The BelTel

Stealing lemonade at the age of 9, being locked up in Mountjoy prison at the age of 15, to masterminding some of the country’s biggest heists in his twenties – we look at the life and crimes of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch. The 'Monk' walked free from court after being acquitted of the gangland murder of Kinahan associate David Byrne in 2016.Host: Fionnán Sheahan  Guest: Paul WilliamsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The brazen Regency attack in February 2016 marked the beginning of a gangland war on a scale never before seen on the streets of Dublin, with a death toll that would eventually reach 18. While much has been said about that fateful day, there's one journalist who is uniquely qualified to speak about it - because he was there. As the verdict looms in the trial of Gerry 'the Monk' Hutch, Irish Independent News Correspondent Robin Schiller shares his first-hand account of the attack and its aftermath.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall is serving his sentence for facilitating the murder of David Byrne. We look at the rise and fall of the state's star witness in the notorious Regency trial, and ask if the country's most popular party, Sinn Féin can shake off his association? Host: Siobhán Maguire. Guest: Fionnán Sheahan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that Mo Mowlam wanted Wimbledon to become the Belfast Dons and bring Premier League football to Northern Ireland?   It never happened but peace did bring Ice Hockey to the city.   But it hasn’t been plain sailing, the Good Friday Agreement exacerbated the Republic of Ireland/Northern Ireland football eligibility row with several young players from a nationalist background opting to play under the tricolour.   Steven Beacom, Declan Bogue and Jonathan Bradley join Keith Baille.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

South Armagh republican Colm Murphy has died at the age of 70. He had been convicted but later acquitted of involvement in the Omagh bombing. He was later found liable in a civil court for the 1998 attack which killed 29 people. Murphy was at various points a member of the Provisional IRA, the INLA, the Real IRA, and was linked to the Óglaigh na hÉireann dissident group. The Belfast Telegraph’s security correspondent Allison Morris profiles him and explains what he was like in person. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19-year-old Columba McVeigh was living in Dublin in 1975. The Tyrone man left his flat on Halloween night to buy some cigarettes and was never seen by his family and friends again. He had been kidnapped by the IRA, before being murdered and secretly buried. Why did the IRA murder Columba McVeigh, why did they hide his body and what role did MI5 play in his story? Ciarán Dunbar spoke to Columba’s brother – Oliver McVeigh. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twelve years ago, Michaela McAreavey was murdered in her hotel room while on honeymoon in Mauritius. She had married John McAreavey just 12 days earlier. Two hotel workers went on trial but were acquitted of the crime.Tabitha Monahan speaks to yhe Belfast Telegraph Crime Correspondent Allison Morris, who recently returned to Mauritius, about the case and continued search for justice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Johnny ‘Mad Dog’ Adair was on the top of his game.He was feared by nationalists and ruled the Shankill.Then he lost it all and was forced to flee in the night by his former comrades. The Sunday Life’s Ciaran Barnes tells the story of how Adair lost his power and was banished from Belfast.This podcast was originally published in October 2022.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Johnny Adair once ruled Belfast's Lower Shankill. The UDA commander struck fear into the hearts of nationalists and his loyalist rivals, as he intended.Known as 'Mad Dog', his activities were no secret, he revelled in his status as a hardman and celebrity paramilitary enforcer - but how did he get that power and status?The Sunday Life’s Ciaran Barnes tells the story of how Adair rose to power.This podcast was originally published in October 2022.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Freddie Scappaticci, the informer known as Stakeknife, has died.He was double agent at the heart of the IRA, the man in charge of executing informers was working for the British. Who was he, why did he turn and who was he really working for?Allison Morris talks to Ciarán Dunbar.This podcast was originally published in July 2022.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.