PODCAST

Assume Nothing

BBC Radio Ulster

The teams assume nothing as they examine events through fresh eyes.

true crime documentary

All Episodes

13:55

5. The Rhythm

Assume Nothing ·

2026/04/11

The story of a 35 year old nursing assistant who collapsed and died following an altercation with a patient at a psychiatric hospital in Northern Ireland.35 years later, her family is still searching for answers.Episode 5: The RhythmAs Norman’s legal battle comes to an end, could something the family was unaware of provide new answers?With the benefit of modern knowledge, a group of leading experts re-examine the case.Series produced by Nathan Edgar Executive editor Andy Martin A BBC Northern

13:25

8. The Long Shadow

Assume Nothing ·

2026/04/08

A baby is born with disabilities in the wake of the world’s worst nuclear disaster. She grows up neglected and in fear in an orphanage in Belarus, until she is taken on a radiation holiday to Ireland. A new life with hope and possibility unfolds before her. But the mystery of what happened in her early life has cast a shadow over her life. And she’s determined to solve it.

11:04

7. Nuclear Family

Assume Nothing ·

2026/04/07

11:18

6. Protest Song

Assume Nothing ·

2026/04/07

11:34

5. Emotional Hand Grenade

Assume Nothing ·

2026/04/07

10:21

4. The Others

Assume Nothing ·

2026/04/07

14:06

3. Fall Out

Assume Nothing ·

2026/04/07

11:31

2. Kin

Assume Nothing ·

2026/04/04

12:49

1. First Exposure

Assume Nothing ·

2026/04/04

12:13

4. The Warnings

Assume Nothing ·

2026/04/04

The story of a 35 year old nursing assistant who collapsed and died following an altercation with a patient at a psychiatric hospital in Northern Ireland. 35 years later, her family is still searching for answers.Episode 4: The WarningsWhen the official inquest fails to reach a conclusion regarding Mary’s death, Norman refuses to give up.As he continues his legal battle, Norman points to allegations of previous attacks on his wife while on duty - was enough being done to protect both staff and

12:26

3. The Inquest

Assume Nothing ·

2026/03/28

The story of a 35 year old nursing assistant who collapsed and died following an altercation with a patient at a psychiatric hospital in Derry, Northern Ireland. 35 years later, her family is still searching for answersEpisode 3: The InquestAfter months of delay, Norman wins an important victory – an official inquest will examine the circumstances of Mary’s death. Bishop Street Courthouse, Derry - 29th October, 1991. For the first time, witness accounts, medical evidence and post-mortem findings are

12:20

2. The Tapes

Assume Nothing ·

2026/03/21

The story of a 35 year old nursing assistant who collapsed and died following an altercation with a patient at a psychiatric hospital in Northern Ireland.35 years later, her family is still searching for answers.Episode 2: The TapesLeft with no explanation for his wife’s sudden death, Norman begins to fight for answers – but he faces one obstacle after another.Today - all that Mary’s daughters have left are memories, a collection of old home videos filmed by Norman – and questions left unanswered

12:40

1. The Last Shift

Assume Nothing ·

2026/03/14

The story of a 35 year old nursing assistant who collapsed and died following an altercation with a patient at a psychiatric hospital in Northern Ireland.35 years later, her family is still searching for answers.Episode 1: The Last Shift23rd March, 1991. Mary is finishing her night shift when a patient suddenly becomes violent. A colleague hears a loud commotion and rushes to help. Meanwhile, Mary’s husband Norman is on his way to collect her, unaware of an unfolding tragedy.Readings by:Declan

12:35

8. The Journal

Assume Nothing ·

2026/02/28

Short Description 8. The Journal Medium Description A security breach. A top-secret surveillance operation. A government collapsed. The exposure and death of a spy. Long Description Twenty years on, nobody has been convicted of the murder of Denis Donaldson. One potentially key piece of evidence, a journal he was supposedly writing around the time of his death, is being held by Irish police. His family wants it returned, but their efforts are unsuccessful.

11:55

7. At the Double

Assume Nothing ·

2026/02/21

A matter of months after he confesses to being a spy, Denis Donaldson is murdered at a remote cottage in Donegal. Questions are asked about his death, his life, and his true loyalties. Presenter: Martin McCann Additional Voice: Nicolas Boulton Produced by BBC Northern Ireland

10:35

6. The Cottage

Assume Nothing ·

2026/02/14

A journalist gets a tip that a political backroom man who’s just confessed to being a spy is living in the wilds of Donegal. He sets out to track him down and secure a major scoop. The old, whitewashed stone cottage where the spy is living has a dark history that’s about to take another chilling turn. Presenter: Martin McCann Additional Voice: Nicolas Boulton Produced by BBC Northern Ireland

13:14

5. In the Public Interest

Assume Nothing ·

2026/02/07

The dust has barely settled on the shock news that prosecutors have dropped all charges against three men accused of running a republican spy ring in government, when one of them makes a jaw dropping confession. Presenter: Martin McCann Additional Voice: Nicolas Boulton Produced by BBC Northern Ireland

13:57

4. Disclosure

Assume Nothing ·

2026/01/31

Four people are arrested when police swoop to break up what they claim is a republican spying network operating at the heart of Northern Ireland’s volatile government. A convoluted legal process ends with an outcome nobody sees coming. Presenter: Martin McCann Additional Voice: Nicolas Boulton Produced by BBC Northern Ireland

10:08

3. Politically Pear Shaped

Assume Nothing ·

2026/01/24

A massive surveillance operation into IRA intelligence gathering has led police to the home of a political party administrator. They recover material they believe to have been stolen from government offices, but some of the intelligence is missing. Their efforts to find those missing items turns the covert operation into a full-blown political scandal that threatens the future of Stormont’s shaky coalition. Presenter: Martin McCann Additional Voice: Nicolas Boulton Produced by BBC Northern

11:10

2. The Easy Art of Espionage

Assume Nothing ·

2026/01/17

Police investigating a daring break in, supposedly by the IRA, at their counter terrorism unit’s headquarters get a tip off. Apparently, there’s another republican intelligence operation happening and its reach extends to the heart of Northern Ireland’s volatile government. Presenter: Martin McCann Additional Voice: Nicolas Boulton Produced by BBC Northern Ireland

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Assume Nothing

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