Rephonic
Artwork for The BelTel
Northern Ireland
Noah Donohoe
Belfast
IRA
PSNI
Sinn Féin
Good Friday Agreement
Natalie Mcnally
Stephen Mccullagh
Anglo-Irish Agreement
DJ Carey
DUP
Stormont
The Troubles
Gerry Adams
UVF
Ballymena
Ireland
Ulster Unionist Party
Billy Wright

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.

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Artwork for The BelTel

Latest Episodes

Dissident republican bombers have struck twice in recent weeks. On Saturday a bomb exploded at Dunmurry PSNI station in Belfast. The bombers used an almost identical method to those who tried to attack Lurgan police station last month. In both attack... more

Today we know that Stakeknife existed, and that he was Freddie Scappaticci. We know that Scappaticci, at the top of the IRA unit hunting informers was himself an informer for British security forces. But prior to the story being brought to light by ... more

Stormont, through Invest NI, is funding a CIA-linked firm whose secretive and powerful tech is being used by Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown force - ICE Software developed in Belfast by Nisos, a company founded by former intelligence operatives... more

YouTube

The Noah Donohoe inquest has been hearing evidence from Daryl Paul – the man convicted of stealing the teenager’s rucksack. It had earlier heard in evidence from Maria Nolan that claims the teenager had been attacked were based on “rumour and specula... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Daryl Paul
Suspect in the case; testified regarding the laptop, backpack, and jacket
Episode: Noah Donohoe: Daryl Paul says he’s telling the truth
Suzanne Breen
The Belfast Telegraph's political editor
Belfast Telegraph
Episode: LucidTalk: Majority believe Gerry Adams was in IRA – but don’t care
Mary Wilson
Former RTÉ Legal Affairs Editor and presenter
RTÉ
Episode: Black Widow Part 2: The trial of Catherine Nevin and the media sensation that followed
Rory Carroll
Author of A Rebel And A Traitor, Guardian Ireland correspondent
The Guardian
Episode: Roger Casement: Protestant British hero who became a 'rebel and a traitor'
Sinéad Morrisey
Belfast poet and author of Among Communists
Independent author
Episode: ‘Among Communists’: Belfast poet, Sinéad Morrisey tells her family and political story
Angela Davison
Journalist for The Sunday Life
The Sunday Life
Episode: Stephen McCullagh: What we couldn't report while Natalie McNally murder trial was ongoing
Liam Tunney
Journalist covering Noah Donohoe inquest for The Belfast Telegraph
The Belfast Telegraph
Episode: Noah Donohoe: Jury hears ninth week of evidence
Gerard Shannon
Historian and author
Historian and author of Rory O'Connor: To Defend the Republic
Episode: Rory O’Connor: The Anti-Treaty IRA leader executed by his former friends
Kurtis Reid
Reporter with Belfast Telegraph
Belfast Telegraph
Episode: Inside the Gerry Adams landmark £1 IRA court case

Hosts

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

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 323 ratings
  • Rather death centric

    A good podcast when I do listen, which is typically for insight regarding northern Irish history and culture that’s hard to get anywhere else. Especially recently though, the majority of episodes are meticulously reporting on deaths and murders past and present — much like a lot of other NI media — for which I turn straight off.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Mach3turbo
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Noah Inquest

    Liam Tunney is hurling a blinder in his reporting. The show is generally excellent!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jerimiah1983
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • 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 States4 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 Kingdom4 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 States8 months 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
#167
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#19
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#109
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#133
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#54
Australia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#154
Italy/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

“I didn’t kill my little brother” - Brian McDermott’s brother says he can’t move forward because family blame him
Q: How did Billy react when confronted about the accusations?
Billy appeared surprised and defensive, and he denies the accusations, highlighting the emotional toll on him and his family.
“I didn’t kill my little brother” - Brian McDermott’s brother says he can’t move forward because family blame him
Q: What can you tell us about Brian McDermott and the significance of this case?
Angela Davison provides background on Brian as a 10-year-old from East Belfast and explains why the case remains notorious and relevant to the community.
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.

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. The Indo Daily
3. Crime World
4. The State of Us
5. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning

How many episodes of The BelTel are there?

The BelTel launched 4 years ago and published 757 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. Daryl Paul
2. Suzanne Breen
3. Mary Wilson
4. Rory Carroll
5. Sinéad Morrisey
6. Angela Davison
7. Liam Tunney
8. Gerard Shannon

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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