The BelTel

Belfast Telegraph
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Feb 3, 2025 • 31min

Why was Big Brother's Seany O’Kane turned back from Moscow?

Former Big Brother contestant Seány O’Kane has been denied entry to Russia. O’Kane’s the owner of a popular Telegram platform for foreigners in Russia named ‘Moscow Pals’. Seany O’Kane has lived and worked in the country for years but was turned back from Moscow Airport before Christmas.  Moscow Pals also has a channel dealing with financial questions arising from how to extract finances from Russia. The Russian authorities take a keen interest in it.   Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Jason Corcoran. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jan 30, 2025 • 36min

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

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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Jan 29, 2025 • 31min

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

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jan 27, 2025 • 25min

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

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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Jan 24, 2025 • 41min

The 'GAA Catfish': "She would have needed at least 25 different phone numbers to pull this off"

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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Jan 22, 2025 • 29min

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

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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Jan 20, 2025 • 36min

Sorcha Eastwood takes on Andrew and Tristan Tate

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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Jan 17, 2025 • 26min

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

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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Jan 15, 2025 • 30min

Allison Morris: John George’s return flight from Alicante was “booked after he was dead”

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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Jan 14, 2025 • 29min

Jarlath Burns and Rory Gallagher row: Does the GAA have a problem with double standards?

A fierce clash between GAA president Jarlath Burns and former Derry manager Rory Gallagher has led to the threat of legal action and a split in public opinion. Was Burns right to raise his concerns about Gallagher’s potential appointment to a new gig? Kevin Doyle is joined by Colm Keys, Fionnán Sheahan, and Tessa Fleming. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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