Assume Nothing

In a tiny apartment in San Francisco, lives an apparently ordinary, elderly man, with only the shirt on his back, a cheap plastic watch and one pair of shoes. Few know who he is, or what he was. This is the story of the backroom broker, who, through brown envelopes and the handover of billions, may just have changed the course of history. Some say he was recruited at a young age by the secret service, others tell a very different tale. His activities were shrouded in secrecy and wrapped in a fortune. Roma Downey tries to piece together the story of this man - as told by the people in his life from close family members to those who met him in clandestine encounters.Presenter: Roma DowneyProducer: Cathy MooreheadExec Editor: Andy Martin

Across three serialised episodes, Ophelia Byrne follows a line on the map into the world of the Irish Boundary Commission – set up in 1924 to finalise the shape of the Irish border. It takes her into an improbable world of high statecraft, split communities, broken promises and many thousands of lives changed forever. Through original testimonies, secret letters and classified police reports, Ophelia tries to uncover what really happened up to the moment in 1925 when proposals for the new, final border line in Ireland hit crisis point. Then, both the British and Irish governments were prepared to take drastic action to have the Commission’s report ‘burned or buried’. Why? And what does it all mean now?Episode One: Drawing the LineWhen Ophelia travels from Northern Ireland to visit her parents in Galway, her mum tells her she’s worried about the potential for violence over the future of the border in Ireland. Tracing descendants of those who testified to the Irish Boundary Commission almost a century ago, Ophelia discovers what was at stake for those who back then made their case to be included on one side of the frontier or the other. But a search through previously classified government correspondence reveals one of the Commissioners may not have been playing by the rules. Presenter: Ophelia Byrne Producers: Conor Garrett & Ophelia Byrne Exec Editor: Andy Martin

Across three dramatic episodes, Ophelia Byrne follows a line on the map into the world of the Irish Boundary Commission – set up in 1924 to finalise the shape of the Irish border. It takes her into an improbable world of high statecraft, split communities, broken promises and many thousands of lives changed forever. Through original testimonies, secret letters and classified police reports, Ophelia tries to uncover what really happened up to the moment in 1925 when proposals for the new, final border line in Ireland hit crisis point. Then, both the British and Irish governments were prepared to take drastic action to have the Commission’s report ‘burned or buried’. Why? And what does it mean now?Episode Three: Burned or BuriedWith both the British and Irish governments in crisis, the final shape of the border in Ireland is agreed at speed and not in the way that's been anticipated. At the stroke of a pen, the fate and future national identity of thousands of lives is decided upon as the frontier is fixed. In the wake of Brexit, the Northern Ireland Protocol and with increasing calls for a referendum on Irish reunification, Ophelia realises the story of the Irish Boundary Commission could matter more now than ever before. Presenter: Ophelia ByrneProducers: Conor Garrett & Ophelia ByrneExec Editor: Andy Martin

Across three serialised episodes, Ophelia Byrne follows a line on the map into the world of the Irish Boundary Commission – set up in 1924 to finalise the shape of the Irish border. It takes her into an improbable world of high statecraft, split communities, broken promises and many thousands of lives changed forever. Through original testimonies, secret letters and classified police reports, Ophelia tries to uncover what really happened up to the moment in 1925 when proposals for the new, final border line in Ireland hit crisis point. Then, both the British and Irish governments were prepared to take drastic action to have the Commission’s report ‘burned or buried’. Why? And what does it all mean now?Episode Two: Secrecy's VeilOphelia finds out what happened next to some of the border communities which testified to the Irish Boundary Commission. As she hears stories of blocked roads and political tensions, a chance discovery in the archives makes Ophelia begin to question the entire Boundary Commission process. Presenter: Ophelia Byrne Producers: Conor Garrett & Ophelia Byrne Exec Editor: Andy Martin

A rape trial that changes everything, for the acquitted, the woman and the legal system. When two rugby players go on trial for rape, there will be dramatic consequences for years to come.January 2018. An Irish rugby international and his young team mate are on trial, accused of raping a woman at a house party. Outside the court house, there are queues of people trying to get in. Inside, scuffles break out to get the best seats in the packed public gallery. On Twitter, thousands are following the trial and sharing their opinions on who they think is telling the truth. After nine weeks, the two men are acquitted. Although the jury's not guilty verdict was unanimous, the public's verdict is not. Crowds gather on the streets of Belfast and Dublin, waving banners saying 'I Believe Her' whilst others say justice has been done. There are criticisms of how both sides were treated over social media. There are loud calls for change. A former high court judge is immediately commissioned to review the criminal justice system for sex offences in Northern Ireland. While Sir John Gillen does not comment on any specific trial, what he recommends astonishes politicians, lawyers and campaigners alike. When his proposals are taken up, Northern Ireland will find itself at the forefront of radical reform in the way rape trials are heard in the future.Written and produced by Sarah Mole Commissioning and Executive Editor: Andy Martin

A rape trial that changes everything, for the acquitted, the woman and the legal system. Two famous rugby players are in the news after being questioned by police about an alleged rape.January 2018. An Irish rugby international and his young team mate are on trial, accused of raping a woman at a house party. Outside the court house, there are queues of people trying to get in. Inside, scuffles break out to get the best seats in the packed public gallery. On Twitter, thousands are following the trial and sharing their opinions on who they think is telling the truth. After nine weeks, the two men are acquitted. Although the jury's not guilty verdict was unanimous, the public's verdict is not. Crowds gather on the streets of Belfast and Dublin, waving banners saying 'I Believe Her' whilst others say justice has been done. There are criticisms of how both sides were treated over social media. There are loud calls for change. A former high court judge is immediately commissioned to review the criminal justice system for sex offences in Northern Ireland. While Sir John Gillen does not comment on any specific trial, what he recommends astonishes politicians, lawyers and campaigners alike. When his proposals are taken up, Northern Ireland will find itself at the forefront of radical reform in the way rape trials are heard in the future.Written and produced by Sarah Mole Commissioning and Executive Editor: Andy Martin

A rape trial that changes everything, for the acquitted, the woman and the legal system. There's a long wait for the trial to begin. Other accusers and the accused tell us why waiting for a trial can be so agonising.January 2018. An Irish rugby international and his young team mate are on trial, accused of raping a woman at a house party. Outside the court house, there are queues of people trying to get in. Inside, scuffles break out to get the best seats in the packed public gallery. On Twitter, thousands are following the trial and sharing their opinions on who they think is telling the truth. After nine weeks, the two men are acquitted. Although the jury's not guilty verdict was unanimous, the public's verdict is not. Crowds gather on the streets of Belfast and Dublin, waving banners saying 'I Believe Her' whilst others say justice has been done. There are criticisms of how both sides were treated over social media. There are loud calls for change. A former high court judge is immediately commissioned to review the criminal justice system for sex offences in Northern Ireland. While Sir John Gillen does not comment on any specific trial, what he recommends astonishes politicians, lawyers and campaigners alike. When his proposals are taken up, Northern Ireland will find itself at the forefront of radical reform in the way rape trials are heard in the future.Written and produced by Sarah Mole Commissioning and Executive Editor: Andy Martin

A rape trial that changes everything, for the acquitted, the woman and the legal system. The trial is about to start and the public gallery is packed. An alleged rape victim in another case recounts preparing to speak in front of an audienceJanuary 2018. An Irish rugby international and his young team mate are on trial, accused of raping a woman at a house party. Outside the court house, there are queues of people trying to get in. Inside, scuffles break out to get the best seats in the packed public gallery. On Twitter, thousands are following the trial and sharing their opinions on who they think is telling the truth. After nine weeks, the two men are acquitted. Although the jury's not guilty verdict was unanimous, the public's verdict is not. Crowds gather on the streets of Belfast and Dublin, waving banners saying 'I Believe Her' whilst others say justice has been done. There are criticisms of how both sides were treated over social media. There are loud calls for change. A former high court judge is immediately commissioned to review the criminal justice system for sex offences in Northern Ireland. While Sir John Gillen does not comment on any specific trial, what he recommends astonishes politicians, lawyers and campaigners alike. When his proposals are taken up, Northern Ireland will find itself at the forefront of radical reform in the way rape trials are heard in the future.Written and produced by Sarah Mole Commissioning and Executive Editor: Andy Martin

A rape trial that changes everything, for the acquitted, the woman and the legal system. Cameras follow the defendants as they walk into court. Everyone’s talking about them. Another defendant tells us what it was like to be in the public eye as a suspected rapist.January 2018. An Irish rugby international and his young team mate are on trial, accused of raping a woman at a house party. Outside the court house, there are queues of people trying to get in. Inside, scuffles break out to get the best seats in the packed public gallery. On Twitter, thousands are following the trial and sharing their opinions on who they think is telling the truth. After nine weeks, the two men are acquitted. Although the jury's not guilty verdict was unanimous, the public's verdict is not. Crowds gather on the streets of Belfast and Dublin, waving banners saying 'I Believe Her' whilst others say justice has been done. There are criticisms of how both sides were treated over social media. There are loud calls for change. A former high court judge is immediately commissioned to review the criminal justice system for sex offences in Northern Ireland. While Sir John Gillen does not comment on any specific trial, what he recommends astonishes politicians, lawyers and campaigners alike. When his proposals are taken up, Northern Ireland will find itself at the forefront of radical reform in the way rape trials are heard in the future.Written and produced by Sarah Mole Commissioning and Executive Editor: Andy Martin

A rape trial that changes everything, for the acquitted, the woman and the legal system. If you're the alleged victim, you don't get a lawyer. A rape victim tells us what it's like to be scooped into a trial without anyone to give you legal advice.January 2018. An Irish rugby international and his young team mate are on trial, accused of raping a woman at a house party. Outside the court house, there are queues of people trying to get in. Inside, scuffles break out to get the best seats in the packed public gallery. On Twitter, thousands are following the trial and sharing their opinions on who they think is telling the truth. After nine weeks, the two men are acquitted. Although the jury's not guilty verdict was unanimous, the public's verdict is not. Crowds gather on the streets of Belfast and Dublin, waving banners saying 'I Believe Her' whilst others say justice has been done. There are criticisms of how both sides were treated over social media. There are loud calls for change. A former high court judge is immediately commissioned to review the criminal justice system for sex offences in Northern Ireland. While Sir John Gillen does not comment on any specific trial, what he recommends astonishes politicians, lawyers and campaigners alike. When his proposals are taken up, Northern Ireland will find itself at the forefront of radical reform in the way rape trials are heard in the future.Written and produced by Sarah Mole Commissioning and Executive Editor: Andy Martin