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The BelTel

Belfast Telegraph
The BelTel
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907 episodes

  • The BelTel

    Jeffrey Donaldson’s victims in their own words

    15/10/2026 | 37 mins.
    The PSNI has released the audio statements of Jeffrey Donaldson’s victims, Victim A and Victim B.
    Their voices have been artificially generated to protect the victims’ identity.
    On Thursday, the former DUP leader was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of 18 charges of child sex abuse.
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  • The BelTel

    Jeffrey Donaldson given 15 years - but will be out in seven

    15/10/2026 | 16 mins.
    Jeffrey Donaldson received a 15 year sentence in prison for his crimes. He was given 11 years for rape against Victim B and four years for all offences against Victim A, to be served consecutively.
    The former MP and ex-DUP leader was sentenced in Newry Courthouse on Thursday morning.
    However, later on Thursday after the Lady Chief Justice confirmed Donaldson will actually walk free in seven-and-a-half years.
    That is because the crimes were committed before the law changed in 2008, so he will automatically be entitled to 50pc remission of his sentence.
    He was found guilty of 18 child sex abuse charges, including rape, in June.
    Donaldson is trying to win an appeal, and his denials were an aggravating factor in the sentencing.
    However, as it stands, the 63-year-old will emerge from prison as a 78-year-old pensioner.
    Ciarán Dunbar spoke to Allison Morris outside Newry Crown Court.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • The BelTel

    Missing for 34 years: Patsy O’Sullivan and the secret family no one knew about

    13/10/2026 | 29 mins.
    It was in April 1992 when Patrick 'Patsy' O'Sullivan called into his brother Jerry's home like it was any other day, but it’s a day that will forever remain etched in Jerry’s memory.

    Patrick went missing from his home in Co Kerry that year, and despite extensive searches and emotional appeals, efforts to find him proved fruitless.

    It would take the O'Sullivan family 34 years to find out the truth.

    Tessa Fleming is joined by Kerryman journalist Sinead Kelleher and by Jerry O'Sullivan, Patsy’s brother, to discuss his disappearance and how they eventually found out what happened to him.

    This episode of The BelTel was produced by our sister podcast, The Indo Daily.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • The BelTel

    Drumcree: Garvaghy Residents’ challenge dismissed, dispute rumbles on despite parade ban

    12/10/2026 | 22 mins.
    The parading crisis in Portadown seems over on the ground, but it is very much alive in the courts, on the airwaves, and in politics.

    The Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Bryant stepped in on Friday to ban the Portadown Orange lodge from marching down the Garvaghy Road, now the Orange Order is challenging that decision in the courts.

    On Monday afternoon, the Court of Appeal dismissed a challenge from Garvaghy residents to the Parades Commission’s decision to allow the parade.

    In Stormont, First Minister Michelle O’Neill will face a confidence motion after taking part in a protest backing the Garvaghy Road residents, while the TUV demands the DUP take Emma Little-Pengelly out of the Executive.

    Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Allison Morris.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • The BelTel

    The St Andrews Agreement 20 years on: Paisley signs up to power-sharing

    11/10/2026 | 30 mins.
    The St Andrews Agreement was signed twenty years ago on 13 October 2006.

    Officially. it just amended the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement, but it did bring about some profound changes in Northern Ireland’s politics.

    It saw the DUP and Ian Paisley signing up to the peace process.

    Sinn Féin bought into policing, agreeing to work with the PSNI; the DUP agreed to go into government with them.

    The two parties have dominated Stormont politics ever since.

    Ciarán Dunbar is joined by political commentator David McCann.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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About The BelTel
The BelTel brings you some of Northern Ireland's top journalists, Allison Morris, Sam McBride and Suzanne Breen to name but a few, giving you the inside stories behind what is in the news. Presented by Ciarán Dunbar, the Bel Tel investigates, debates and informs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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