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The BelTel

Latest episodes

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Nov 8, 2024 • 11min

EXTRA: Ex-Sinn Féin man McMonagle jailed for child sex offences

Ex-Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle have been sentenced to nine months in custody for child sex offences. In one incident, he believed he was chatting online to a 12-year-old girl, who was actually a police decoy. The 42-year-old previously pleaded guilty to 14 charges. The case was one of a series of controversies which rocked Sinn Féin in recent months. Andrew Madden reports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Nov 8, 2024 • 26min

Enniskillen Bombing: "30 people involved, yet Nobody has been brought to justice”, Denzil McDaniel

The Enniskillen Bomb in November 1987 sent shockwaves across the world. An IRA bomb at a Remembrance Day service in the town killed 11 civilians, including three married couples. 63 people were injured, and a twelfth victim died after being in a coma for 13 years because of his injuries. No one has ever been convicted of the attack. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by former editor of the Impartial Reporter and author of ‘Enniskillen: The Remembrance Sunday Bombing’ Denzil McDaniel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Nov 6, 2024 • 40min

Trump triumphant by a landslide – how and why did he win the American people?

Donald Trump has resoundingly won the US Presidency. He is now the oldest person to win the presidency, the only convicted felon to do so, and the only won to have incited an insurrection. But not of that matters now – the American people have spoken. How did the night play out, how surprised are we, and what does it mean for Northern Ireland and the Republic? Keith Bailie, Brett Campbell, Margaret Canning and Olivia Peden join Ciarán Dunbar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Nov 6, 2024 • 32min

Loughinisland Massacre: Trevor Birney on the PSNI’s "Stasi" tactics, and his arrest

Loughinisland is a small parish in Co. Down. Its name has become synonymous with the infamous Loughinisland Massacre, when six were killed by the UVF in a pub while watching Ireland play Italy in the 1994 World Cup. Trevor Birney helped make a documentary about the murders – but in 2018, he was arrested by PSNI over material used in the film, alongside his colleague Barry Mccaffrey. Six years later, they’re at the center of a major tribunal against the authorities over keeping surveillance of local Journalists. He joins Ciarán Dunbar.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Nov 3, 2024 • 29min

Alf McCreary: Journalism, a lucky break, Ian Paisley and faith

Alf McCreary walked into the Belfast Telegraph on September 1, 1964 – and asked for a job. 60 years on, he's still writing for the paper. Alf’s career has given him many insights into our society and its divisions. He charted the evolution of the Rev Ian Paisley, and he wrote a biography of Gordon Wilson, whose daughter Marie was killed in the Enniskillen bombing.   He spoke to Ciarán Dunbar about his life in journalism.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Nov 1, 2024 • 29min

The UVF and the savage '70s: Shankill Butchers, Gusty Spence, and the Dublin Monaghan Bombings

The UVF began the 1970s with a campaign to cleans Catholics and Catholic owned businesses from Protestant dominated areas. With the IRA’s campaign at its height, the UVF moved from targeting nationalist and moderate political figures to simple sectarian murder – many of its victims just teenagers. By the mid-70s a notorious group emerged from the UVF which brought the savagery of the troubles to a new level – the Shankill Butchers. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by author and historian Aaron Edwards.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Oct 31, 2024 • 26min

BONUS: The 'Angel of Death' who terrified Irish town and captivated the world

Back in 1995, Fr Michael Kennedy took to the pulpit in Dungarvan, County Waterford to give his Sunday sermon. He warned locals that an “Angel of Death” was in their midst killing vulnerable men. What ensued sparked a global sensation.Host: Dave Hanratty, Guest: Ellen Coyne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Oct 29, 2024 • 32min

Alexander McCartney: “Nothing but a disgusting child predator”

Alexander McCartney, from Newry, is one of the most prolific paedophile ‘catfishes’ the world has seen to date. A Judge said his crimes of “sadism and depravity” were “on a par with murder”. His actions led to the death of an innocent little girl, Cimarron Thomas, and subsequently, her father. Kurtis Reid was in court. Just a note to say – some listeners might find the contents of the episode of the BelTel disturbing.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Oct 28, 2024 • 27min

Incels exposed: “Men aren’t entitled to sex, but women aren’t owed safety”

The word ‘Incel’ is short for ‘involuntarily celibate’. They’re primarily men, who believe they’re doomed to be alone, blaming society, women, and sometimes themselves for their isolation. The explosion of the ‘Incel’ community online has led to multiple forums, chats and groups based on their beliefs, which have led to disastrous consequences. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph’s Kurtis Reid and Olivia Peden, who went undercover on one of these forums.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Oct 24, 2024 • 34min

Ireland’s gang wars: How the Kinahans’ Belfast bound assassin ‘The Butcher’ was caught

The Kinahan cartel is Ireland’s most powerful crime gang, and one half of its most notorious gang war. After a failed hit on boss Daniel Kinahan, the cartel recruited a team of killers to retaliate against the Hutch gang. One of the men they hired was Estonian Imre ‘The Butcher’ Arakas – but the eccentric hitman was soon caught. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by crime editor with the Irish Sun and co-author of ‘Kinahan Assassins’, Stephen Breen, to tell the story of the Kinahan-Hutch feud, its victims and its hitmen.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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