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The BelTel

Latest episodes

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Feb 24, 2025 • 23min

William Hampton: The eccentric English millionaire who left his wealth to Sinn Féin

William Hampton was a nomadic millionaire famously described by Leo Varadkar “a vagabond who lived in a caravan”. Hampton left most of his fortune to Sinn Fein. Unsurprisingly – the party were happy to take the money, and equally unsurprisingly their rivals were quick to criticise that, especially given that the money went north. Now Sinn Féin is set to take in over £80k after a derelict cottage in County Carlow was found to belong to Hampton. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph’s Andrew Madden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feb 21, 2025 • 24min

‘King Con’: Belfast conman Cartmill who scammed Stephen Nolan and Eamonn Holmes faces jail

Celebrity conman Jay Cartmill is facing prison after pleading guilty to 46 new fraud charges, taking his total number of criminal convictions to more than 200. Cartmill, who told Stephen Nolan in 2015 that he was changing his ways, has confessed to masterminding another scam which is believed to total close to £1m. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Sunday Life’s Ciaran Barnes.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feb 19, 2025 • 32min

The East Tyrone IRA, Loughgall, Clonoe, and the SAS

A coroner’s ruling the SAS was unjustified in shooting dead four IRA men in Tryone has been controversial with unionist politicians and British Army veterans. The four IRA men were shot dead in Clonoe in 1992, minutes after attacking Coalisland RUC Station. All four were members of the IRA’s East Tyrone brigade – one of the organisations most active. But it was also one which lost many of its own members at the hands of the security forces, particularly the SAS. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by author of ‘Death in the Fields: The IRA and East Tyrone’ Jon Trigg, who served in east Tyrone as a British Army officer.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feb 17, 2025 • 26min

Ivan Little on the IRA’s La Mon Bombing and the victims’ quest for justice

Twelve people died when the IRA fired bombed the La Mons House hotel on the 17 February 1978. Scores were injured, some horrifically. The Provisional IRA claimed responsibility for the attack, it apologised for the deaths - claiming the bombers had planned to give adequate warning – but were thwarted by a broken phone box. Journalist Ivan Little’s first shift as a news editor was on that day and has worked on the story ever since – he joins Ciarán Dunbar to tell the story.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feb 14, 2025 • 27min

The Official IRA’s ‘training’ trip to North Korea

North Korea is one of the world’s most secretive states – known for its dictators who are treated like gods and an iron-clad grip on their citizens. Back in 1988, six members of the Official IRA made their way to North Korea to receive state of the art training – some were expelled from the country after a drunken brawl. The unusual alliance came as secretary general of the Irish Workers Party, Sean Garland, allegedly laundered millions of fake dollars for the Kim dynasty. Olivia Peden is joined by journalist and author John Sweeney, who has visited the strange nation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feb 12, 2025 • 31min

Allison Morris: The origins of the PSNI and the challenge of recruiting Catholics

23 years after its emergence, the PSNI is still less than one third Catholic and the numbers attempting to join are according to the Chief Constable "below what's needed". Its latest recruitment campaign attracted a total of 3,500 applications but only 27% are perceived to be Catholic. The PSNI was born out of the Patten reforms of the old RUC but the changes which reforms brought about were painful for many who saw them as a betrayal. The controversial 50/50, Catholic / Protestant recruitment policy was seen as discrimination against Protestants. Allison Morris joins Ciarán Dunbar to explain the background of the PSNI and the current difficulties it faces.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feb 10, 2025 • 22min

Ciaran Barnes: Why UDA shot pensioner after Bulgarian brothel raid in Coleraine

A Coleraine pensioner, who uses a mobility scooter, was shot five times in the arms and legs by the UDA. But what possible excuse would the loyalist paramilitaries have for carrying out such a heinous act? The attack came just 48 hours after the PSNI had raided a brothel in the town which it publicly connected to the UDA. That brothel was run by Bulgarian pimps and police say they were paying protection money to loyalists. The two events appear to be connected. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sunday Life's Ciaran Barnes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feb 7, 2025 • 29min

Top Belfast school Methody apologises after rugby hazing leaves boy ‘traumatised’

Methodist College Belfast’s insurers have been stung for £50,000 after a Carryduff boy sued over hazing at rugby camp. The boy was allegedly forced to strip naked and have his head shaved. Gabriel McConkey also claims he also witnessed other boys perform acts on a sex toy. He was also filmed in what the family say were “degrading” videos which left him “traumatised”. The school has apologised and has reviewed how such trips are supervised. What is hazing and does rugby have a particular problem with it?  Belfast Telegraph sports reporter Adam McKendry joins Ciarán Dunbar.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feb 6, 2025 • 52min

How I caught the catfish who took my identity

It all began in December, when an ex-girlfriend of Irish independent journalist John Meagher sent him screenshots of a fake dating-app profile using a photo of him. This would lead him on an extraordinary journey to find out who his catfish was – the answer to which would shock everyone involved. Host: Ellen Coyne. Guest: John Meagher Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feb 5, 2025 • 38min

“The starting point is to is to name people”: Sam McBride talks to legacy chief Sir Declan Morgan

Sir Declan Morgan was formerly Northern Ireland’s most senior judge. The Londonderry man now heads the Legacy Commission. He describes the role not only as one of helping families get the truth about how relatives died but also about revealing the reality of political violence and the Troubles.  Sir Declan tells the Belfast Telegraph’s Northern Ireland Editor Sam McBride he won't flinch from naming those behind the atrocities.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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