The BelTel

Imagine a sporting arena in which the taboo becomes the rule; where athletes aren’t tested, but encouraged to push the “chemical boundaries” of sport. Welcome to the Enhanced Games. It’s being sold as the future of sport, but not everyone’s buying it. Critics say it’s reckless and unethical. Dangerous, even. But who is footing the bill for the games, and what do they stand to benefit?Kevin Doyle is joined by Ciarán Lennon and the Athletic reporter Jacob Whitehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of Northern Ireland’s most powerful drug barons - ‘The Chocolate’ - can finally be unmasked. 48-year-old Newry man John McGivern has been forced to confess to a raft of drug charges, including dealing cocaine. He is the latest member of the criminal aristocracy brought down in the wake of the gangster phone network Encrochat getting hacked by French spies. ‘The Chocolate’ is now likely to be sent to Maghaberry but the question on Newry’s streets now is - who will fill the vacuum? Niamh Campbell is joined by Ciaran Barnes from the Sunday Life and by Allison Morris from the Belfast Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike Nesbitt has set out his vision for unionism at the UUP conference – but is he ready to pass the baton? Meanwhile at Stormont, arguments over cultural issues take centre stage once again, with the DUP and TUV seemingly at loggerheads.  And as Unionist anger grows over Belfast City Council’s new Irish language policies, with an east Belfast sign vandalised, we take a look at the stats and surveys behind dual language signage. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by The Belfast Telegraph’s political editor Suzanne Breen and journalist Liam Tunney.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Hunger Strike of 1981 saw a surge in violence that left scores killed. With no end to the Troubles imaginable and Sinn Féin emerging as a serious electoral force, constitutional nationalism decided it had to do something. Taoiseach Garrett Fitzgerald and the SDLP leader John Hume had a meeting of minds resulting in The New Ireland Forum. What does the Forum recommend?  Was it more than just a talking shop? And did it lead to the later Anglo-Irish Agreement?  Ciarán Dunbar spoke to historian Séan Ó Duibhir.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Malcolm McKeown was shot dead at point blank range in August 2019. McKeown was a career criminal, from a family steeped in violence - both his brothers had convictions for involvement in sectarian killings. Two men have now been convicted of his murder – linked to the Lurgan based organised crime gang the ‘Firm’. McKeown had been shot previously, and he knew he was under threat, his enemies were many, but a botched drug deal with the Firm sealed his fate.   Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph’s crime correspondent, Allison Morris Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Domestically, NI politics has been consumed by Irish language issues this week and unionists reel in the wake of Belfast City Council’s new bilingual policy – is it just the result of demographics? October is party conference season – why did Starmer not mention us in his speech? The SDLP is presenting itself as both an alternative to Alliance and pushing Irish unity, can they do both?   And finally, an MLA says the current Stormont executive is the worst one since devolution returned in 1998 – is he right?  Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph’s Liam Tunney, political commentator Alex Kane and by Ulster University lecturer David McCann.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The so-called Nama trial is underway in Belfast, more than a decade after police first began an exceptionally complex and significant investigaton. Frank Cushnahan – a former banker and senior businessman - and Ian Coulter, a former top solicitor, face charges linked to an allegedly vast fraud at the heart of Northern Ireland’s biggest ever property deal. They deny all the charges. The Belfast Telegraph’s Northern Ireland Editor Sam McBride has been in court for the first four days of what could be a three-month-long trial.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The peace process saw the release of paramilitary prisoners from HMP Maze, aka the Maze, the H-Blocks, Long Kesh, an Cheis Fhada. The maximum-security prison held thousands during the Troubles. It closed 25 years ago. Whilst some of the site has been redeveloped, political deadlock means much of the old prison lies derelict. Unionists fear that a museum on the site would become a “shrine to terrorism”. Allison Morris has been talking to former staff and inmates – some of whom continued to try and escape even during peace negotiations. She joins Ciarán Dunbar.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

50 years ago, a pair of desperate Provisional IRA members etched their names in history as a crime driven by personal passion went astray. Their victim however would be a much shrewder hostage than they expected, Dutch industrialist turned adopted Irish son; Dr Tiede Herrema. Herrema was held for ransom for 36 days, with the pair believing that the crime would put pressure on the British and Irish governments.Fionnán Sheehan is joined by Irish Independent Journalist Ralph Riegel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An Onlyfans model married to John George’s alleged killer has been arrested after allegedly being found with drugs in Spain. Belfast man John George’s body was discovered in January near Torrevieja. Madison Allen, now Madison Smyth, married murder suspect Jonny Smyth while he was on the run. Now, the 20-year-old Newtownabbey woman has been arrested after crystal meth and cannabis resin was found in the car she was driving. Belfast Telegraph crime correspondent Allison Morris joins Ciarán Dunbar with the latest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.