The BelTel

North Korea is one of the world’s most secretive states – known for its dictators who are treated like gods and an iron-clad grip on their citizens. Back in 1988, six members of the Official IRA made their way to North Korea to receive state of the art training – some were expelled from the country after a drunken brawl. The unusual alliance came as secretary general of the Irish Workers Party, Sean Garland, allegedly laundered millions of fake dollars for the Kim dynasty. Olivia Peden is joined by journalist and author John Sweeney, who has visited the strange nation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 policy was seen as discrimination against Protestants. Allison Morris joins Ciarán Dunbar to explain the background of the PSNI and the current difficulties it faces.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 and police say they were paying protection money to loyalists. The two events appear to be connected. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sunday Life's Ciaran Barnes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 it?  Belfast Telegraph sports reporter Adam McKendry joins Ciarán Dunbar.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

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.

Former Big Brother contestant Seány O’Kane has 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 is joined by Jason Corcoran. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 used by politicians. This podcast was first published in March 2023.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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.