

Assume Nothing
BBC Radio Ulster
The teams assume nothing as they examine events through fresh eyes.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 22, 2022 • 17min
Episode 1: The Silver Sisterhood
Ireland, 1984. St Brides School for young ladies opens its doors in the quiet fishing village of Burtonport, county Donegal - but all is not as it seems.The mistresses and ‘girls’ appear to believe that they live not only in a different century, but in an entirely different world.They are The Silver Sisterhood, a deeply religious group of women who worship a feminine God. They wear Victorian clothing, reject modernity and live by candlelight – but mysteriously they also begin to release a series of strange computer games apparently based on their unique school and unusual beliefs. Their strange way of life soon gives rise to rumour and speculation, but is any of it true - or is their alternative lifestyle simply fuelling suspicion?Who are these women, what are they doing in Burtonport - and what is really going behind the doors of St Brides?Produced and presented by Conor McKay
Executive Editor: Andy Martin
A BBC Northern Ireland Production

Oct 22, 2022 • 21min
Episode 4: The Headmistress
Ireland, 1984. St Brides School for young ladies opens its doors in the quiet fishing village of Burtonport, county Donegal - but all is not as it seems.Patrick in Burtonport recalls visiting the house to photograph images of the Silver Sisterhood’s new computer game, The Secret of St Brides - but he is surprised by what he finds inside.Conor finally makes contact with the mysterious headmistress of St Brides School and she agrees to talk about her time in Burtonport – what can she reveal about the Silver Sisters time in the house?Produced and presented by Conor McKay
Executive Editor: Andy Martin
A BBC Northern Ireland Production

Oct 22, 2022 • 23min
Episode 6: The Maze
Ireland, 1984. St Brides School for young ladies opens its doors in the quiet fishing village of Burtonport, county Donegal - but all is not as it seems.As the maid starts her new life at Brides, she finds the work physically demanding but spiritually rewarding. However, when a much-loved house keeper leaves the community, the maid soon becomes unhappy and decides to leave – but events take a dark turn.After a court case and a dispute over ownership of the house, the Silver Sisterhood leave Burtonport – where do they go, and what happens to the mysterious headmistress?Produced and presented by Conor McKay
Executive Editor: Andy Martin
A BBC Northern Ireland Production

Aug 20, 2022 • 26min
Episode 1: A Nightmare About to Dawn
Irish journalist Martin Barry was only 30 years old when he died at the Dignitas Clinic in Zurich, accompanied by his ex girlfriend Laura McDaid.The night before he died, he asked Laura to fulfil his last request: to track down his birth mother and pass on a message.Martin had been born in a mother and baby home in Co. Cork in Ireland. He'd never met his birth mother.Twenty years later, along with her producer Kerry Jamison, Laura embarks on a search that will take her from the top of this island to the bottom and across the Irish sea, to fulfil the promise she made to Martin.

Aug 20, 2022 • 26min
Episode 2: Absolutely Terrified
BBC reporter Laura McDaid held Martin Barry's hand as he died at the Dignitas Clinic. 17 years later, she begins a search to fulfil his last request: to find his birth mother and pass on a message.To move forward with the search, Laura first needs to explain why it's taken her 17 years to have the strength to search for Martin's mother.She takes Kerry back to the aftermath of Martin's death, and how it was handled by the press at the time.Will the records provide her with any further information?

Aug 20, 2022 • 26min
Episode 3: The Prodigal Son
Laura McDaid held her ex's hand as he died at the Dignitas Clinic. Seventeen years later, she begins a search to fulfil his last request: to find his birth mother and pass on a message.As the search intensifies, Laura speaks to a Bessborough survivor who tells her that she suspects records were deliberately falsified at the institution.As Laura makes contact with a woman she think's could be Martin's mother, a chance phone call could change everything.

Aug 20, 2022 • 26min
Episode 4: The Celebrity
Laura McDaid is searching for the birth mother of a close friend who died 17 years ago at Dignitas.As concerns surface that his birth mother may have already told him she didn't want to meet, Laura explores what rejection can feel like with another Bessborough survivor. Could a DNA link to a UK celebrity be on the cards?

Aug 20, 2022 • 26min
Episode 5: Bleeding from the Ears
Laura McDaid is searching for the birth mother of a close friend who died 17 years ago at Dignitas.She revisits a story Martin worked on 20 years ago - and speaks to his source for that story. Might it hold some clues?

Aug 20, 2022 • 26min
Episode 6: The Final Throw
Laura McDaid is trying to fulfil a last request to her friend, Irish journalist Martin Barry to track down his birth mother and pass on a message. Martin died at the Dignitas Clinic in Zurich 17 years ago.Laura visits Bessborough to see for herself where Martin was born.His adoption file feels like the last chance she has to find her, will it provide the information that she needs?

May 21, 2022 • 29min
Episode 1: The First Good Source
Dramatised memoir of a Special Branch officer operating at the outset of the Northern Ireland Troubles. James (not his real name) runs a network of informers and sources operating along the border area of South Down and South Armagh during the worst years of violence. For both handler and source, it’s a matter of life and death. Some names, dates and details have been changed to protect the living.Episode 1: The First Good SourceJames sees an opportunity when a young IRA volunteer is arrested on a burglary charge. Working together, they are soon disrupting IRA activity – but it’s a high stakes game, and the informer’s life is soon in grave danger. Cast:James – Jonathan Harden
Interviewer – Michael Patrick
Source – Marty Maguire
Military Intelligence Officer – Paul Mallon
Army Radio Voice – Marty MaguireA BBC Northern Ireland Production.


