The BelTel

The PSNI has been plunged into crisis after an accidental data breach saw the details of over 10 thousand PSNI officers and staff made available online. With the terrorism threat already set to severe, police officers now fear for their immediate safety after their names, ranks and locations were circulated. Host: Keith Bailie. Guest: Sam McBride See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

Former BBC correspondent tells Ciarán Dunbar that only an international body can help Northern Ireland deal with legacy issues. Brian Rowan is a well-known journalist and author. He passionately advocates that we must deal with the past as far if possible if we are to escape from it. He spoke to Ciarán Dunbar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...

‘Twitter’ has become ‘X’. What is Elon Musk’s thinking, and could it actually be a good call? Some want to move on from the platform but what are the alternatives? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph reporter, Kurtis Reid. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who is Q and why do so many people follow the QAnon conspiracy theory today? Host: Kevin Doyle Guest: Will Sommer See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Northern Ireland’s political Assembly and Executive are moribund, and many commentators are now doubtful that they will ever return. Is it time for Plan B and if it is – what would that look like? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Allison Morris and Sam McBride. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

County Armagh lorry drivers Mo Robinson and Ronan Hughes are doing serious jail time for the manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese migrants who suffocated in a trailer being towed by Robinson. Hughes and Robinson were part of a Romanian / Northern Ireland people smuggling gang – and they were far from alone. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph crime correspondent, Allison Morris, who tells th...

From a troubled childhood to global fame, Sinead O’Connor’s unique voice, talent and personality captivated audiences across the world. Our sister podcast the Indo Daily looks at the life and legacy of the iconic ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ singer. Host: Fionnán Sheahan Guest: John Meagher See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in Northern Ireland have been arguing over flags for as long as anyone can remember. Time and time again police and politicians have argued over it, but with talks of new legislation being drawn up again, are we finally getting to a stage where the problem will be solved? Niamh Campbell is joined by Belfast Telegraph report Andrew Madden and Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw to discuss. See omnys...

The first Belfast Pride was held in 1991, a handful of people took part. At that time, Northern Ireland which was much less tolerant and understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, sometimes leading people to take their own lives. Ciarán Dunbar speaks to Terry McFarlane. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The IRA’s aim was to unite Ireland - so why did it do its best to stop cross-border railway services? It came very close to succeeding but were strongly opposed by an organization established to defy that that ambition. Who were the people behind the Peace Train movement, and did they succeed? And why did the IRA try and bomb the trainlines out of existence in the first place? Host: ciarán Dunbar,...

Suwei Shang was last seen 10 years ago when she left court after admitting killing her husband. After her arrest, more than £100,000 was discovered in her bank account leading detectives to suspect she had been working in the sex trade. But incredibly the courts let her out on bail as they decided on her sentence. Where could she be? Host: Ciarán Dunbar, Guest: Ciaran Barnes See omnystudio.com/lis...

To celebrate Pride month, the Indo Daily finds out how the global parade got started and why the fight for equality and Gay rights goes on for the LBGTQ+ community. Host: Siobhán Maguire. Guest: Bill Hughes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 - Iain Hay Gordon, was eventually blackmailed into signing a confession and sent to a Psychiatric hospital – only to be quietly release...

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 Iain Hay Gordon, a young Scot doing his national service in the RAF, was intimidated into signing a false confession, frightened that his mother would find out about his sex...

How does a high-flying academic become one of Ireland's most prolific bank robbers? From the award winning team behind the Indo Daily comes I'm Not Here to Hurt You. Out now, wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Dublin Monaghan bombings on May 17th 49 years ago killed 34 people, including an unborn baby, and injured almost 300. Almost half a century on, no one has been convicted in connection with the bombings. Host: Siobhan Maguire. Guest: John Downing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Across Europe political parties regarded as ‘far-right’ are gaining in strength and some are gaining power. Are they a threat to democracy, why is the left so weak and will we see the swing to the right continue? Politics academic and electoral guru David McCann joins Ciarán Dunbar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Provisional IRA have long since ended its armed campaign but republican political violence continues. What do groups like the New IRA hope to achieve, why do they continue with what they would describe as ‘armed struggle’ and do they have political ambitions? Host: Ciarán Dunbar, Guest: Dr Marisa McGlinchey. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

The Orange Order wanted to march home from a church service in Drumcree back into Portadown, and still does. But the nationalists living on the Garvaghy Road opposed what they saw as a sectarian march. The stage was set for a clash over rights, identity, and freedoms and it brought NI to the edge of anarchy. Host: Ciarán Dunbar, Guest: Mervyn Jess. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

The US has given the wreckage of alien craft to defence contractors, a former Pentagon whistleblower has claimed. Some say we have to take him seriously and that the 'truth' about UFOs can't be hidden anymore. Host: Kevin Doyle. Guest: Sarah Collins. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Twelfth goes back a long way. But what is the origin of the celebrations and of the Orange Order itself? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by historian Dr David Hume. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The scandal engulfing RTE continues. The people at the centre of it, Dee Forbes, Noel Kelly and Ryan Tubridy have all made statements but are yet to answer questions. Who are they? Host: Tabitha Monahan. Guests: Melanie Finn and Kirsty Blake Knox See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We just can get enough of murder, horror and psychopaths. Why is that? And serial killers, are they born or made? Ciarán Dunbar spoke to Craig Jackson, Professor of Occupational Health Psychology, at Birmingham City University. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1984, a massive explosion rocked the Grand Hotel in Brighton, where the Tory party conference was being held. The bombing went down in history as one of the most audacious attacks on the British government since the Gunpowder Plot. The target, Margaret Thatcher and her entire cabinet. In the new book, Killing Thatcher, author and journalist Rory Carroll takes a look back at the attack and the c...

The witness protection scheme in NI has raised moral questions and lacks penalties for those who’ve exploited it and lied in court. For some of Northern Ireland’s worst criminals – it's like winning the lottery. Host: Ciarán Dunbar. Guest: Allison Morris. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.