Best Uvf Podcasts (2024)

1
UVF, UDA and ‘Russians’ in gun panic - arms allegedly held by loyalist could be linked to unsolved murders 17:55

14m ago17:55

17:55

Loyalist Billy ‘Beachball’ McCune is facing charges of possessing firearms in suspicious circumstances. He doesn’t deny having the guns but claims he was a “go-between” for the community and UDA. McCune is now understood to be under threat from the owners of the guns - the UDA, the UVF and an organised crime gang known as the Russians. The UDA and …

1
Murdered in her own home: Belfast Man given life sentence after brutal murder of Caoimhe Morgan 14:39

16m ago14:39

14:39

Caoimhe Morgan was a 30-year-old mother of four. She was brutally murdered by her partner in her North Belfast home whilst two of her children were present at the property. Taylor McIlvenna has been found guilty of her murder but could be out in just 17 years despite having a lengthy criminal record. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Kurtis Reid, who was …

1
Eamonn Holmes: Shock divorce, ‘bitter’ tax bill and those Philip Schofield comments 17:33

40m ago17:33

17:33

The shock divorce of Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford have left viewers to wonder where it all went wrong for the TV double act. It’s not the first showbiz conflict Holmes has been involved in, after he was one of the loudest voices amid Phillip Schofield's high-profile ITV departure.Tabitha Monahan is joined by Belfast Telegraph features editor Ái…

1
MTV footage of accused shown as Lyra McKee trial opens in Belfast 7:59

16h ago7:59

7:59

The trial of three men charged in relation to the murder of Lyra McKee has begun. The 29-year-old died after being shot in the head by a new IRA gunman in the Creggan area in Derry in April, 2019. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Kurtis Reid, who was in court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
GE 2024: The NI seats to keep an eye on 37:51

1d ago37:51

37:51

On 4th July, Northern Ireland’s 18 parliamentary constituencies will decide who they will send to Westminster. A number of constituencies will see change in July, including Jeffrey Donaldson’s Lagan Valley seat. Meanwhile, PM Rishi Sunak’s plans to reintroduce national service have been seen by some as the wrong move for attracting younger voters. …

51
The Disappearance of Shergar: The World’s Most Famous Racehorse 30:00

1h ago30:00

30:00

It was a dark evening in February, 1983, when three armed, masked men arrived to the home of Jim Fitzgerald. His family were locked in a room. One of the men said to him "We have come for Shergar. We want £2 million for him." He was taken at gunpoint to a nearby stable where Shergar the horse was sleeping. The horse was loaded into a horsebox, and …

1
The Kew Files: Sam McBride on IRA decommissioning and how it almost collapsed the Good Friday Agreement 37:54

1h ago37:54

37:54

IRA decommissioning was an historic political event that has been clouded in secrecy for decades. Files uncovered by the Belfast Telegraph, in The National Archives at Kew, have revealed new details about how the road to decommissioning weakened first minister David Trimble, fueled the rise of the DUP, and almost collapsed the Good Friday Agreement…

1
"People were buried outside my house": Irishman on escaping Ukraine 23:38

10h ago23:38

23:38

In February 2022, business consultant Brendan Murphy was living in Irpin, a small city near Kyiv. That month, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Irpin as one of their initial targets. Brendan wrote ‘War in Ukraine: An Irishman’s Journey’, to tell the story of his family’s escape from Ukraine and his experience of the country. He…

1
GE 2024: What's Sunak thinking and can the Tories avoid a wipe-out? 18:23

19h ago18:23

18:23

Outside a rainy Downing Street yesterday, Rishi Sunak set the date for the summer general election for the 4th of July. He says it is now time for Britain to choose its future, whilst Labour leader Keir Starmer says it’s time for change. Why has it been set for July, can the conservatives avoid a wipe-out, and what surprises can be expected during …

1
LucidTalk: Should Donaldson resign as MP and is a United Ireland inevitable? 33:48

1d ago33:48

33:48

The Belfast Telegraph’s latest LucidTalk polling reveals opinions on whether Sir Jeffrey Donaldson should resign as an MP, party support, and how well the public feel think political leaders are doing. It also polls opinion on whether DUP founding member Wallace Thompson is right to think a United Ireland is inevitable. Host: Ciarán Dunbar. Guests:…

1
Ex-Ulster rugby player Paddy Jackson voices ‘concerns’ over TV dramatisation of 2018 rape trial 23:20

4d ago23:20

23:20

Ulster Rugby player Paddy Jackson, who was one of the key people at the Belfast rape trial of 2018, has expressed his concerns over a proposed six-episode TV series that will dramatise the court case that rocked Northern Ireland. The trial, where Jackson and fellow Ulster rugby player Stuart Olding were found not guilty of the charges against them,…

1
Jonathan Creswell, the murder of Katie Simpson and the three-woman cover-up 31:33

7d ago31:33

31:33

Jonathan Creswell was a showjumper, philanderer, abuser, and eventually, a murderer. He murdered a young woman, Katie Simpson, claiming she took her own life. The PSNI initially believed him, despite his previous criminal record, which included assaulting his ex-partner and threatening to put her into a bath of bleach. Two days into the murder tria…

1
Arlene Foster 'roasted' as she's accused of deflecting questions in tetchy day at Covid Inquiry 23:50

8d ago23:50

23:50

Arlene Foster has been accused of deflecting questions at the Covid Inquiry. The former first minister was grilled about her role during the pandemic. In questioning by barrister Clair Dobbin, Mrs Foster said she has “deep regret” over the executive’s response during the early days of the outbreak. Belfast Telegraph’s Northern Ireland editor Sam Mc…

1
Michelle O’Neill left 'flapping' under Covid cross-examination , Sam McBride reports 20:49

17d ago20:49

20:49

First Minister Michelle O'Neill has apologised for attending the funeral of IRA leader Bobby Storey at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. She had long said she would never apologise for being at the funeral. Sam McBride reports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
'When the Hammer Turns Against the Sickle': Civil War Amongst The Republican Revolutionaries, The INLA vs The IPLO 48:23

43m ago48:23

48:23

The two socialist Republican paramilitary groups were the INLA, Irish National Liberation Army and the IPLO, the Irish People's Liberation Organization. These were two organisations who sought to fight against the colonial occupation of British Rule and free the working class of capitalistic dominance. However, instead of romantic struggle they wou…

1
Allison Morris: PSNI accused of ‘Stasi’ tactics over keeping tabs on ‘troublemaker’ journalists 23:39

11d ago23:39

23:39

The PSNI had journalists they considered “troublemakers” under surveillance. It’s led to the force being accused of acting like the Stasi. But who was being spied on? Why and how? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph’s security correspondent, Allison Morris and solicitor Niall Murphy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info…

1
Sam McBride: Covid Inquiry reveals Stormont’s ‘rotten system’ 33:00

14d ago33:00

33:00

The Covid-19 pandemic was an unprecedented event all over the world. NI Officials and ministers are now under scrutiny as they appear before the Covid-19 Inquiry to account for the decisions they made. The Belfast Telegraph’s Sam McBride is following the inquiry. He tells Ciarán Dunbar what it has revealed about Northern Ireland’s politics. Hosted …

1
The Troubles Podcast Live in London on May 22nd 0:53

2h ago0:53

0:53

I'll be putting on a live show in London later this month with Kevin and Jason from Shite Talk: An Irish History Podcast. It'll take place on Wednesday, May 22nd at the London Irish Centre. Ticekts are £12 and the show starts at 19:30. Be great to see some of you there!By Oisin Feeney

1
South Armagh IRA: Inside Northern Ireland’s ‘Bandit Country’ 24:33

16d ago24:33

24:33

During the troubles, South Armagh became known as ‘Bandit Country’ - a heartland of paramilitary activity. The Provisional IRA’s notorious south Armagh brigade took the lives of hundreds of people, including British soldiers, RUC officers and civillians, whilst being widely accused of smuggling across the Irish border. Journalist Toby Harnden, auth…

1
Lordship: The murder of Adrian Donohoe and the runaway Co. Armagh suspect - part two 29:40

17d ago29:40

29:40

After the murder of Adrian Donohoe, the main suspect Aaron Brady boarded a one-way flight to America. He had no intention of ever returning to Ireland. His departure instigated an international police investigation that would span multiple years, resulting in a murder trial plagued with dirty tricks and witness intimidation. Hosted on Acast. See ac…

1
Lordship: The murder of Adrian Donohoe and the runaway Co. Armagh suspect – Part One 27:41

18d ago27:41

27:41

What goes in to catching a garda killer? In January 2013, Detectives Joe Ryan and Adrian Donohoe from Dundalk garda station were tasked with escorting credit union takings across Cooley Peninsula, on the border with Northern Ireland. The men were ambushed and Garda detective Donohoe was shot dead. What followed was the largest murder investigation …

1
EXTRA: The extraordinary life of Stephen Grimason, the journalist and top Stormont Spin doctor who broke news of Good Friday Agreement 40:50

19d ago40:50

40:50

Stephen Grimason was the journalist who waved the Belfast Agreement on our television screens with the iconic quote: “I have it in my hand”. The former BBC political editor Stephen Grimson later became the head of Stormont’s press operations. He passed away last week following a long illness. Last year, Belfast Telegraph’s Northern Ireland Editor S…

1
BelTel Sport: Linfield and Cliftonville set to face off in tense Irish Cup Final 27:00

21d ago27:00

27:00

This Saturday's Irish Cup Final sees Cliftonville play Linfield at a sold-out Windsor Park. It’s set to be one of the most eagerly anticipated cup finals in a generation, however, safety concerns from both teams have led to a security bill of £50,000. Keith Bailie is joined by Belfast Telegraph chief sportswriter Steven Beacom, ex-Linfield manager …

1
Sunningdale and the Ulster Workers Strike (Part Three): Who really won? 30:53

23d ago30:53

30:53

Loyalism stood triumphant. The Ulster Workers Strike succeeded. It brought down the Sunningdale executive, the council of Ireland binned, power-sharing shelved . It seemed like total victory. But was it? In the final part of a three-part series, Ciarán Dunbar looks at the long-term legacy of Sunningdale Agreement and the Ulster Workers Strike – and…

1
The Irish Priest Who Armed the Provisional IRA 38:34

6d ago38:34

38:34

This week's episode focuses on the life of Father Patrick Ryan, a Catholic priest who had a unique relationship with the Provisional IRA and Libyan Dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. Through Father Ryan, the Provisional IRA received millions in cash, but it was his engineering work with Provisional IRA bombs, which would end up saving the lives of many par…

1
Sunningdale and the Ulster Workers Strike (Part Two): The loyalist ‘revolt’ 32:42

26d ago32:42

32:42

Northern Ireland had never seen the like of the Ulster Workers Strike – a rebellion against the state – by loyalists. The strikers wanted an end to the Sunningdale power-sharing executive and everything that went with it. It was mostly peaceful but was punctuated by the bloodiest day of the Troubles – the Dublin Monaghan bombings. In Part 2 of a th…

1
Sunningdale and the Ulster Workers Strike: The forgotten power-sharing ‘experiment’ 31:25

28d ago31:25

31:25

In 1973 the ‘Sunningdale Agreement’ established power-sharing in Northern Ireland, preceding the Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement by 25 years. It even had an All-Ireland dimension. But it met with a backlash and was brought down by the Ulster Workers Strike. In the first part of a three-part series, Ciarán Dunbar explores the Sunningdale …

1
Warrenpoint-based Michael O’Loughlin breaks gangster code by admitting crimes 17:57

1M ago17:57

17:57

Michael O’Loughlin was arrested in Co Down in 2020 as part of a Europe-wide crackdown on organised crime. He was one of the first criminals arrested in the Encrochat hacking scandal. But why is the career criminal now pleading guilty to the charges against him? Host: Fionnán Sheahan, Guest: Allison Morris Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for …

1
Jeffrey Donaldson in court over historical sex offences 13:24

1M ago13:24

13:24

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife Lady Eleanor Donaldson have appeared at Newry Magistrates Court to face historical sex charges. He was escorted into the court by the PSNI amid chaotic scenes. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph reporter Liam Tunney and crime correspondent Allison Morris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i…

1
Col Tim Collins ruffles Alliance feathers, Irish signs ‘traumatise’ 24:10

1M ago24:10

24:10

Andrew Madden and Ursula Savage join Ciarán Dunbar to discuss the week in politics. Colonel Tim Collins has been in the news after branding the Alliance Party ‘pro-nationalist'. The former soldier will be standing for the UUP in North Down in the next general election. As a possible general election looms, Health Minister Robin Swann sets sights on…

1
Newtownards Falklands and Troubles veteran on the reality of war 21:34

1M ago21:34

21:34

Graham Eve boasts a military career which spanned over 8000 miles. A member of the 2nd Parachute Regiment in NI he witnessed 16 of their men being killed in the Warrenpoint ambush in 1979. His service later carried him to the Falkland Islands, where scenes got even bloodier. The former Paratrooper and gun team commander joins Olivia Peden. Hosted o…

1
Michael Stone: The life and crimes of the notorious loyalist gunman 30:09

1M ago30:09

30:09

Michael Stone is one of the most notorious gunmen of the Troubles. Known in loyalist circles as a gun for hire, he murdered 3 people at an IRA funeral in Milltown Cemetery, west Belfast. Following his release from prison in 2000, he carried out a foiled attack on Stormont which he claimed was ‘performance art’. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sunday Lif…

1
Suzanne Breen on Jeffrey Donaldson’s potential replacement in Lagan Valley 28:48

1M ago28:48

28:48

The arrest of DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson at the end of last month came as a shock to those in the party and beyond. Although he is now an independent MP, questions now have to be answering about who the DUP will stand in the general election. Donaldson’s resignation could prove an opportunity for the Alliance Party to gain a seat in Lagan Val…

1
The Darkley Church Killings 33:51

1M ago33:51

33:51

It was a Sunday evening in November, 1983 and 65 people were attending service at the Mountain Lodge Pentecostal Church Service. The church was a small wooden building on the outskirts of the Northern Irish village of Darkley, in the county of Armagh, which was close to the border with the Republic of Ireland. The popular hymn, 'Are You Washed in t…

1
Middle East on the brink after Iran's unprecedented revenge attack on Israel 22:10

1M ago22:10

22:10

As the death toll in Gaza reaches 35,000, there has been a dangerous spike in tensions across the Middle East. In a serious escalation of the crisis in the region, Iran made its first ever direct attack on Israeli soil on Saturday, sending hundreds of drones and missiles across the desert, the majority of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome sys…

1
The Kew Files: Sam McBride on the secret papers on Peter Robinson, Ulster Resistance and Emma Little-Pengelly's father 25:07

1M ago25:07

25:07

The Kew Files have revealed some of Northern Ireland's hidden secrets on unionism and loyalism. In part 2 of a 2-part special of the BelTel, Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride to discuss the Kew Files and what they can tell us about Ex-DUP leader Peter Robinson, Ulster Resistance and the paramilitary activity the UK Government suspected Deputy …

1
The Kew Files: Sam McBride and the secret files on Martin McGuinness, the IRA and SDLP 24:55

2M ago24:55

24:55

Thousands of declassified files on Northern Ireland and the troubles have been deposited, not in Belfast, but in the Kew Archives in London. In part 1 of a 2-part special of the BelTel, Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride to discuss the Kew Files and what they tell us about Martin McGuinness, the IRA and the SDLP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/…

1
A United Ireland: Inevitable or a fantasy? 28:11

2M ago28:11

28:11

Nationalists continue to campaign for planning a united Ireland, but Unionists seem assured it’s a pipe dream – where does the truth lie – or is it impossible to say? Is a United Ireland a realistic prospect or pure fantasy, inevitable or impossible? David McCann and Owen Polley join Ciarán Dunbar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in…

1
Gerard ‘Hucker’ Moyna: From killing Lenny Murphy for the IRA to IPLO feuds 20:18

2M ago20:18

20:18

Prolific republican gunman Gerard ‘Hucker’ Moyna has died aged 69. He has been linked to several murders – including that of Shankill Butcher Lenny Murphy. He was also believed to be involved in the killing of solicitor and unionist politician, Edgar Graham – as well as IPLO spokesman, Jimmy Brown. Allison Morris joins Ciarán Dunbar . Hosted on Aca…

1
Private Investigator: Ian Withers on tracking the IRA, informing for the Seychelles government and murder allegations 28:37

2M ago28:37

28:37

Globe-trotting Private Investigator Ian Withers reflects on his extraordinary career, from speaking to Gerry Kelly in prison after the 1973 Old Bailey bombing, tracking the IRA’s Hyde Park bomber with a bluffed phone call and being arrested on suspicion of the murder of an exiled politician from the Seychelles. He joins Andrew Madden. Hosted on Aca…

1
Sam McBride and Allison Morris on Jeffrey Donaldson’s arrest and what it means for the DUP 30:32

2M ago30:32

30:32

Northern Ireland Politics were thrown into chaos at the weekend when Jeffrey Donaldson resigned as DUP leader. He’s been charged with historical sex offences, while his wife Eleanor Donaldson has been charged with aiding and abetting. With a general election looming, can the DUP survive this crisis? Allison Morris and Sam McBride join Olivia Peden.…

1
Best of the BelTel: James Mitchell, the Butcher of Glenanne 24:42

2M ago24:42

24:42

Mitchell’s farm was the base of the ‘Glenanne Gang’, a mix of loyalist paramilitaries and rogue members of the security forces. The ‘Glenanne Gang’ were responsible for up 120 murders including the Dublin Monaghan bombings, the Miami Showband massacre, and scores of other sectarian killings. Martin Breen has had a run in with Mitchell, he explains …

1
Jeffrey Donaldson resigns as DUP leader after being charged with historical sex offences 13:41

2M ago13:41

13:41

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has resigned as DUP leader after being charged with historical sex offences. The Belfast Telegraph’s Northern Ireland editor Sam McBride explains the implications of this political earthquake to Ciarán Dunbar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Ian Hurst: The Army ‘spook’ who exposed Scappaticci and accuses McGuinness 31:56

2M ago31:56

31:56

Ian Hurst worked with the British Army’s ‘Force Research Unit’ during the Troubles. He later exposed Freddie Scappaticci as the agent known as Stakeknife. Controversially, he also maintains former IRA leader Martin McGuinness was compromised, even claiming he protected Scappaticci. He gives his version of events to Ciarán Dunbar Hosted on Acast. Se…

1
Simon Harris and NI, Sinn Féin heckled left and right 23:00

2M ago23:00

23:00

Tom Galvin and Andrew Madden join Ciaran Dunbar to explain who Simon Harris is and what he might mean for Northern Ireland. And with Sinn Féin being heckled from both the right and the left, we ask what it might mean electorally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Megan McAlorum: Murderer of west Belfast teen dies in road crash 19:28

2M ago19:28

19:28

Sixteen year old Megan McAlorum’s body was found in a Dunmurry forest in 2004 after a night out. Her body was found with 54 fractures to her skull, among other injuries. Thomas Purcell, who claimed to be 16 at the time, brutally killed her after picking her up from a west Belfast bar. He died in a road crash in Oxford earlier this month. Allison Mo…

1
Pat McArt: Derry, the Troubles and Martin McGuinness 33:52

2M ago33:52

33:52

As editor of The Derry Journal during the Troubles, Pat McArt found himself a trusted critic and counsellor to political giants like Martin McGuinness and John Hume. His new book, ‘War, Peace and the Derry Journal’ chronicles Derry’s devastation during the troubles and the city's move towards peace. He joins Belfast Telegraph Derry reporter Garrett…

1
Pearse McCauley: The life and crimes of the IRA garda killer and wife beater 19:19

2M ago19:19

19:19

*A warning, today's episode contains details of domestic violence which listeners may find upsetting* Terrorist, garda killer and prolific wife beater, Pearse McCauley’s long litany of convictions have established him as one of Ireland’s most dangerous criminals for over 30 years. The IRA man made the headlines in the early 1990s for a daring escap…

1
Sam McBride's week in politics: TUV, Reform, Gaza and Biden 31:28

2M ago31:28

31:28

The TUV have hooked up with Reform UK but what is in this arrangement for both parties and who is Reform UK anyway? And Sinn Féin went to America despite of pressure from the left to boycott the visit, due to US support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Sam McBride joined Ciarán Dunbar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat…

1
Millionaire heiress to IRA mastermind - Rose Dugdale, the renegade debutante 21:20

3M ago21:20

21:20

Rose Dugdale died in her sleep in a Dublin nursing home yesterday morning at the age of 83.She was the former debutante who once curtseyed to Queen Elizabeth, only to rebel against her wealthy upbringing and become an expert bomb-maker in the Provisional IRA. Fionnán Sheehan is joined by journalist Liam Collins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva…

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