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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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When an IRA Stormont spy ring was alleged in 2002, devolution quickly plunged into crisis. A PSNI raid on Sinn Féin's Stormont offices discovered a map of castle buildings with instructions on bypassing security, and intelligence on the prison service, including personal details of prison officers. But in 2004, Denis Donaldson – the most senior republican arrested during the raids – admitted he had been a British agent all along. Months later he was murdered in Donegal. Belfast Telegraph’s Northern Ireland Editor Sam McBride has been back in the archives and has unearthed fresh details on the Stormont spy ring scandal, he joins Ciarán Dunbar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In March 1994 the IRA attacked Heathrow Airport with mortar bombs, they were high profile and highly symbolic acts. One of those involved was Glasgow-born IRA man Michael Gallagher. He was eventually arrested and charged but he managed to convince his English partner Mary Attenborough that he was innocent. Mary then campaigned for what she thought was justice for Michael. But when he was convicted and given a twenty-year sentence, he decided he had to tell her the truth. Amazingly, they are still together – and have written a book about their experiences – it's called ‘Unbroken: Secrets, Lies and Enduring Love’. Mary Attenborough and Michael Gallagher joined Ciarán Dunbar in the BelTel studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Lord Alderdice is a former leader of the Alliance Party in Northern Ireland who still sits in the House of Lords. He has a background steeped in Presbyterian in Northern Ireland but resigned from the church in 2018. Having heard about allegations of bullying and harassment within the Presbyterian Church, he commissioned a dossier outlining the experiences of some whose claims included being falsely accused of inappropriate sexual relationships, being subjected to kangaroo court style systems as well as being shunned and gaslighted. Sunday Life journalist Angela Davison is joined by Lord John Alderdice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The death of a man in Newcastle brings the number of people murdered in Northern Ireland in the past nine weeks to nine, with twelve people murdered so far this year. 84-year-old pensioner Sean Small was found dead in his Newcastle home on Sunday night. The week before, a west Belfast father was stabbed to death in his home. Named locally as Shane Lowry, the 32-year-old's brother has been charged with the killing. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph’s Liam Tunney and our Crime Correspondent, Allison Morris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donaldson walked away from the Good Friday Agreement talks but formerly secret files show that he was far from a staunch hardliner, Hours before the deal was signed, the then Lagan Valley MP famously left Castle Buildings in protest at what the UUP was about to sign up to. Jeffrey Donaldson was the political hardliner – at least in public. But newly declassified documents reveal that in private – Donaldson was a very different politician – a moderate, a man with ambitions to lead unionism. Sam McBride joins Ciarán Dunbar with the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"Im convinced Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly aren't working off their on agenda and their own mind" - that’s the verdict of a leading female loyalist. The ‘PUL’ Community – Protestants, Unionists, Loyalists. There is sometimes debate over what those terms actually mean. That debate is suggested as being a factor in a reluctance of loyalist figures to speak to the media – especially loyalist women. What is a loyalist, are members of the PUL community media shy and is it worse for loyalist women? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Leanne Abernethy is the creator of Herstory: Women in Loyalism and Academic consultant Joanna McMinn who is part of the National Womens Council. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On the 4th of January 1976, UVF gunmen burst in to a house in Whitecross, in South Armagh. They shot three young brothers, John Martin, Brian, and Anthony Reavey. John Martin and Brian died at the scene – Anthony died almost a month later. Their brother Eugene Reavey has now written a book - ‘The Killings of the Reavey Brothers: British murder and cover-up in Northern Ireland’. Eugene Reavey believes loyalist Willie Frazer played a role in the murders. Eugene Reavey joins Niamh Campbell in the studio to tell the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The judge hearing Kneecap member Mo Chara’s terror charge case needs more time to think about what he’s going to do next. 27-year-old Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh from Ballymurphy was charged in May, over the alleged display of a banned Hezbollah flag at a gig in north London.The case has become stuck over a technical argument over the timing of the charge against the rapper. "Keep talking about Palestine, this is just a distraction", the rapper told supporters outside the court. Belfast Telegraph reporter Niamh Campbell was in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1The TUV has dramatically emerged as the third most popular party in Northern Ireland in the latest BelTel / LucidTalk polling. Most unionists want electoral pacts, a significant minority even want the existing parties to merge. Most of those polled want a commission to regulate bonfires and flags and less than a third of our readers agree with Belfast City Council’s dual Irish-English language signage policy. Ciarán Dunbar joined by the head of LucidTalk. Bill White, commentator Alex Kane, commentator Ursula Savage, and by Belfast Telegraph reporter Andrew Madden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The IRA's internal security unit, responsible for hunting down informers and executing them, was known as 'The Nutting Squad'. Ruthless, cruel, efficient, but riddled with informers - promoting questions, who were they actually loyal to? Paddy ‘PM’ Monaghan has been reported as a British agent, making him the third senior member to be suspected of being a double agent. Its top tier also included the likes of Freddie Scappaticci and leader, John Joe Magee, who are both now believed to have been spies themselves. How did this group, who had access to some of the IRA's most guarded secrets become riddled with double agents? Presenter Kevin Doyle is joined by Allison Morris, columnist with the Belfast Telegraph, to look at the brutality of the 'Nutting Squad' and whether its senior ranks were loyal to the IRA or to the British.This podcast was first released in September 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
‘Racism, pure and simple’ - that’s the PSNI’s assessment of an anti-migrant group roaming the streets of east Belfast. The self-styled vigilantes were posting their antics to TikTok, which has now banned them. Sometimes accompanied by dogs the group have been demanding to see IDs, have made threats on doorsteps, and have been enquiring about work-statuses. One the main movers in the group is dog ‘hunter’ Neil Pinkerton. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph’s security correspondent, Allison Morris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Billy Wright, 'King Rat’, founded the LVF to defy the UVF. That led to imprisonment. Incredibly Wright was gunned down inside the Maze maximum security prison. How did the INLA get a gun inside the jail and what was the LVF’s bloody response? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph security correspondent, Allison Morris.This podcast was first released in August 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
LVF leader Billy Wright was charismatic, religious, ruthless and cold. A sectarian murderer but a hero to many in loyalism. Wright was feared by most but respected by some for ‘taking the war to the IRA’. Where did 'King Rat' come from, how did he live his life and why did he take the lives of others? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph’s security correspondent Allison Morris. This podcast was originally released in August 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
South Armagh republican Colm Murphy was at various points a member of the Provisional IRA, the INLA and the Real IRA. In his later years, he was linked to the Óglaigh na hÉireann dissident group. He had been convicted but later acquitted of involvement in the Omagh bombing. He was later found liable in a civil court for the 1998 attack which killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins. Colm Murphy died at the age of 70 of a degenerative lung disease in April 2023. The Belfast Telegraph’s Security Correspondent Allison Morris profiles him.This episode was originally published on 21 April 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Stone is one of the most notorious gunmen of the Troubles. Known in loyalist circles as a gun for hire, he murdered 3 people at an IRA funeral in Milltown Cemetery, west Belfast. Following his release from prison in 2000, he carried out a foiled attack on Stormont which he claimed was ‘performance art’. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sunday Life editor Martin Breen and former Belfast Telegraph editor Ed Curran. This podcast was first published in April 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Flattery, deceit, a bung, MI5, and the secret back-channel to Sinn Féin- uncovered files have revealed the DUP’s route to power-sharing. Publicly the DUP refused to talk to Sinn Féin, but the truth was that the party was in direct talks with republicans. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride who reveals what he has discovered in the secret files. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In September 1966 the body of a baby girl – Lynda Cochrane – was discovered at Ballykinler Army Base in County Down. It wasn’t until 2006 when former soldier Harry Doyle was arrested after telling an ex-lover that his disability was an act of divine punishment for the killing of a baby. Just months before he was due to stand trial, he died. Former Detective Superintendent Tim Hanley led the investigation into Northern Ireland’s longest cold case – he joins Ciarán Dunbar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the early hours of 7 August 1986, hundreds of Ulster Loyalists, some in paramilitary uniforms, spilled over the border and into the County Monaghan village of Clontibret. A trail of destruction ensued, and Gardaí were attacked with two officers ending up in hospital. The so-called ‘invasion’ was led by then DUP Deputy leader Peter Robinson. He was later convicted of unlawful assembly and given a fine. Ian Paisley said Robinson alone was responsible for the incident, Robinson blamed Paisley. To revisit the infamous Clontibret Invasion – Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From the parish newsletter to the daily death notices, we like to keep tabs on the comings and goings of life around us. And when it comes to celebrities, especially where fame and romance collide, we just can't look away. Take this week, for example, when TV power couple Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley announced their separation. But just how difficult is it to navigate a relationship under the unforgiving glare of the celebrity spotlight? And why are we, the public, so captivated by the rise and fall of celebrity couples? Host: Tessa Fleming Guest: Melanie Finn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There are reports that the London UDA has transitioned into an “old comrades association”. The faction fundraised for loyalist activities in Northern Ireland during the troubles, and at times took part in smuggling weapons for the UDA. Two of the London UDA’s leading members, far-right activists Frank Portinari and Eddie Whicker, were arrested in Birmingham sting operation in May 1993. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Dr. Aaron Edwards - an academic, author, and security analyst who broke this story. 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.