into the search for Noah Donohoe caused difficulties for police, the inquest into the 14-year-old's death has heard. On Wednesday it was revealed that more than 100 volunteers helped search for the schoolboy. One of those volunteers showed he could put his whole body through the bars leading to the culvert. It was also said in court that a resident of the Northwood Road area ‘couldn’t see any sign’ that someone entered the culvert where Noah Donohoe’s body was found. Liam Tunney is covering the inquest for the Belfast Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The trial of the man accused of murdering Natalie McNally is continuing in Belfast. 36-year-old Stephen McCullagh of Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, denies murdering Ms McNally. She was fifteen weeks pregnant when was killed at her home in Lurgan in December 2022. On Tuesday, the state pathologist outlined the injuries she sustained in a prolonged attack – including defence wounds as she tried to fight off her attacker. On Wednesday, the jury heard that experts from the PSNI’s cyberteam determined McCullagh’s six-hour stream on YouTube was not in fact live at all but had been recorded some days before. The crown’s case is that this constituted a false alibi. Allison Morris was in court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Police received an anonymous tip-off that Daryl Paul had Noah Donohoe's backpack, the inquest into the 14-year-old's death has heard. The inquest also heard that there “is categorical acceptance that Mr Paul would not have interacted with Noah during his journey from south to north Belfast”. Noah’s naked body was found in a storm drain tunnel in north Belfast, six days after leaving home on his bike. The inquest is now in its fifth week of hearing evidence. Liam Tunney is covering for the Belfast Telegraph Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The murder of a pregnant woman in Co Armagh a week before Christmas in 2022 has been described in a Belfast court as “planned, calculated and pre-meditated”. 32-yearold Natalie McNally was 15 weeks’ pregnant when she was attacked and killed in her Lurgan home. 36-year-old Stephen McCullagh, of Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, has denied her murder. The prosecution set out its case on Monday. Allison Morris, the Belfast Telegraph crime correspondent, reports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Seamus Culleton and his harrowing story of life inside an ICE detention centre in Texas made a big impact in Ireland. The Kilkenny man quickly gained the sympathy of Ireland’s public and politicians, only for the tide to suddenly turn as new developments emerged. So, how did Seamus Culleton go from “perfect victim” to publicly scrutinised? And is Micheál Martin likely to push Donald Trump’s immigration buttons when he visits the White House next month? Host: Fionnán Sheahan Guest: Niall Donald Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
‘Don’t call Jeffrey Epstein a paedophile’ – that was the demand of a top NI lawyer to a London newspaper in 2011. Paul Tweed was brought in to try and limit the damage to the sex-offender's reputation after he was released from prison. The Belfast solicitor is one of the best-known libel lawyers in the UK and Ireland. He has told the Belfast Telegraph that he “categorically rejects the suggestion that he acted in any way inappropriately”, saying he acted within his professional and regulatory obligations. The Belfast Telegraph’s Northern Ireland editor Sam McBride joins Ciarán Dunbar in the studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Vehicles believed to be unmarked police cars arrived at his home in Sandringham this morning, where he had been living following his departure from Windsor. The former prince was stripped of his title in October 2025 over his links to pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor, who denies all wrongdoing, turned 66 years old today. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by TRT World News Anchor Enda Brady. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A former PSNI officer who searched the culvert in which the remains of Noah Donohoe were ultimately found has indicated felt the search operation had been as professional and as urgent as possible. He also said there had been “no suggestion or evidence he had ever gone into the culvert”. The inquest into the death of 14-year-old schoolboy Noah Donohoe is continuing in Belfast. Liam Tunney is covering proceedings for the Belfast Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Conditions inside the pitch-black tunnel in which Noah Donohoe’s remains were found would be a very challenging place to survive if you were naked – a PSNI officer has told the inquest into the schoolboy’s death. 14-year-old Noah’s body was discovered in north Belfast on June 27, 2020, six days after the St Malachy’s College student went missing. On Tuesday – the jury also heard police say ‘Hundreds of local residents had gathered in quite an agitated state' Liam Tunney is covering the inquest for the Belfast Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The trial of the man accused of the murder of Lurgan woman Natalie McNally has begun. 32-year-old Natalie McNally was 15 weeks pregnant when she was stabbed to death at her home in December 2022. 35-year-old Stephen McCullagh, of Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, has denied the charge. The Belfast Telegraph’s crime correspondent Allison Morris reports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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There's barely anyone in ireland that supports putins' war in ukrsine. Mick Wallace snd Claire Daly were dumped.