Rephonic
Artwork for The BelTel
Jeffrey Donaldson
Northern Ireland
IRA
Democratic Unionist Party
Alliance Party
Stormont
Glenanne Gang
Michael Stone
The Falklands War
SDLP
Martin Mcguinness
Northern Ireland Office
DUP
Northern Ireland Conflict
Graham Eve
James Mitchell
Gerard Hucker Moyna
Good Friday Agreement
Sinn Féin
Irish Unity

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes736Founded4 years ago
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Artwork for The BelTel

Latest Episodes

A witness says the unusual behaviour exhibited by Noah Donohoe prior to his disappearance could be associated with synthetic cannabinoids or a mental health condition.  

The jury at the inquest into the teenager’s death heard evidence from the toxic... more

This time last year, Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin was grasping an American-flag emblazoned short straw, playing second fiddle to Conor McGregor as our disgraced UFC representative took the St Patrick’s Day podium.

Now that the Taoiseach has been ... more

Serial killer Robert Black is now the subject of Netflix documentary 'Manhunt: The Child Snatcher'. Black was a monster, an abuser and murder of little girls - he was the child snatcher that all parents feared.

His first murder victim we can be cer... more

Elon Musk has built an encyclopedia which contains countless errors about Northern Ireland and its history. 

Grokipedia, which was launched in October last year, now has more than six million AI generated articles, but many articles related to North... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Jack Crane
Pathologist who provided evidence
NHS / Pathology
Episode: Noah Donohoe: Pathologists agree teenager’s cause of death was drowning with ‘no indication’ of assault
Marjorie Turner
Pathologist who performed autopsy
NHS / Pathology
Episode: Noah Donohoe: Pathologists agree teenager’s cause of death was drowning with ‘no indication’ of assault
Nathaniel Carey
Pathologist who provided evidence
NHS / Pathology
Episode: Noah Donohoe: Pathologists agree teenager’s cause of death was drowning with ‘no indication’ of assault
Peter McSorley
Pathologist who attended the scene
NHS / Pathology
Episode: Noah Donohoe: Pathologists agree teenager’s cause of death was drowning with ‘no indication’ of assault
Mark Boomer
Desmond (Desi) Boomer's brother; invited guest
Family of Desi Boomer
Episode: Desmond Boomer: The mystery of Malta plane accident, and the Belfast Engineer who never came home
Liam Tunney
Reporter following the inquest
News media
Episode: Noah Donohoe: Jury shown transcript of phone call involving man selling teen’s possessions
Neil Fetherstonhaugh
Journalist, witnessed the violence unfolding 20 years ago
Sunday World
Episode: 'Within seconds it turned violent': The ‘Love Ulster’ riots 20 years on
Jon Burrows
Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and former PSNI officer
Ulster Unionist Party
Episode: Jon Burrows: New UUP leader on his meteoric rise, how to sell the union, and Nigel Farage
Fiona Donohoe
Mother of Noah Donohoe, providing emotional testimony regarding her son's disappearance and the inquest into his death.
Episode: Noah Donohoe Inquest: Jury hears Fiona Donohoe's evidence

Hosts

Abdullah Sabri
Host of The Bel Tel
Ciarán Dunbar
Host of The BelTel

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 320 ratings
  • Superficial

    Plenty of chat but very little information. Also-the headlines can be misleading.

    You travel hopefully but arrive with nothing. Disappointing!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mac an tSionnaigh
    United States3 months ago
  • Never miss an episode

    I love listening to the podcast everyday. Nice mix of topics and stories.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Séamus Magee
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Superficial

    Plenty of chat but very little information. Also-the headlines can be misleading and disappointing.

    You travel hopefully but arrive with nothing. Disappointing!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mac an tSionnaigh
    United States7 months ago
  • Superficial

    Plenty of chat but very little information. Also-the headlines can be misleading and disappointing.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mac an tSionnaigh
    United States10 months ago
  • Great podcast

    One of my favourite podcasts lots of interesting and varied stories and of course a lovely accents ! 😊

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lainy21again
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critique bias and call for objectivity.
Listeners value the depth and context from investigative reporting.
Requests for longer episodes and better pacing.
Guests and hosts praised for interviews and coverage.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#38
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#180
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#234
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#133
Australia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#213
Germany/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#27
Ireland/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Stephen McCullagh Trial: Man accused of Natalie McNally murder ‘recorded ex’s counselling sessions after she lost child’
Q: What has been revealed about the live streaming and the timing of events on the night Natalie McNally died?
Evidence suggests the live stream referenced by McCullagh was pre-recorded, not a real-time broadcast, which affects the perceived immediacy and intent surrounding the events of that night.
Stephen McCullagh Trial: Man accused of Natalie McNally murder ‘recorded ex’s counselling sessions after she lost child’
Q: Can you walk us through what the witness described about the counselling recordings and why they matter?
The witness described covert recordings made during post-loss counselling, which are central because they imply a level of surveillance by the defendant and raise questions about consent, privacy, and the overall conduct around Natalie's trauma.
Man abused at NI ‘Christian nightclub’ accuses Presbyterian Church and PSNI of failing him and ‘other victims’
Q: What was the response from church and Exodus leadership at the time?
The minister at the time offered prayers but no tangible action, and Exodus leadership, including Jim Brown, did not respond promptly to questions; later statements claimed they were abroad or unable to comment while acknowledging their links to safeguarding concerns.
Man abused at NI ‘Christian nightclub’ accuses Presbyterian Church and PSNI of failing him and ‘other victims’
Q: Where did the accusations take place, and who was involved?
The allegations involve a relative of the victim who served as a youth leader at Exodus, with abuse alleged to have occurred in Exodus premises in Coleraine and related activities; the victim's own church, First Dume Presbyterian, is also involved through connections to the individuals involved.
Desmond Boomer: The mystery of Malta plane accident, and the Belfast Engineer who never came home
Q: How did the family respond as new theories emerged?
The family pursued inquiries, FOI requests, and external research, while maintaining a personal drive to keep the story alive through a dedicated website and ongoing interviews, despite limited official revelations.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The BelTel

What is The BelTel about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content centers on crime, politics, and current events in Northern Ireland, framed by in-depth courtroom coverage, inquests, and investigative reporting. Episodes frequently feature live courtroom analysis, expert witness perspectives (including pathologists and investigators), and long-form interviews that unpack both recent incidents and historical events. The cadence tends toward forensic detail, nuanced debate, and a focus on accountability, governance, and media coverage. A notable strength is assembling a mix of journalists, researchers, and occasional family voices to provide multiple angles on complex stories, making it useful for listeners who want thorough context beyond headlines and for potential guests or sponsors seeking a... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The BelTel?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The BelTel:

1. The Troubles Podcast
2. Crime World
3. Ireland Crimes and Mysteries
4. Documentary on One Podcast
5. Kinahans Downfall

How many episodes of The BelTel are there?

The BelTel launched 4 years ago and published 736 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The BelTel?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The BelTel from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The BelTel?

Recent guests on The BelTel include:

1. Jack Crane
2. Marjorie Turner
3. Nathaniel Carey
4. Peter McSorley
5. Mark Boomer
6. Liam Tunney
7. Neil Fetherstonhaugh
8. Jon Burrows

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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