

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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 20, 2022 • 22min
'Feis fixing': Irish dancing embroiled in cheating allegations
The prestigious global body that governs Irish dancing is mired in allegations of competition fixing and cheating. Irish Independent News Correspondent Ellen Coyne reveals the revelations that have rocked the Irish dancing world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 18, 2022 • 25min
Who killed the judge's daughter?: The murder of Patricia Curran and why her family was not properly investigated (Part 2)
Patricia Curran’s mutilated body was discovered just 40 yards from her home at 2 o’clock in the morning on the 13th of November 1952. She was a judge’s daughter – savagely stabbed to death - the pressure was on to find her killer. An innocent - but compromised man - Iain Hay Gordon, was eventually blackmailed into signing a confession and sent to a Psychiatric hospital – only to be quietly released and packed off to home to Scotland. In this episode of the BelTel, Journalist Stephen Gordon, tells us about meeting Patricia’s brother Desmond – who spent his life as a Catholic Priest in South Africa – a life some think was an act of redemption. And we ask the biggest question of all – if Ian Hay Gordon didn’t kill Patricia – then who did?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 16, 2022 • 28min
Who killed the judge's daughter?: The murder of Patricia Curran and how an innocent man was stitched up for it (Part 1)
The early hours of the morning on the 12th of November 1952, a judge’s daughter, Patricia Curran, is found dead in the garden of her family home. She had been stabbed 37 times. The BelTel looks at the shocking killing and how Iain Hay Gordon, a young Scot doing his national service in the RAF, was intimidated into signing a false confession, frightened that his mother would find out about his sex life. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by journalist Stephen Gordon, who’s been fascinated by this horrific murder for a longSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 9, 2022 • 26min
West Belfast’s ‘Marbella’ drugs crew being decimated by ‘professional’ hitman
Sean Fox was gunned down while drinking in the Donegal Celtic Social Club in west Belfast, on Sunday 2 October, in front of more than 100 people. It’s the latest in a series of murders carried out in west Belfast linked to drug-dealing and the so-called ‘Marbella Crew’. Who is responsible for carrying out these killings and why? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 6, 2022 • 26min
Carrickfergus, the seaside town in the grip of the UDA and UVF
The South-East Antrim UDA has carried out seven brutal murders in Carrickfergus since 1995, but no one has ever been convicted in connection with them. The UVF has also been in the news after confronting families over a fight between teenage girls. In this episode of the BelTel – we look at the gangs of Carrickfergus and how they are getting away with murder. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 4, 2022 • 24min
Alex Kane on where ‘despondent’ unionism goes now
With Stormont moribund, census result posing questions, and nationalists continuing to campaign for a border poll, where to now for unionism? “We have failed, to sell ourselves, to sell our identity, to sell our beliefs. We can’t blame Sinn Féin for that, it’s our own fault,” commentator Alex Kane told the BelTel. Should it be reaching out to Catholics – or should it take a harder line? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 2, 2022 • 22min
Whitey Bulger and me – John Crawley on his life as an IRA gunrunner
How does a United States Marine Corps end up as a gunrunner for the Provisional IRA and working alongside notorious gangster James 'Whitey' Bulger? Fionnán Sheahan talks to John Crawley about his life as an IRA gunrunner.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 29, 2022 • 20min
Do we need to dump comforts and capitalism to solve the climate crisis?
Catastrophic floods in Pakistan, ice sheets melting, an incredibly hot summer. The effects of climate change seem to be everywhere. Experts warn these changes in the climate will affect billions of us, will cause huge migrations, could lead to war, cause mass extinctions and even lead to economic and social collapses. Then why do most people not seem particularly bothered by it? Host: Ciarán Dunbar. Guest: Belfast Telegraph columnist and climate activist Rosalind Skillen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 27, 2022 • 24min
NI has held a United Ireland border poll before, here’s what happened
The Northern Ireland Sovereignty Referendum of 1973. Ever heard of it? Not surprised if you haven’t. It’s rarely mentioned but it was a border poll – it was a referendum on a United Ireland held at the very height of the troubles. Lecturer, writer, commentator and deputy editor of the website Slugger O’Toole, David McCann, tells Ciarán Dunbar all about the 1973 referendum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 25, 2022 • 24min
Madeleine McCann — The little girl lost in time and 15 years of heartbreak
On the 3rd of May in 2007, the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, a three-year-old girl, started a global conversation as to what could have happened her. With the 15th anniversary of that disappearance this year, and a new ‘arguido’ or official suspect named, the Indo Daily revisits the events on the night she went missing and what followed, including her parents Kate and Gerry finding themselves under intense media scrutiny and police suspicion.Presenter Siobhán Maguire is joined by Sunday Independent columnist, Sarah Caden, and journalist, John McGee, who was holidaying in the same resort all those years ago.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


