The BelTel

In 1996, Peter Lavery's life changed overnight. The Short Strand man was earning £300 a week driving buses when he became one of Northern Ireland's biggest ever lottery winners, scooping up a £10.2 million. Nearly 30 years later, he's one of Belfast's best-known businessmen.

Today, he's the founder of Titanic Distillers, bringing whiskey production back to the city for the first time in almost 90 years, despite giving up drinking after being given what he calls a health 'ultimatum'.

He joined Cathy Martin to talk about working the day after winning the jackpot, legendary nights out, and if money really can buy you happiness.

This edition of the BelTel is an episode of the Belfast Telegraph's business and lifestyle podcast, In Good Company - available wherever you get your podcasts.
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Two decades ago, a senior PSNI detective who had come from MI5 headquarters in London saw something he couldn’t believe – DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson entering a gay sauna.
That story, which was revealed last week, has fed into speculation around what the police and intelligence services knew about Jeffrey Donaldson’s behaviour.
It has now become clear that police were aware of the far more serious accusations of pedophilia against the former DUP leader before he led the DUP back to Stormont in January 2024 – just months before he was charged with historical sex offences.
Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland Editor Sam McBride joins Olivia Peden.

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Jeffrey Donaldson was an “unmitigated liar” and was living a double life while working in Westminster – according to former DUP MLA Jim Wells. In the days following Jeffrey Donaldson’s guilty verdict for child sex offences, more information has arisen about the disgraced MPs personal life – including affairs, the use of gay saunas, and drinking to excess.

Former MLA and DUP member Jim Wells joined Olivia Peden.
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Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots has performed a massive U-turn on a strange decision which has caused unusual controversy around Stormont. Last month, Mr Poots blocked MLAs from discussing a proposal which survivors of abuse wanted to become law.
The episode was extraordinary - because a large majority of MLAs not only wanted to discuss the proposal, but to vote for it to become law.
Mr Poots has now changed his mind but has refused to give any explanation for why he did what he did.

Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride.

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Throughout the trial of Jeffrey Donaldson, his work for what he called “the local MP” was referenced in court. That MP was Enoch Powell – one of the most controversial British politicians of the 20th century. Donaldson served as Powell’s election agent in the mid-80s. Powell, who passed away in 1998, had been accused of being a paedophile, with allegations arising from around the time Jeffrey Donaldson had been working for him.
Former DUP leader Donaldson was found guilty of historical sex offences, including rape, at the start of this week.
Olivia Peden is joined by Belfast telegraph reporter Andrew Madden

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