The BelTel

West Belfast greengrocer Harry Holland was murdered in September 2007. In an attempt to steal Harry Holland’s van, then 16-year-old Stephen McKee stabbed him in the head with a screwdriver, leaving the pensioner to die later in hospital. McKee was given 12 years behind bars for the murder but was eligible for pre-release back in 2016. To the relief of Harry Holland’s family, the now 33-year-old ha...

Secret papers revealed by the Belfast Telegraph suggest the civil service and government knew Iain Hay Gordon was innocent of the murder of Patricia Curran but continued to cover up the truth.   Officials feared that reopening the case could undermine confidence in the judiciary, just months after the UK government deployed troops to deal with the start of the troubles. The release of th...

Patricia Curran’s mutilated body was discovered just 40 yards from her home at 2 o’clock in the morning on the 13th of November 1952.     She was a judge’s daughter – savagely stabbed to death - the pressure was on to find her killer.    An innocent - but compromised man - Ian Hay Gordon, was eventually blackmailed into signing a confession and sent to a Psychiatric hospit...

The early hours of the morning on the 12th of November 1952, a judge’s daughter, Patricia Curran, is found dead in the garden of her family home. She had been stabbed 37 times.   The BelTel looks at the shocking killing and how Ian Hay Gordon Gordon, a young Scot doing his national service in the RAF, was intimidated into signing a false confession, frightened that his mother would find...

In a surprise move, the Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie has resigned. The former army officer said he quit over ‘irreconcilable differences’ with party officers. What exactly has happened and what does it mean for the party?  Ciarán Dunbar is joined the Belfast Telegraph’s Northern Ireland editor Sam McBride.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The body of Portadown woman Margaret Perry was found a year after she went missing, the bodies of three men the IRA itself accused of her murder were found three days later. The IRA also accused them, all members or former members, of being British agents. Their bodies were found by different roadsides in Northern Ireland’s ‘murder triangle’. Allison Morris joins Ciarán Dunbar. This podcast was or...

The Labour government has extended a ban on puberty blockers in the UK mainland. However, Stormont's Department of Health has confirmed that puberty blockers for children will remain legal in Northern Ireland, meaning that NI could become a backdoor for getting the drugs into Britain. Olivia Peden is joined by Sam McBride who wrote the story, Helen Joyce and Alexa Moore. Hosted on Acast. See...

The new Irish League season gets underway this weekend with Tiernan Lynch’s Larne chasing their third Sports Direct Premiership title in as many years. Can anyone stop them? Host Keith Bailie is joined by Chief Sportswriter Steven Beacom and Belfast Telegraph columnist and legendary Linfield manager David Jeffrey to discuss disappointing performances in European competition, the format of the top...

An anti immigration protest on Saturday afternoon has resulted in three nights of violence across South Belfast. Several businesses have been attacked, including a supermarket owned by a Syrian refugee and one man has been seriously assaulted. With further protests planned for this weekend, policing is in the spotlight.  Alison Morris is joined by Belfast Telegraph visuals editor, Kevin Scott...

Dr John Kyle is a former deputy leader of the PUP, the UVF’s political wing. He represented the loyalist party on Belfast City Council for 16 years. He joined the party after being inspired by UVF leader Gusty Spence and PUP leader David Ervine’s vision to transform their communities. He joins Ciarán Dunbar.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The INLA are suspected of receiving ‘dark money’ from the Russian State. The paramilitary group has had an upsurge in activity over the summer, being blamed for an attack on a west Belfast homeless charity. Public and vocal support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has come from members of the IRSP, the political wing of the INLA. This week, Continuity IRA boss John Connolly was also seen...

Hearing what our politicians have to say is a crucial part of democracy. But back in 1998, The Assembly censored words spoken by Martin McGuinness to Deputy DUP leader Peter Robinson. After a legal battle lasting over two years, the Belfast Telegraph can now report on what exactly they are. Olivia Peden is joined by Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland Editor Sam McBride and Mediahuis Ireland solici...

The 1916 Easter Rising was organised by a tiny group of conspirators. They were the Military Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood - a small, oath bound organisation dedicated to achieving an Irish Republic by any means necessary, including violent insurrection. Despite the impact of the Rising, the IRB was eclipsed in history by the IRA and faded away in less than 10 years. Ciarán...

The 2024 Olympics have officially started, but it's been 36 years since a Northern Irish athlete brought a gold medal home. The long wait for an Olympic champion could end this summer, with Northern Ireland having its fair share of star athletes competing for Team Ireland and Team GB. Keith Bailie is joined by the Belfast Telegraph's Chief Sportswriter Steven Beacom to preview what promises to be...

Sir Patrick Mayhew was Northern Ireland’s secretary of state between 1992 and 1997, a time when the peace process was just beginning, and the Troubles were still raging.   Files uncovered by the Belfast Telegraph in The National Archives at Kew in London have revealed new details about a secret memo Mayhew sent to PM John Major. The classified message suggests the IRA was in a stronger p...

Armagh will face Galway in the Orchard County’s first All-Ireland final since 2003. Armagh only ever won once, back in 2002. Galway's last Sam Maguire was just the year before, in 2001. The excitement is building and the scramble for tickets is intense as pre-match analysis begins.  Niamh Campbell is joined by Oisín McConville, Jessica Rice and Lee Costello.  Hosted on Acast. S...

Since the UVF’s formation, the paramilitary group has went on to kill over 500 people. Gusty Spence became infamous for leading the organisation and deciding their tactics. The ex-British Army soldier was charged and convicted with the first Catholic victim of the troubles. Aaron Edwards, author of ‘UVF: Behind the mask’ joins Ciarán Dunbar to discuss the origins of the modern UVF, the role o...

31-year-old Whitney Hughes has been handed a 4-year sentence for drug offences. The so called ‘Cocaine Queen’ of Newry took over her father, Mark ‘The Chicken’ Lovell’s crime gang after he was gunned down in December 2022. Hughes admitted seven drug offences relating to possessing and supplying cocaine, MDMA and steroids, two counts of trading in counterfeit goods and one of possessing criminal pr...

A 38-year-old man has been arrested last night as violence continued in south Belfast.  The past two nights have seen disorder in the village area. On Monday over 30 petrol and paint bombs were thrown at police, with footage captured by Belfast Telegraph showing a firework being thrown at a police Land Rover and a masked man encouraging a child to partake in the violence. Olivia Peden is...

The so-called ‘Border Fox’, Dessie O’Hare, has been released from prison.  He is best known for kidnapping a dentist and chopping his fingers off.   Originally an IRA man, O’Hare was one of the most notorious gunmen of the Troubles, confessing to being the triggerman in at least 26 murders.   Guest: Allison Morris Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...

Former priest Denis Bradley played a key role in the peace process as part of the ‘back-channel’ between the IRA and the British. His decision to become vice-chair of the Northern Ireland Policing Board in 2001 drew the anger – and violence of dissident republicans.  He gives Ciarán Dunbar his assessment of how to deal with dissident republicans today – he says the Irish government must...

In August 1980, a pastor, his wife and their three children went on a camping holiday that would change their lives forever and become one of the biggest stories in the world. “A dingo’s got my baby” were the words that divided Australia as Lynn Chamberlain was accused of a shocking crime. Host: Kevin Doyle               &n...

The petrol bomb attack happened at the height of bitter disputes over parading Even by the standards of the Troubles the murder of the Quinn brothers on the 12th of July 1998, it shocked NI. The contentious parades issue which had caused deep tensions was changed overnight, albeit never solved, as society saw the issue with a fresh perspective. The horrific deaths of three children forced a rethin...

Sam McBride on why Ian Paisley Jr lost his seat and if this is truly the end of Paisleyism. And could he head off and work for Farage or even Trump?  Host: Ciarán Dunbar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A quiet general election campaign turned into an incredible results night resulting in seismic changes. The Belfast Telegraph’s political editor Suzanne Breen gives her assessment of the General Election results in Northern Ireland.  Host: Ciarán Dunbar   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.