The BelTel

Sean Quinn was once Ireland’s richest man. Last November, members of the former billionaire’s family used a privacy law to erase from Google much of their past, including lavish spending and court battles over the collapse of the Quinn empire. Host: Fionnán Sheahan. Guests: Shane Phelan, Legal Affairs Editor of the Irish Independent and Adrian Weckler, Technology Editor of the Irish and Sunday Ind...

The SNP’s leader Nicola Sturgeon wants another referendum on Scottish independence. If she succeeds, could she lead Scottish nationalists to victory and what impact would that have on Northern Ireland? Host: Niamh Campbell: Guests, Alba Party MP Neale Hanvey, political analyst David McCann, the Belfast Telegraph’s Northern Ireland editor, Sam McBride, and the Belfast Telegraph’s political editor,...

It’s been 25 years since Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a car crash in Paris. She was at the time, the most famous woman in the world, and many would say she remains so. Fashion designer Paul Costelloe shares his memories of the mother behind the icon. And we ask what impact did her death have in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland? Host: Ciarán Dunbar. Guests: Áine Toner, Andrew Ma...

Rural Castlerock, 1991; Embroiled in a sordid affair, Hazel Stewart and Colin Howell plot the double murder of their spouses, disguising them as suicides. Their crimes would not be revealed until 19 years later, when a guilt-ridden Howell confessed and provided evidence against his ex-lover in trial. But is Hazel Stewart truly a cold and callous killer as some think she is portrayed? Or is there m...

In February 2005, 25-year-old Lisa Dorrian went missing from a caravan park in Co Down and has never been seen again. Almost two decades on, her family and the PSNI are still searching for her body in the hope for answers and justice. They have only one suspect in mind as to who killed Lisa, and her sister Joanne reveals she has even spoken to him. Host: Niamh Campbell. Guests: Joanne Dorrian, Cia...

It's exactly 100 years since the Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins was killed during an ambush in Co Cork during Ireland's Civil War. What happened back in August 1922 and who shot the Big Fella? Host: Fionnan Sheahan. Guest: Senan Molony. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sex trafficker Martin Heaney is thought to have exploited hundreds of vulnerable women in Northern Ireland for over a decade. He finally received sentencing for his crimes in July 2022. The BelTel delves into how ‘Mucky Marty’ was finally caught, and we reveal the trauma some of his victims have gone through. Host:?Niamh Campbell. Guests: Allison Morris See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

A man from Northern Ireland whose wife was murdered in a violent farm robbery in South Africa has said he will never have peace again. He was tortured, shot and left for dead during the raid at their home. Robert Lynn told Adrian Rutherford about his terrible experience. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

February 8th 1983 – Shergar, the world’s most famous horse is stolen and thus begins one of the biggest Gardai investigations in Irish history – Who kidnapped Shergar the wonder horse? HOST: Fionnan Sheahan GUEST: Irish Independent's Senan Molony See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abducted in plain sight. The young victim of an abduction just yards from her Portadown home describes the moment her attacker tried to bundle her in the boot of his car in broad daylight. Presenter Sharon O’Neill. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The words sectarian and sectarianism are widely used in Northern Ireland but we can’t even agree on what they mean. Some believe things are getting better, but others think the problem is getting worse. Warning, this podcast contains offensive language. Host: Ciarán Dunbar. Guests: Suzanne Breen, Richard Garland and Pádraig Ó Meiscill. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on...

Tens of thousands of people now take part in the Belfast Pride celebrations but that wasn’t the case when the first march was held in 1991, a time when life for gay people was much harder in Northern Ireland. How did Pride grow and why is it still so important? Host: Ciarán Dunbar. Guests Terry McFarlane and John O’Doherty. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See...

Owned by the Trufelli family for almost 100 years, it was the staple of easter and summer holidays for generations across Northern Ireland. But when the pandemic shut its doors and it was put on the market - there were fears it might never open as an amusements again. Host Claire Williamson speaks to new owner Owen Curry about how long they plan to stay at the Portrush amusements and their excitin...

Bonus Episode: Union leader ‘struggling’ to see how the NI Protocol Bill will improve life for farmersIn the week that the NI Protocol Bill cleared the House of Commons, the Belfast Telegraph business editor Margaret Canning has an in-depth interview with Ulster Farmers' Union President David Brown about whether the bill would be good news for NI farmers, or just milk down the drain. See omnystudi...

The 21st of July 1972 was the most prolific day of IRA bombings during the Troubles. Nine people were killed and 130 injured as a blitz of 22 bombs detonated throughout Belfast in under two hours. That day has since become known as Bloody Friday. Why did it happen, how did it happen? Host Ciarán Dunbar, guests Malachi O’Doherty, Niamh Campbell and Aaron Edwards. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

A Bulgarian woman, also known as "Cryptoqueen", has been added to the FBI's list of its 10 most-wanted fugitives. Dr Ruja Ignatova is accused of defrauding investors out of $4bn (£3.3bn) by selling a fake cryptocurrency called OneCoin. The FBI is now offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to her capture. But who is she, or more importantly, where is she? And why is it believed she came...

Pat Bradley read out the result of the Good Friday Agreement referendum after running elections in Northern Ireland throughout the Troubles. Despite violence and voting early and voting often, he was determined that the ballot boxes would remain open. Host: Allan Preston; Guest Pat Bradley See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...

Long associated with the Orange Order, marching bands and bonfires – the Twelfth goes back a long way. But what is the origin of the celebrations, of the order itself and does the organisation have a future? Host: Ciarán Dunbar, Guest: Dr David Hume. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She is the leader of Ireland’s largest political party, but who is Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald? Host: Siobhán Maguire. Guest: Fionnán Sheahan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The IRA gave Freddie Scappaticci the job of hunting down informers, and executing them. But Scappaticci turned out to have also been Britian’s top agent in Northern Ireland – Stakeknife. What was his role and how did he get away with it? Host Ciarán Dunbar, Guest Allison Morris. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the 20th of December 2004, one of the largest robberies in history took place during rush hour in Belfast when a gang successfully made off with over £26 million. Why after 18 years has nobody been convicted of the robbery? Host: Fionnán Sheahan. Guest: Northern Ireland editor of the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Independent, Sam McBride See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hoste...

There’s a split in professional golf with a small number of the top players having been lured into the new Saudi-backed LIV tour. Are the golfers taking blood money and what do the Saudi’s hope to achieve? Host Ciarán Dunbar. Guests: Belfast Telegraph journalists Gareth Hanna and Andrew Madden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...

40 years on we look back on how Gerry Armstrong’s goal against World Cup ’82 hosts Spain managed to unite Northern Ireland during some very dark times. Host: Steven Beacom; Guests: Gerry Armstong, Jim Shaw and Mike Nesbitt See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could Donald Trump end up in jail? The big revelations from the first House Select committee hearing into the January 6th attack on the US Capitol including the president’s daughter Ivanka and the former Attorney General Bill Barr stating that there was no election fraud. HOST: Fionnan Sheahan GUEST: Gina London Columnist with the Sunday Independent, Founder of ‘Language of Leadership’ and former...

Although critically damaged in the crackdown following their murder of Lyra McKee the dissident the New IRA continue to operate in Derry. What drives them, who leads them and what are they capable of? Host: Ciarán Dunbar, Guest: Ciaran Barnes, chief reporter with The Sunday Life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.