The BelTel

Ciarán Dunbar gets an explanation of authoritarianism from QUB Politics Professor, Lee McGowan. Authoritarian states such as China, Russia, and North Korea are asserting themselves. And even in the west, populism, fascism and hard-left politics seek to undermine representative democracy. What is authoritarianism and why is it gaining ground? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Molly Martens arrived in Limerick in 2008, she seemed like an All-American Girl with the world at her feet. But that public persona - like many of the stories she told about herself - was just a work of fantasy. From mother to monster, from wife to Jason Corbett’s killer, who is Molly Martens?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a former top NIO civil servant, Michael Cameron found himself mixing with paramilitary bosses and powerful politicians. He would go on to marry a DUP MLA and even join the party. Eventually forced to quit work over an illness, he became a playwright. His first play sold out the Lyric Theatre before anyone had even seen it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ashling Murphy, a 23 year old primary school teacher went for a run on the banks of the Grand Canal outside Tullamore, Co. Offaly – she never returned home. This is the story of how Jozef Puska tried to get away with her murder. Host: Fionnán Sheahan, Guests: Catherine Fegan and Eimear CotterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David McCann, Alex Kane and Bill White join Ciarán Dunbar to discuss the latest Belfast Telegraph / Lucid Talk polling. Among the subjects discussed, the criteria for a border poll, whether it should need a super-majority and the prickly subject of using Casement Park for Euro 2028.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Belfast Telegraphs Political Editor Suzanne Breen talks with Ciaran Dunbar on Rishi Sunak’s boredom with Northern Ireland and the DUP, the backlash Sinn Fein has received on its stance with Israeli ambassador and the sudden U-Turn after being labelled “sell outs” and why a SDLP MLA is in hot water for becoming a GAA manager.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A compelling new documentary ‘Lost Boys- Belfast’s Missing Children’ has shed new light on the mysterious disappearance of FIVE children at the height of the Troubles. Only one body was recovered. All these tragic cases remain unsolved and unresolved.Were these cases linked? Did sexual predators take advantage of the mayhem for their own twisted perversion? Sharon O'Neill talks about the disappeared to director, Des Henderson and speaks to the only surviving mother of one of the missing boys, Anne Spence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Israelis and Palestinians are two very distinct peoples, but geographically, Israel and Palestine are one and the same territories. How did this come about and is there any hope for the future? Martin Bunton is the author of The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Very Short Introduction – he spoke to Ciarán Dunbar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

50 years ago this week, Mountjoy Prison played host to one of the most dramatic escapes in history. It was a Halloween horror show for the onlooking guards as prominent Provisional IRA figures took to the sky. Host: Kevin Doyle. Guest: Liam Collins.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Islandmagee is a quiet civil parish on the east coast of Northern Ireland. But in 1711, a newcomer to the area begins to have fits, regurgitates pins and buttons, and suddenly dies. In the weeks following her death, eight woman and one man are found guilty of witchcraft at a local Courthouse – one man is executed. It was the last witchcraft trial in Ireland. Olivia Peden speaks to Dr Andrew Sneddon of Ulster University, and Martina Devlin, the author of “The House where it happened” about this mysterious event.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.