The BelTel

By Belfast TelegraphNews Daily News

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The BelTel episodes

January 15, 2025 Allison Morris: John George’s return flight from Alicante was “booked after he was dead”
Twenty-four days after John George was reported missing in Spain, a body was found. The father-of-two from west Belfast had travelled to Alicante in mid-December for a holiday, but worried family when he failed to return home for Christmas. The Belfast Telegraph can now reveal that Mr George’s return flight was booked in the days following his death. Allison Morris, who was investigating the disappearance, joins Ciarán Dunbar.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
30 min
January 14, 2025 Jarlath Burns and Rory Gallagher row: Does the GAA have a problem with double standards?
A fierce clash between GAA president Jarlath Burns and former Derry manager Rory Gallagher has led to the threat of legal action and a split in public opinion. Was Burns right to raise his concerns about Gallagher’s potential appointment to a new gig?
Kevin Doyle is joined by Colm Keys, Fionnán Sheahan, and Tessa Fleming.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
29 min
January 13, 2025 Revealed: Sam McBride on secret unionist unity talks between DUP and UUP
Unionist unity is an idea often proposed but has never seemed to progress. But now, The Belfast Telegraph can reveal secret DUP-UUP unity talks were held 18 months ago. Why did these talks take place, who was there, and could the idea of unionist unity come to fruition? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by The Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland editor Sam McBride.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
23 min
January 10, 2025 Sam McBride: Files revealed on Ian Paisley, DUP’s sex education panic and the plans to dam Strangford Lough
This Christmas the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland made available papers which were previously classified. Sam McBride joins Ciarán Dunbar to reveal his discoveries, including new details of Ian Paisley’s relationship with developer Seymour Sweeney, an ambitious plan to dam Strangford Lough, and the DUP’s discomfort with sex education booklet for children that included “activities too foul to describe”.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
35 min
January 08, 2025 What Dublin’s secret files reveal about NI, Trimble, Bruton, JFK and Casement
Unionists fiercely resist calls for a border poll for on a United Ireland, but that was not always the case. David Trimble campaigned for a poll in 2002 – secret files reveal he was dismissed. Newly released Dublin files reveal former taoiseach John Bruton was suspicious not only of Sinn Féin and the SDLP, but even his own Department of Foreign Affairs. Other files reveal a young John F Kennedy was happy enough with partition of Ireland and how Roger Casement was a source of controversy long after his execution.
Ralph Reigel from the Irish Independent joins Ciarán Dunbar.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
32 min
January 06, 2025 Lion tamer, street-fighter and 'sectarian murderer': The life and crimes of Buck Alec Robinson
For most people, the legendary Belfast character of Buck Alec will ring a bell. Infamous for his pet lion and street-fighting career, he was even rumoured to have worked with Al Capone. But Buck Alec Robinson wasn’t just some sort of loveable street-fighting rogue - according to many he was also a ruthless sectarian killer as a member of the Ulster Special Constabulary. Who really was Buck Alec – the archetypical Belfast hardman? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by historian Joe Baker.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
22 min
January 03, 2025 Belfast: Killing Edgar (P2) - The IRA murder of Edgar Graham at Queen’s University Belfast
Edgar Graham was murdered in broad daylight at Queen’s University on 7 December 1983.
A law lecturer and unionist politician, Sam McBride examines his life and legacy and tracks down the colleague accused of setting Edgar up for the IRA.
This episode was originally published in December 2023.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
32 min
January 01, 2025 Belfast: Killing Edgar (P1) The IRA murder of Edgar Graham at Queen’s University
Edgar Graham was just 29 years old when the IRA gunned him down at Queen’s University in Belfast.
The young law lecturer and unionist politician was widely believed to be a future leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.
Forty years later, Sam McBride investigates why the IRA targeted him, whether he was set up by a colleague, and where this lost leader of unionism might have led Northern Ireland.
This episode was originally published in December 2023.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
32 min
December 30, 2024 2024: The year of political scandals, returns and bizarre plot twists
2024 brought political returns, countless scandals, and that one girls night at the Devenish which shocked Northern Ireland. To reminisce on this year’s eventful news agenda, Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph Editor-In-Chief Eoin Brannigan, and journalists Sam McBride, Allison Morris, Aine Toner, Gillian Halliday and Flávia Gouveia.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
48 min
December 27, 2024 Belfast: Rosaleen O’Kane and the murder the RUC didn't investigate
Rosaleen O’Kane was found in a burning flat in north Belfast in 1976, her body stripped and set on fire. Rosaleen was 33 years old. Why did the RUC not investigate her murder? Why were her family told her death might have something to do with 'black magic'?
This episode was originally published in August 2023.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
21 min

About The BelTel

From the publisher's feed

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…