The BelTel

The owner of a controversial Ballymena based ‘brand building’ company has announced its closure. FBA Brand Builder was run by 34-year-Darren Campbell – he charged clients for his guidance on selling products to the US Market on Amazon. The Belfast Telegraph has revealed some questionable practices, including encouraging clients to lie on credit card applications and facilitating paid amazon reviews.  Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph’s Liam Tunney, who broke the story.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a speech on America’s so-called ‘Liberation Day’, Trump accused the global community of stealing American jobs and ‘ransacking’ US industry. The President has imposed tariffs of 20% on goods from the EU, while goods from the UK, including NI, will be subject to a 10% tariff. What do the tariffs mean for Northern Ireland, how has Brexit changed our situation, and could the tariffs start a global trade war?  Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph Business editor Margaret Canning.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Internment was a key event in the history of the Troubles; In an effort to deal with increasing violence Stormont and the British Government decided to introduce internment. Almost 2,000 people were interned up until its end in December 1975 – imprisoned without a fair trial. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Dr Peter McLoughlin and by Dr Martin McCleery.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The assassination of US President JFK in November 1963 shocked the world and has inspired conspiracy theories for over 60 years. President Trump has ordered the release of classified files from the period, which have revealed that the CIA kept files on both Ireland and the UK’s military intelligence services, despite being close allies. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph reporter Abdullah Sabri and Ulster University lecturer in international history Dr Robert McNamara.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One year ago, 29th of March, journalists began to realise that a massive political story was breaking - -the DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson had deleted his website and social media accounts. Then a statement emerged from the DUP, Donaldson had resigned and had been suspended from the party after being charged with historical sexual offences. Jeffrey Donaldson’s wife, Eleanor Donaldson, was also facing criminal charges – all of which they both strenuously denied. How did that day play out, what was the DUP reaction and how have they DUP handled it since?  Belfast Telegraph Political Editor Suzanne Breen joins Ciarán Dunbar.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Captain Robert Nairac was meeting an informer when he was abducted and murdered, secret military documents indicate. Those files, discovered by the Belfast Telegraph’s Sam McBride, also show that the Ministery of Defence was desperate that that fact would not be revealed, so desperate that it would rather his killers walked free from court than answer questions about what he was up to. Robert Nairac was murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in 1977. Since his disappearance, he has become a mythical figure shrouded in secrecy and rumour. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride to reveal some of what he has found in London’s Kew archives.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Conor McGregor to Andrew Tate, why are fans and prominent figures in the MMA and sports-combat world embracing extreme politics? Are teenage boys in the sights of the far right? And what threat does the manosphere pose to society?Host: Ellen Coyne             Guest: Dave Hanratty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary wants a two-drink airport limit as his airline threatens a clampdown as it tries to recover losses against disruptive passengers. Many of us simply love ‘airport pints’ but alcohol is a major source of trouble on planes. There have been a plethora of incidents involving air rage and disruptive passengers in recent years, some resulting in criminal convictions and even emergency landings. Belfast Telegraph reporter Kurtis Reid and Belfast Telegraph columnist Fionola Meredith join Ciarán Dunbar.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dublin secondary school Coláiste Éanna has been embroiled in controversy after it was claimed online that one of its teachers is the notorious GAA catfish. Teacher Niamh Farrell denies being the catfish who deceived at least 40 people, including multiple Ulster GAA players. But an investigation at the school found that she confided in its principal that she was the catfish. She has now won an injunction to stop the school disciplining her.   Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Irish Independent’s Ellen Coyne.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NI21 appeared to many as a great idea. But the enthusiasm and positivity did not last long and the party’s collapse into chaos was a spectacular one. Just a day before the party’s first electoral test in 2014 – the party decides that they are now agnostic on the issue of the border, it was then torn apart by controversy and infighting. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride to talk about how the wheels came off NI21, where the party’s leaders are now, and if a liberal unionist party could ever work.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.