The BelTel

According to a report by the Equality Commission, Flags and sectarian grievances are ‘hindering NI boxing’. The review comes after boxer Daryl Clarke claimed he was excluded from Northern Ireland’s 2022 Commonwealth Games team because of his identity.  The report also cites the continued display of flags, emblems and identity symbols at events, and a lack of formal procedures for reporting harassment and discrimination.  Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph journalist Niamh Campbell.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Soldier F has been cleared of two murders on Bloody Sunday. A judge in Belfast has ruled the evidence against the veteran fell below the standard needed. Soldier F was found not guilty of the murders of James Wray and William McKinney both shot dead by soldiers on January 30,1972. He was also cleared of attempting to murder Michael Quinn, Patrick O’Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, and an unknown person. He had pleaded not guilty to the seven counts. Predictably, the verdict has divided opinions.  Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph’s security correspondent, Allison Morris.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With days to go in the two-horse race to the Irish Presidency, who is likely to come out on top, and what could the winner mean for Northern Ireland? And up at Stormont, relations between politicians have become quite strained recently. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Irish Independent Politics Correspondent John Downing, and by Belfast Telegraph Assistant News Editor, Brett Campbell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Many people in the south have no northern friends'Some clinging to the NHS... but people live longer under Republic's systemHow can you argue for and against anything at the same time?The ‘conversation’ on a united Ireland is now constant, whether it's wanted or not. Despite unionists and others saying campaigning for a border poll is not appropriate, nationalists continue to push for it. Sam McBride and Fintan O’Toole are amongst the island of Ireland’s best-known journalists. They have written a new book entitled ‘For and against a united Ireland’, in which they both write a chapter making the case for and against unity. They joined Ciarán Dunbar.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.