The BelTel

On the 4th of January 1976, UVF gunmen burst in to a house in Whitecross, in South Armagh. They shot three young brothers, John Martin, Brian, and Anthony Reavey. John Martin and Brian died at the scene – Anthony died almost a month later. Their brother Eugene Reavey has now written a book - ‘The Killings of the Reavey Brothers: British murder and cover-up in Northern Ireland’. Eugene Reavey believes loyalist Willie Frazer played a role in the murders. Eugene Reavey joins Niamh Campbell in the studio to tell the story.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The judge hearing Kneecap member Mo Chara’s terror charge case needs more time to think about what he’s going to do next. 27-year-old  Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh from Ballymurphy was charged in May, over the alleged display of a banned Hezbollah flag at a gig in north London.The case has become stuck over a technical argument over the timing of the charge against the rapper.  "Keep talking about Palestine, this is just a distraction", the rapper told supporters outside the court. Belfast Telegraph reporter Niamh Campbell was in London.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The TUV has dramatically emerged as the third most popular party in Northern Ireland in the latest BelTel / LucidTalk polling. Most unionists want electoral pacts, a significant minority even want the existing parties to merge. Most of those polled want a commission to regulate bonfires and flags and less than a third of our readers agree with Belfast City Council’s dual Irish-English language signage policy. Ciarán Dunbar joined by the head of LucidTalk. Bill White, commentator Alex Kane, commentator Ursula Savage, and by Belfast Telegraph reporter Andrew Madden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The IRA's internal security unit, responsible for hunting down informers and executing them, was known as 'The Nutting Squad'. Ruthless, cruel, efficient, but riddled with informers - promoting questions, who were they actually loyal to? Paddy ‘PM’ Monaghan has been reported as a British agent, making him the third senior member to be suspected of being a double agent. Its top tier also included the likes of Freddie Scappaticci and leader, John Joe Magee, who are both now believed to have been spies themselves. How did this group, who had access to some of the IRA's most guarded secrets become riddled with double agents? Presenter Kevin Doyle is joined by Allison Morris, columnist with the Belfast Telegraph, to look at the brutality of the 'Nutting Squad' and whether its senior ranks were loyal to the IRA or to the British.This podcast was first released in September 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Racism, pure and simple’ - that’s the PSNI’s assessment of an anti-migrant group roaming the streets of east Belfast. The self-styled vigilantes were posting their antics to TikTok, which has now banned them. Sometimes accompanied by dogs the group have been demanding to see IDs, have made threats on doorsteps, and have been enquiring about work-statuses. One the main movers in the group is dog ‘hunter’ Neil Pinkerton. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph’s security correspondent, Allison Morris.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

South Armagh republican Colm Murphy was at various points a member of the Provisional IRA, the INLA and the Real IRA. In his later years, he was linked to the Óglaigh na hÉireann dissident group. He had been convicted but later acquitted of involvement in the Omagh bombing. He was later found liable in a civil court for the 1998 attack which killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins. Colm Murphy died at the age of 70 of a degenerative lung disease in April 2023. The Belfast Telegraph’s Security Correspondent Allison Morris profiles him.This episode was originally published on 21 April 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Flattery, deceit, a bung, MI5, and the secret back-channel to Sinn Féin- uncovered files have revealed the DUP’s route to power-sharing. Publicly the DUP refused to talk to Sinn Féin, but the truth was that the party was in direct talks with republicans. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride who reveals what he has discovered in the secret files.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In September 1966 the body of a baby girl – Lynda Cochrane – was discovered at Ballykinler Army Base in County Down. It wasn’t until 2006 when former soldier Harry Doyle was arrested after telling an ex-lover that his disability was an act of divine punishment for the killing of a baby. Just months before he was due to stand trial, he died.  Former Detective Superintendent Tim Hanley led the investigation into Northern Ireland’s longest cold case – he joins Ciarán Dunbar.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early hours of 7 August 1986, hundreds of Ulster Loyalists, some in paramilitary uniforms, spilled over the border and into the County Monaghan village of Clontibret. A trail of destruction ensued, and Gardaí were attacked with two officers ending up in hospital. The so-called ‘invasion’ was led by then DUP Deputy leader Peter Robinson. He was later convicted of unlawful assembly and given a fine. Ian Paisley said Robinson alone was responsible for the incident, Robinson blamed Paisley. To revisit the infamous Clontibret Invasion – Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the parish newsletter to the daily death notices, we like to keep tabs on the comings and goings of life around us. And when it comes to celebrities, especially where fame and romance collide, we just can't look away. Take this week, for example, when TV power couple Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley announced their separation. But just how difficult is it to navigate a relationship under the unforgiving glare of the celebrity spotlight? And why are we, the public, so captivated by the rise and fall of celebrity couples?  Host: Tessa Fleming  Guest: Melanie Finn  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.