The BelTel

In September 1956 a Crossgar schoolboy made a shocking discovery after peering into a hen house and locking eyes with a child. The eyes belonged to seven-year-old Kevin Halfpenny – but he has been better known ever since as ‘the hen house boy’. Robbed of human interaction – he seemed to have learned his behavior from the chickens around him. His widowed mother Margaret Halfpenny was arrested and pleaded guilty to neglect. 70 years later, the heartbreaking story has been surrounded by folklore. Olivia Peden is joined by Belfast Telegraph Journalist Kurtis Reid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A senior DUP member set out their explicit support for violence - just weeks before the Good Friday Agreement. Files released in the National Archives in Kew have revealed the details of a politician’s comments to a government official - the individual wasn’t named but there were clues to their identity. It’s also been revealed that First Minister David Trimble was being paid thousands of pounds more than the deputy first Minister, Seamus Mallon, a year after the agreement – despite the roles being equal. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When many people hear the words ‘Holy Cross’ - short for Holy Cross Girls Primary School – the words take them back to a dark time. Holy Cross is a Catholic School in a loyalist area, Upper Ardoyne or Glenbryn. In 2001, community tensions boiled over and led to loyalist residents protesting nationalist parents from Ardoyne taking their kids to schools through their part of the area. That protest became notorious for its viciousness. Two clerics, one Catholic, one Protestant became synonymous with the events of Holy Cross and attempts to resolve them. They were Fr Aidan Troy and the Rev Norman Hamilton. Fr Troy joined Ciarán Dunbar in the BelTel studio with the Rev Hamilton down the line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998, but certain areas of Belfast felt little effect of peace. In September 2001, the Holy Cross dispute became one of the most disturbing flashpoints of the post-Agreement era. Holy Cross was a Catholic Girls' primary school but sat a few hundred yards inside the loyalist Glenbryn estate, in an area known as Upper Ardoyne. Within days of the school year starting, the world watched in horror as demonstrations involving abuse, spitting and a bomb attack ensued. What legacy has the Holy Cross dispute had, what impact did it have on the children involved, and why did protesters feel that they had no other choice? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Allison Morris and Olivia Peden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In September 2000 a body was found in a bog in Fermanagh. This was not a so called ‘bog-body’, sacrificed long ago - the body turned out to belong to local bus driver David Sullivan, who had gone missing 17 months earlier. There were things that were particularly disturbing about this discovery – the first of which was that Sullivan was the subject of dozens of allegations of child abuse, the second was that his body had no head. Olivia Peden is joined by Belfast Telegraph’s Andrew Madden and former DCI Norman Baxter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For much of the world, the Troubles in Northern Ireland were about Catholics and Protestants fighting each other. With those labels being used as shorthand to this day to describe members of the two main communities, it's easy to see why. But whilst for some the conflict clearly included a religious element, the role of religion is certainly up for debate. But what about peacebuilding – what role did Christians have in ending the conflict? Professor Gladys Ganiel’s research focuses on the role of religion in conflict in Northern Ireland. She has written a new short book – it's entitled Christianity and Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland. She joined Ciarán Dunbar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lauren Bradford-Clarke grew up believing her mother Lesley had taken her own life before finding out the truth – her father was a murderer. She was told her mum Lesley took her own life, eventually being told it was part of a ‘suicide’ pact with a man, Trevor Buchanan – the husband of the woman who would eventually become her stepmother. That woman was Hazel Stewart, how had been having an affair with Lauren’s father, Colin Howell. Ten 18-years after the deaths, Colin Howell walked into a police station and confessed to murdering them, implicating Steward as his partner in crime. Dr Lauren Bradford-Clarke, now a criminologist, spoke with the Belfast Telegraph’s Claire Williamson. This episode of The BelTel originally aired in February 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HMS Maidstone, an ex-Royal Navy Ship, was used in the early 1970s to hold internees. In January 1972, a group of IRA prisoners swam 270 meters through an ice-cold Belfast Lough in a bid to escape, greasing themselves in butter to squeeze out of the ship’s portholes. They then hijacked a double-decker bus before slipping across the border, humiliating the authorities. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by James Durney, author of ‘Jailbreak: Great Irish Republican escapes’. This episode was originally published in January 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Parades Commission acted wrongly in blocking Orangemen from seeking to march down a mainly nationalist road in Portadown, a court has ruled. Senior figures at Portadown District believe it now clears the way for Orangemen to walk back along the Garvaghy Road after almost 30 years, and intend to table a fresh application to march “in the near future”. But what are the origins of the dispute which almost brought Northern Ireland to the edge of anarchy? In this episode of The BelTel, originally published in July 2023, Ciarán Dunbar is joined by former BBC Journalist Mervyn Jess. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rev Ian Paisley rose to prominence as the face of hardline unionism but the first time some would have heard of him would have been in connection with Maura Lyons. In 1956, the west Belfast teenager was smuggled to Scotland by members of the Free Presbyterian Church. She was a 15-year-old Catholic girl who converted to Free Presbyterianism, in the face of the strong objections of her family. They accused the Rev Ian Paisley of “abduction”. At one point, he gathered his supporters in the Ulster Hall to listen to a recording of Maura’s voice at the Ulster Hall, renouncing her Catholic faith as a “religion of fear and dread”. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by journalist Malachi O’Doherty, who grew up in west Belfast. This episode was originally released in October 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the 13 October 1994, six weeks after the IRA announced a ‘complete cessation’, the Loyalist paramilitary groups declared their ceasefires. The UVF’s Gusty Spence announced loyalist violence was over, in a step that is seen as one of the vital steps towards a lasting peace in Northern Ireland. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by former PUP leader Billy Hutchinson, Historian Aaron Edwards, and journalists Allison Morris, Mark Simpson, and Vincent Kearney. This episode was originally published in October 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UUP's Mike Nesbitt has resigned as health minister – with a stinging public resignation letter aimed at his UUP leader Jon Burrows The row is over retaining emergency general surgery at the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. The Northern Trust had recommended its closure, despite widespread local opposition. Jon Burrows told a public meeting in Coleraine that he wouldn't support any closure – despite the health minister being a UUP man. Mike Nesbitt is understood to have asked his leader to publicly move away from that position, but Jon Burrows refused. What's going to be the outcome of all of this for the UUP? Ciarán Dunbar joined by the Belfast Telegraph's political editor, Suzanne Breen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 25 years of what it termed ‘Armed Struggle’ and the ‘Long War’ , the Provisional IRA called a “complete cessation of military operations” on 31st August 1994 – 30 years ago. By that stage, the organisation was responsible for the deaths of 1,700 people. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Journalists Brian Rowan and Allison Morris, Former Belfast Telegraph Editor Ed Curran and historian Fearghal Mac Bhloscaidh. This episode was originally published in August 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paddy Mackin and Eamon MacMahon's bodies were found on the morning of the 13th of July, 1983. They both had been blasted with a shotgun as close range. The murders of the 34 year olds were first blamed on INLA leaders Dominic and Mary McGlinchey. But their families don’t believe that – they believe “other republicans” were involved. They claim that an informer recruited by Captain Robert Nairac helped set up their loved ones. They say this man later fled Northern Ireland after Freddie Scappaticci tipped off MI5 that his identity had been compromised. The story was broken by our political editor, Suzanne Breen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UPDATE: Professor Jason Arday was found deceased in London on Friday afternoon. He was found at an address in Battersea and pronounced dead at the scene. At 37, Jason Arday became the University of Cambridge’s youngest black professor. However, he found himself at the center of a plagiarism accusations which cast a shadow over his career – and thrust him into the international limelight. Parts of his CV were rubbished, and his most implausible claims about his personal life and achievements ridiculed. Arday resigned from Cambridge last week saying he was under an "unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack". The controversy sparked intense debate. While allegations against Arday became a focal point for right-wing press and far-right groups online, many academics argued the case has been caught up in a wider culture war. Ciaran Dunbar is joined by Kurtis Reid, to talk about Jason Arday – what he says, and what his detractors and defenders say. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann took over Belfast City Centre for over a week drawing huge crowds. The all-Ireland traditional Irish music competition and festival has been near universally hailed as an enormous success. It has been cited as having made a massive cultural, social, and economic impact on the city. How much money was made? What impact will it have on the Fleadh, and can any lessons be learned? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph reporter, and fleadh veteran, Liam Tunney, and by Business Editor Margaret Canning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel Kinahan sounded bemused when he described the frenzy around his life as “movie stuff”, but the scenes that accompanied his trip back to Ireland were undeniably cinematic. A trip on a €53m government jet that was tracked by the public in real-time, a ring of steel around parts of Dublin as he was escorted in a bomb-proof convoy, and a long-awaited appointment at the Criminal Courts of Justice. Perhaps the most surprising aspect, however, was the alleged criminal kingpin’s affable back and forth with the judge. So, where does Daniel Kinahan go from here? The Irish Independent’s news and security correspondent, Robin Schiller, was present to see it all unfold. He joined Kevin Doyle to break it down. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Protestant exodus from Londonderry's cityside was ‘largely ignored or denied’ according to a new report. Its authors say they would like to see 'acknowledgement’ and 'acceptance' of the massive population shift and its causes. A report says the mass movement from the west to the east bank of the Foyle was not down to "one event or cause” — but violence had a “major impact”. The report is called “Where have all the Prods gone?” Conflict and Displacement — The PUL Exodus and its impact in Londonderry. Ciarán Dunbar spoke to the report's author Terry Wright, and to Brian Dougherty, CEO of the North-West Cultural Partnership which commissioned and published it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Lowry is no longer the editor of the News Letter. The outspoken commentator was removed from his position without explanation. Mr Lowry had spent 19 years at what is the world's oldest continuously published English language daily newspaper. The 288-year-old unionist paper now appears to be drifting without an editor at the helm. The Belfast Telegraph has been told that staff are shocked and dismayed by the departure but the paper’s new owner has declined to answer questions about what is going on amid claims there was a row about possible Irish Government funding. I’m joined by the Belfast Telegraph’s Northern Ireland editor, and former political editor at the News Letter, Sam McBride. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The seizure last week of a bomb containing almost 400g of Semtex plastic explosive has put the New IRA back on to the front pages after a lull in violence. Two people connected to the political group Saoradh have been charged in relation to the incident. The sophisticated device has fuel fears that the group has gained access to fresh stocks of military-grade explosives. The New IRA has been long been associated with but the group also has a presence in Dublin. Who are the New IRA and what are they capable of? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Robin Shiller, News and Security Correspondent with the Irish Independent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.