The Anglo-Irish Agreement (Part One): Why did Thatcher give Dublin a role in NI?
The Hunger Strikes had led to a surge in support for Republicanism and in October 1984, Margaret Thatcher herself, narrowly escaped death in the Brighton bombing. Her intelligence chiefs were clear; they weren’t going to defeat the IRA by purely military and security means – she decided something had to be done. Meanwhile in Dublin, fears over the rise of Sinn Féin and frustration with a lack of progress in advancing nationalists’ interests led to an openness to fresh ideas. The stage was set for secret talks which led to the Anglo-Irish Agreement, signed on the 15 November 1985. Ulster’s Unionists were outraged by what they saw as a betrayal. What was the background to the agreement, why was it so controversial, and what did it really involve? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Professor Fergal Cochrane, commentator, Alex Kane, Professor Graham Walker, and Dr. Peter McLaughlin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Eamonn Holmes in his own words: "The HMRC came after me... at the most vulnerable time in my life"
“I’m still working because the thieving HMRC came after me... at the most vulnerable time in my life,” Eamonn Holmes has revealed to the BelTel. He spoke to Ciarán Dunbar about his tax troubles, Donald Trump, working for GB News and growing up in the New Lodge area of Belfast. The GB News presenter is currently touring Northern Ireland with his one man show, ‘This Is My Life’. He joined Ciarán Dunbar in the studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'Marianne Smyth will never stop scamming' - Con-hunter opens up about being tricked by 'Queen of Con'
Jonathan Walton describes himself as a ‘con-hunter’ but that’s not what he set out to be. The tv producer turned vigilante after he was scammed by con artist Marianne Smyth, the so-called ‘Queen of Con’. Over several years he had handed his supposed best friend Smyth, who claimed to be an Irish heiress, over $100,000. She was a lifelong con-artist, using a range of strategies, lies and aliases – posing as Jennifer Anniston, becoming a satanic priestess, claiming to be on the IRA’s army council, pretending to have cancer. Smyth was sentenced in September to 4 years in jail at Downpatrick crown court as it was revealed that she had scammed over £100,000 from people in Northern Ireland. Jonathan Walton has written a book on his experience with the fraudster. It’s called ‘ Anatomy of a Con Artist: The 14 Red Flags to Spot Scammers, Grifters, and Thieves and is host of the hit podcast Queen of the Con, he joined Ciarán Dunbar on the BelTel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'Wicked, callous and evil liar' jailed after promising to donate kidney over Facebook
An east Belfast woman has been jailed after promising to donate a kidney over Facebook. Nicola Hutton reached out to Billy and Joanne Cullen over social media after Billy’s diagnosis of a serious disease. A stranger to the couple, Hutton continued to keep in contact with them to assure that she was a match and the transplant process was underway – but in reality, she had never intended to hand over the organ. Hutton has now been sentenced to five months in prison. Olivia Peden is joined by Belfast Telegraph reporter Kurtis Reid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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BelTel Politics: Givan defiant, Greek signs in Belfast, and toilet flooder wreaks havoc at Stormont
Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan has been the focus of attention and anger over his visit to Israel. The UUP have lost a councillor, Linzi McLaren resigned her seat and quit the party citing concerns over Irish language policy and the absence of female voices. Plans are afoot to install street signage in Greek, Mandarin and Hebrew in Belfast – but will it actually happen? And finally, who keeps trying to flood Stormont? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by commentators Tim Cairns and Ursula Savage to discuss the week in NI politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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.
Ireland