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PODCAST

The BelTel

Belfast Telegraph

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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All Episodes

31:28

Allison Morris: The origins of the PSNI and the...

The BelTel ·

2025/02/12

23 years after its emergence, the PSNI is still less than one third Catholic and the numbers attempting to join are according to the Chief Constable "below what's needed". Its latest recruitment campaign attracted a total of 3,500 applications but only 27% are perceived to be Catholic. The PSNI was born out of the Patten reforms of the old RUC but the changes which reforms brought about were painful for many who saw them as a betrayal. The controversial 50/50, Catholic / Protestant recruitment

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22:20

Ciaran Barnes: Why UDA shot pensioner after Bulgarian...

The BelTel ·

2025/02/10

A Coleraine pensioner, who uses a mobility scooter, was shot five times in the arms and legs by the UDA. But what possible excuse would the loyalist paramilitaries have for carrying out such a heinous act?The attack came just 48 hours after the PSNI had raided a brothel in the town which it publicly connected to the UDA.That brothel was run by Bulgarian pimps andpolice say they were paying protection money to loyalists. The two events appear to be connected. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sunday Life's

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29:09

Top Belfast school Methody apologies after rugby...

The BelTel ·

2025/02/07

Methodist College Belfast’s insurers have been stung for £50,000 after a Carryduff boy sued over hazing at rugby camp. The boy was allegedly forced to strip naked and have his head shaved. Gabriel McConkey also claims he also witnessed other boys perform acts on a sex toy. He was also filmed in what the family say were “degrading” videos which left him “traumatised”.The school has apologised and has reviewed how such trips are supervised. What is hazing and does rugby have a particular problem with

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52:17

How I caught the catfish who took my identity

The BelTel ·

2025/02/06

It all began in December, when an ex-girlfriend of Irish independent journalist John Meagher sent him screenshots of a fake dating-app profile using a photo of him. This would lead him on an extraordinary journey to find out who his catfish was – the answer to which would shock everyone involved. Host: Ellen Coyne.Guest: John Meagher Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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38:13

“The starting point is to is to name people”: Sam...

The BelTel ·

2025/02/05

Sir Declan Morgan was formerly Northern Ireland’s most senior judge. The Londonderry man now heads the Legacy Commission. He describes the role not only as one of helping families get the truth about how relatives died but also about revealing the reality of political violence and the Troubles.Sir Declan tells the Belfast Telegraph’s Northern Ireland Editor Sam McBride he won't flinch from naming those behind the atrocities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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30:40

Big Brother, Russia and the Derry actor

The BelTel ·

2025/02/03

Former Big Brother contestant Seány O’Kanehas been denied entry to Russia.O’Kane’s the owner of a popular Telegram platform for foreigners in Russia named ‘Moscow Pals’. Seany O’Kane has lived and worked in the country for years but was turned back from Moscow Airport before Christmas.Moscow Pals also has a channel dealing with financial questions arising from how to extract finances from Russia.The Russian authorities take a keen interest in it.Ciarán Dunbar isjoined by Jason Corcoran. Hosted on

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36:00

The murder of Robert McCartney, the IRA cover-up, and...

The BelTel ·

2025/01/30

Robert McCartney was murdered by members of the IRA 20 years ago, in January 2005. He died after being stabbed in the street outside a bar in Belfast, near the the Markets area. Like many other murders, the IRA hoped that it would eventually blow over, but it did not, it became an international news story and a political nightmare for Sinn Féin - all due to the tenacity of his sisters. Two of them tell Suzanne Breen what they thought of the subsequent criminal trials, and if they think they were

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30:46

‘Operation Torpedo’: Allison Morris reveals new...

The BelTel ·

2025/01/29

In January 2024, opponents of the then DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, and the deal he struck with the government over post-Brexit arrangements put together a political plot - ‘Operation Torpedo’ - Its aim, to wreck the proposed deal. The wire-tapping and subsequent live-tweeting of a supposedly secret meeting caused a sensation. The key figure in the scheme was loyalist Jamie Bryson. Now The BelTel can reveal more details about the ‘operation’ and the number of people involved.Guest: Allison Morris

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24:58

Rev Harold Good: Decommissioning IRA weapons, secret...

The BelTel ·

2025/01/27

The Rev Harold Good witnessed the IRA decommissioning their arsenal of weapons. He facilitated secret talks at vital points during the Peace Process. In his new book he reveals his role as a back channel between the DUP and Sinn Féin.He joins Ciarán Dunbar to discuss his role as a peacemaker, his experiences with Ian Paisley and his extraordinary friendship with Martin McGuinness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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40:30

The 'GAA Catfish': "She would have needed at least 25...

The BelTel ·

2025/01/24

A woman dubbed ‘The GAA catfish’ is now the subject of an official police probe after the PSNI received a complaint alleging harassment. The infamous catfish,who is believed to be from Armagh, is believed to have deceived up to 40 people including a number of Ulster GAA players. Who is the GAA catfish, how did she trick so many county players, and why did they fall for it? Ciarán Dunbar isjoined by the Belfast Telegraph’s Niamh Campbell and Kurtis Reid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for

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29:17

SAS: Rogue Heroes - Should ‘Paddy’ Mayne get the...

The BelTel ·

2025/01/22

Newtownards man Paddy Mayne was an unconventional soldier – a founder member of the SAS. He is one of the central characters in the BBC’s hit war drama, SAS: Rogue HeroesBut there is much controversy over how he has portrayed, foul mouthed, thuggish and with a very dodgy accent. Military historians in particular, say that’s not how he was.And this publicity has once again brought old questions to the fore – why was Mayne never given the Victoria Cross? And even, should he be given the honour

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36:06

Sorcha Eastwood takes on Andrew and Tristan Tate

The BelTel ·

2025/01/20

Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood to start legal action against the Tate brothers over social media postsaimed at her. Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan are self-professed ‘Alpha Males’ and now aspiring politicians with their own ‘Bruv Party’.This spat comes as Elon Musk called Labour MP Jess Phillips a ‘Rape Genocide Apologist’. Meanwhile, as Donald Trump returns to the White House Mark Zuckerberg says Meta is going more ‘Masculine’. How did the Tates get so much influence and are the ‘tech bros’

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25:41

The IRA’s infamous escape from Belfast’s prison ship,...

The BelTel ·

2025/01/17

HMS Maidstone, an ex-Royal Navy Ship, was used in the early 1970s to hold internees. In January 1972, a group of IRA prisoners swam 270 meters through an ice-cold Belfast Lough in a bid to escape, greasing themselves in butter to squeeze out of the ship’s portholes. They then hijacked a double-decker bus before slipping across the border, humiliating the authorities.Ciarán Dunbar is joined by James Durney, author of ‘Jailbreak: Great Irish Republican escapes’. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

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29:53

Allison Morris: John George’s return flight from...

The BelTel ·

2025/01/15

Twenty-four days after John George was reported missing in Spain, a body was found. The father-of-two from west Belfast had travelled to Alicante in mid-December for a holiday, but worried family when hefailed to return home for Christmas. The Belfast Telegraph can now reveal that Mr George’s return flight was booked in the days following his death. Allison Morris, who was investigating the disappearance, joins Ciarán Dunbar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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29:00

Jarlath Burns and Rory Gallagher row: Does the GAA...

The BelTel ·

2025/01/14

A fierce clash between GAA president Jarlath Burns and former Derry manager Rory Gallagher has led to the threat of legal action and a split in public opinion. Was Burns right to raise his concerns about Gallagher’s potential appointment to a new gig?Kevin Doyle is joined by Colm Keys, Fionnán Sheahan, and Tessa Fleming. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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22:30

Revealed: Sam McBride on secret unionist unity talks...

The BelTel ·

2025/01/13

Unionist unity is an idea often proposed but has never seemed to progress. But now, The Belfast Telegraph can reveal secret DUP-UUP unity talks were held 18 months ago. Why did these talks take place, who was there, and could the idea of unionist unity come to fruition? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by The Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland editor Sam McBride. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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34:16

Sam McBride: Files revealed on Ian Paisley, DUP’s sex...

The BelTel ·

2025/01/10

This Christmas the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland made available papers which were previously classified. Sam McBride joins Ciarán Dunbar to reveal his discoveries, including new details of Ian Paisley’s relationship with developer Seymour Sweeney, an ambitious plan to dam Strangford Lough, and the DUP’s discomfort with sex education booklet for children that included “activities too foul to describe”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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31:15

What Dublin’s secret files reveal about NI, Trimble,...

The BelTel ·

2025/01/08

Unionists fiercely resist calls for a border poll for on a United Ireland, but that was not always the case. David Trimblecampaigned for a poll in 2002 – secret files reveal he was dismissed. Newly released Dublin files reveal former taoiseach John Bruton was suspicious not only of Sinn Féin and the SDLP, but even his own Department of Foreign Affairs.Other files reveal a young John F Kennedy was happy enough with partition of Ireland andhow Roger Casement was a source of controversy long after his

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21:43

Lion tamer, street-fighter and 'sectarian murderer':...

The BelTel ·

2025/01/06

For most people, the legendary Belfast character of Buck Alec will ring a bell. Infamous for his pet lion and street-fighting career, he was even rumoured to have worked with Al Capone. But Buck Alec Robinson wasn’t just some sort of loveable street-fighting rogue - according to many he was also a ruthless sectarian killer as a member of the Ulster Special Constabulary. Who really was Buck Alec – the archetypical Belfast hardman? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by historian Joe Baker. Hosted on Acast. See

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31:59

Belfast: Killing Edgar (P2) - The IRA murder of Edgar...

The BelTel ·

2025/01/03

Edgar Graham was murdered in broad daylight at Queen’s University on 7 December 1983.A law lecturer and unionist politician, Sam McBride examines his life and legacy and tracks down the colleague accused of setting Edgar up for the IRA.This episode was originally published in December 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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