The BelTel

The early hours of the morning on the 12th of November 1952, a judge’s daughter, Patricia Curran, is found dead in the garden of her family home. She had been stabbed 37 times.  The BelTel looks at the shocking killing and how Ian Hay Gordon Gordon, a young Scot doing his national service in the RAF, was intimidated into signing a false confession, frightened that his mother would find out about his sex life.  Ciarán Dunbar is joined by journalist Stephen Gordon, who’s been fascinated by this horrific murder for a long time.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam McBride, the Northern Ireland editor for the Belfast Telegraph, dives into the shock resignation of Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie. He discusses the internal strife that led to Beattie's departure and its ripple effects on party dynamics. McBride highlights the complexities of leadership within a decentralized party structure and the significance of honesty in politics. The conversation also explores the challenges of succession and the uncertain future of unionist politics, raising questions about potential mergers or new party formations.

The body of Portadown woman Margaret Perry was found a year after she went missing, the bodies of three men the IRA itself accused of her murder were found three days later. The IRA also accused them, all members or former members, of being British agents. Their bodies were found by different roadsides in Northern Ireland’s ‘murder triangle’. Allison Morris joins Ciarán Dunbar. This podcast was originally published in January 2024.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Breen, who had a notable collision with the infamous James Mitchell, delves into the dark legacy of the 'Glenanne Gang,' which was responsible for up to 120 murders, including the notorious Dublin Monaghan bombings. He sheds light on Mitchell's complex ties to loyalist paramilitaries and rogue security forces. Breen shares chilling insights into Mitchell's role in armed collusion and the murky world of complicity that allowed violence to flourish in Northern Ireland. This discussion not only highlights historical events but also the enduring impact of those times.

In this captivating discussion, Martin Breen, editor of Sunday Life, and Martin Doyle, author of 'Dirty Linen,' shed light on Tullylish's dark past as part of Northern Ireland's 'murder triangle.' They explore the chilling legacy of Robin 'The Jackal' Jackson, detailing his brutal role in paramilitary violence. The conversation dives into the impact of these events on the community, revealing personal narratives of victims and the complexities of Catholic-Protestant relations during a time of upheaval.

The Labour government has extended a ban on puberty blockers in the UK mainland. However, Stormont's Department of Health has confirmed that puberty blockers for children will remain legal in Northern Ireland, meaning that NI could become a backdoor for getting the drugs into Britain. Olivia Peden is joined by Sam McBride who wrote the story, Helen Joyce and Alexa Moore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The new Irish League season gets underway this weekend with Tiernan Lynch’s Larne chasing their third Sports Direct Premiership title in as many years.Can anyone stop them? Host Keith Bailie is joined by Chief Sportswriter Steven Beacom and Belfast Telegraph columnist and legendary Linfield manager David Jeffrey to discuss disappointing performances in European competition, the format of the top flight and give their verdict on each of the 12 Premiership teams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An anti immigration protest on Saturday afternoon has resulted in three nights of violence across South Belfast. Several businesses have been attacked, including a supermarket owned by a Syrian refugee and one man has been seriously assaulted. With further protests planned for this weekend, policing is in the spotlight. Alison Morris is joined by Belfast Telegraph visuals editor, Kevin Scott.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr John Kyle is a former deputy leader of the PUP, the UVF’s political wing. He represented the loyalist party on Belfast City Council for 16 years. He joined the party after being inspired by UVF leader Gusty Spence and PUP leader David Ervine’s vision to transform their communities. He joins Ciarán Dunbar.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this engaging discussion, John Connolly, a leader linked to the Continuity IRA, shares his controversial views on the Ukraine war, dubbing it a NATO-funded proxy conflict. The conversation reveals alarming allegations of the INLA receiving dark money from the Russian state, possibly fueling a rise in violent activities, including an attack on a charity. Connolly also delves into historical ties between the INLA and Russia, shedding light on the broader implications of foreign influence on Northern Irish politics and the complexity of misinformation surrounding these issues.