Episodes

  • The murder of Robert McCartney, the IRA cover-up, and his sisters’ fight for justice

    The murder of Robert McCartney, the IRA cover-up, and his sisters’ fight for justice
    Jan 30 2025


    Robert McCartney was murdered by members of the IRA 20 years ago, in January 2005. He died after being stabbed in the street outside a bar in Belfast, near the the Markets area. Like many other murders, the IRA hoped that it would eventually blow over, but it did not, it became an international news story and a political nightmare for Sinn Féin - all due to the tenacity of his sisters.

    Two of them tell Suzanne Breen what they thought of the subsequent criminal trials, and if they think they were used by politicians.


    This podcast was first published in March 2023.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    36 mins
  • ‘Operation Torpedo’: Allison Morris reveals new details on Bryson’s mole and the plotters inside the DUP

    ‘Operation Torpedo’: Allison Morris reveals new details on Bryson’s mole and the plotters inside the DUP
    Jan 29 2025

    In January 2024, opponents of the then DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, and the deal he struck with the government over post-Brexit arrangements put together a political plot - ‘Operation Torpedo’ - Its aim, to wreck the proposed deal. The wire-tapping and subsequent live-tweeting of a supposedly secret meeting caused a sensation. The key figure in the scheme was loyalist Jamie Bryson. Now The BelTel can reveal more details about the ‘operation’ and the number of people involved.

    Guest: Allison Morris.



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    31 mins
  • Rev Harold Good: Decommissioning IRA weapons, secret talks and Martin McGuinness

    Rev Harold Good: Decommissioning IRA weapons, secret talks and Martin McGuinness
    Jan 27 2025
    The Rev Harold Good witnessed the IRA decommissioning their arsenal of weapons. He facilitated secret talks at vital points during the Peace Process. In his new book he reveals his role as a back channel between the DUP and Sinn Féin. He joins Ciarán Dunbar to discuss his role as a peacemaker, his experiences with Ian Paisley and his extraordinary friendship with Martin McGuinness.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    25 mins
  • The 'GAA Catfish': "She would have needed at least 25 different phone numbers to pull this off"

    The 'GAA Catfish': "She would have needed at least 25 different phone numbers to pull this off"
    Jan 24 2025
    A woman dubbed ‘The GAA catfish’ is now the subject of an official police probe after the PSNI received a complaint alleging harassment. The infamous catfish, who is believed to be from Armagh, is believed to have deceived up to 40 people including a number of Ulster GAA players. Who is the GAA catfish, how did she trick so many county players, and why did they fall for it? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph’s Niamh Campbell and Kurtis Reid.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    41 mins
  • SAS: Rogue Heroes - Should ‘Paddy’ Mayne get the Victoria Cross and yet another terrible NI accent

    SAS: Rogue Heroes - Should ‘Paddy’ Mayne get the Victoria Cross and yet another terrible NI accent
    Jan 22 2025

    Newtownards man Paddy Mayne was an unconventional soldier – a founder member of the SAS. He is one of the central characters in the BBC’s hit war drama, SAS: Rogue Heroes


    But there is much controversy over how he has portrayed, foul mouthed, thuggish and with a very dodgy accent. Military historians in particular, say that’s not how he was.

    And this publicity has once again brought old questions to the fore – why was Mayne never given the Victoria Cross? And even, should he be given the honour posthumously?


    Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Andrew Madden.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    29 mins
  • Sorcha Eastwood takes on Andrew and Tristan Tate

    Sorcha Eastwood takes on Andrew and Tristan Tate
    Jan 20 2025

    Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood to start legal action against the Tate brothers over social media posts aimed at her. Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan are self-professed ‘Alpha Males’ and now aspiring politicians with their own ‘Bruv Party’. This spat comes as Elon Musk called Labour MP Jess Phillips a ‘Rape Genocide Apologist’. Meanwhile, as Donald Trump returns to the White House Mark Zuckerberg says Meta is going more ‘Masculine’. How did the Tates get so much influence and are the ‘tech bros’ really that much of a threat to democracy?

    Kurtis Reid and Margaret Canning join Ciarán Dunbar.



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    36 mins
  • The IRA’s infamous escape from Belfast’s prison ship, the HMS Maidstone

    The IRA’s infamous escape from Belfast’s prison ship, the HMS Maidstone
    Jan 17 2025

    HMS Maidstone, an ex-Royal Navy Ship, was used in the early 1970s to hold internees. In January 1972, a group of IRA prisoners swam 270 meters through an ice-cold Belfast Lough in a bid to escape, greasing themselves in butter to squeeze out of the ship’s portholes. They then hijacked a double-decker bus before slipping across the border, humiliating the authorities.


    Ciarán Dunbar is joined by James Durney, author of ‘Jailbreak: Great Irish Republican escapes’.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    26 mins
  • Allison Morris: John George’s return flight from Alicante was “booked after he was dead”

    Allison Morris: John George’s return flight from Alicante was “booked after he was dead”
    Jan 15 2025
    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.
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    30 mins