The BelTel

By Belfast TelegraphNews Daily News

Favorites
52
Followers
Typical duration
29 min
per episode
If it hooks
62%
finish an episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

The BelTel episodes

October 15, 2024 “What has gone wrong?”: Allison Morris on Northern Ireland’s femicide problem
In the past six weeks, four women have been killed in NI, bringing this year’s total of alleged femicides up to six. At the time of recording, a further two deaths from this weekend are under investigation. Why is femicide so high in Northern Ireland, how does the PSNI deal with domestic violence here, and can anything be done? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Allison Morris.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
29 min
October 12, 2024 ‘Peace at last’: The story of the Loyalist ceasefires 30 years on
On the 13 October 1994, six weeks after the IRA announced a ‘complete cessation’, the Loyalist paramilitary groups declared their ceasefires. The UVF’s Gusty Spence announced loyalist violence was over, in a step that is seen as one of the vital steps towards a lasting peace in Northern Ireland. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by former PUP leader Billy Hutchinson, Historian Aaron Edwards, and journalists Allison Morris, Mark Simpson, and Vincent Kearney.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
29 min
October 10, 2024 “The Manchester Bombing was an elaborate hoax”: why do some people believe terror victims are ‘crisis actors’?
22 people died in the 2017 Manchester Bombing, and over a thousand were injured. Former TV producer Richard Hall has been in court for allegedly harassing victims of the bombing to show that the event was an ‘elaborate hoax’. He believes that the bombing was staged, and the people involved were ‘crisis actors’. What are they, and why do so many people believe in them?

Olivia Peden is joined by Belfast Telegraph journalist Kurtis Reid to find out why conspiracy theorists deny events like these.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
24 min
October 08, 2024 Suzanne Breen on Sinn Féin's McMonagle problem and Claire Hanna as she takes charge of SDLP
Michelle O’Neill faced the assembly and with the repeated use of the words “sorry” and “apologise” tried to extricate Sinn Féin from the mire of the Michael McMonagle controversy – is it enough?
Claire Hanna has now officially taken charge of the SDLP, can she turn around the party’s fortunes? And does Mike Nesbitt have a similar task ahead of him as he returns to the UUP driving seat?

Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Suzanne Breen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
26 min
October 06, 2024 UDA soap opera continues, Spence flees, Beachball’s back on Sandy Row and ’Ards boss fined for running a checkpoint
Former-UDA man Jim Spence, who has always denied links with the murder of solicitor Pat Finucane, has sold his £275,000 house in West Belfast and fled to England. Billy ‘Beachball’ McCune, not believed to be a UDA member at all, has returned to his home stomping ground after making a deal with the UDA’s Jackie McDonald. Newtownards UDA boss Adrian Price has been in court following his failure to stop for a police checkpoint amidst a feud that ripped through North Down. The Sunday World’s Northern Editor, Richard Sullivan, reports on the recent dealings of this anarchic terror and crime group.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
26 min
October 03, 2024 Michelle O’Neill and Sinn Féin struggle with questions over how they dealt with child sex offender
Michelle O’Neill says she’s “aghast and horrified” that two Sinn Féin press officers, including their top spin doctor, gave references to a former colleague then under investigation for child sex offices – both have now resigned. Michael McMonagle has now plead guilty to 14 charges despite earlier denials and failing to turn up in court on two occasions. Sinn Féin suspended him as soon as they learned of the investigation, but he later gained employment with the British Heart Foundation, having provided the references.
Guest: Sam McBride

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
31 min
October 01, 2024 Arlene Foster: How we almost booked her as a renewable energy expert for 10k
Former First Minister Arlene Foster has been advertising herself as a renewable energy expert at a cost of more than £10,000 a day. The Belfast Telegraph went undercover to get a quote for her services, the agency said that hiring the Baroness for a full day would cost “in the region of £10,000”. The decision to advertise her as a ‘renewable energy expert’ comes as a surprise to many due to her involvement in the RHI scandal.
Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
25 min
September 29, 2024 “Michael Collins disappeared far more people than Martin McGuinness’ comrades in the Provisional IRA”
During the Troubles, Republicans ‘disappeared’ 17 people - murdering them, and secretly burying them. But the Provisional IRA and the INLA were not the first republicans, or indeed combatants in Ireland, to use this method, it started long before the Troubles. Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc has spent over a decade researching the fate of ‘the disappeared’ and how this phenomenon came about . He joined Ciarán Dunbar.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
28 min
September 27, 2024 “We sold our house for this”: Cruise passengers ‘stranded’ in Belfast before 3-year long trip
A cruise ship which has been docked in Belfast for four months has been facing repeated faults, leaving 600 passengers stranded in Northern Ireland. Villa Vie Residences’ ship ‘Odyssey' gives passengers the chance to live full time on a cruise ship. Randy and Kit Cassingham sold their home to embark on the trip - they join Olivia Peden to give their opinions on Belfast, their first July marching season, and what they expect from life at sea.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
19 min
September 26, 2024 Loyalists call on DUP education minister to block integrated Irish school in east Belfast
The LCC includes representatives of the UVF, UDA and the Red Hand Commando. A political row has developed following a decision by the DUP Education Minister Paul Givan to meet them. During that meeting the LCC demanded he halt plans to build an integrated Irish medium school in east Belfast. Supporters of ‘Scoil na Seolta’ say the language is for all, and so is the school. But for many loyalists, the school is unwanted, unneeded and unwelcome.
Niamh Campbell told the story to Ciarán Dunbar.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
24 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…