Blood on the Dance Floor

1. Why Haven’t You Heard About This?


Listen Later

The untold story of the murder of a gay police officer in Northern Ireland in 1997

Belfast 1997. But not just any part of Belfast, gay Belfast. A place you've probably never heard of before. Cigarette smoke, aftershave and expectation fill the air in the only openly gay bar in the country. Sat having a drink on a night out is Darren Bradshaw. He was just 24 years old when he was shot dead in front of hundreds of people. His brutal murder by terrorists sparked fears of a return to all out violence as the new Labour government under Tony Blair sought to bring peace to Northern Ireland - on the road to the Good Friday Agreement.

This is the untold story of his life and murder. A story of both love and eventually betrayal.

Presenter Jordan Dunbar grew up in the city, he was a comedian and drag performer on the Belfast scene and yet this murder and Darren's life was never talked about. As a child of the ceasefire, his knowledge of LGBT life in Northern Ireland all came after the Good Friday Agreement. His history was based on the Loyalist and Republican - the Orange or Green versions and the rainbow had never come up.

Following Darren's story brings to life the struggle of being gay in The Troubles, how Belfast got its first Pride parade only in 1991 and its very first gay club in 1994 -The Parliament - where Darren was tragically shot dead.

It's a community surviving as well as thriving against a backdrop of violence and discrimination. He meets the original drag queens, DJs and club pioneers determined to claim back the city centre from the terrorists and create a safe place of their own.

Determined to piece together for the first time how Darren was killed that night and why, Jordan uncovers stories of bigotry, bravery and betrayal.

Reporter: Jordan Dunbar

Series Producer: Paul Grant
Technical Producer: Craig Boardman
Assistant Commissioner: Lorraine Okuefuna
Commissioning Editors: Richard Maddock and Dylan Haskins
Editor and Executive Producer: Carl Johnston

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Blood on the Dance FloorBy BBC Radio 5 Live

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

45 ratings


More shows like Blood on the Dance Floor

View all
Documentary on One Podcast by RTÉ

Documentary on One Podcast

191 Listeners

Where is Jón? by RTÉ

Where is Jón?

274 Listeners

The Story by The Times

The Story

253 Listeners

Cover by BBC Radio 5 Live

Cover

303 Listeners

Crime World by Sunday World

Crime World

259 Listeners

Assume Nothing by BBC Radio Ulster

Assume Nothing

24 Listeners

Gangster by BBC Radio 5 Live

Gangster

113 Listeners

The Witness: In His Own Words by Yellow Path Productions

The Witness: In His Own Words

116 Listeners

The Indo Daily by Irish Independent

The Indo Daily

126 Listeners

Lucky Boy | Tortoise Investigates by Tortoise Media

Lucky Boy | Tortoise Investigates

3,341 Listeners

Catch Up with Louise McSharry by Louise McSharry

Catch Up with Louise McSharry

37 Listeners

Ireland Crimes and Mysteries by Nules, The Radcast Network

Ireland Crimes and Mysteries

56 Listeners

Crime World Presents: Double Cross – The Murder of Robbie Lawlor by Sunday World

Crime World Presents: Double Cross – The Murder of Robbie Lawlor

53 Listeners

Intrigue by BBC Radio 4

Intrigue

150 Listeners

The Gambler by GoLoud

The Gambler

7 Listeners