The BelTel

Allison Morris explains what we know about the death of the British informer at the heart of Sinn Féin, Denis Donaldson, who was murdered in April 2006. No-one has ever been convicted of the murder and Donaldson’s family rejects a claim by the Real IRA that they did it. But whilst much of this story remains a mystery, further details have emerged.  Guest: Allison Morris, Host: Ciarán Dunbar. 

Lee Reynolds is Northern Ireland's first Commissioner for the Ulster-Scots and the Ulster-British tradition.  The Coleraine man is a former DUP special advisor, Belfast city councillor and he’s the man who coordinated the campaign for Brexit in Northern Ireland.     What does the role entail?  What is Mr Reynold’s vision?  And what changes can people expect to see, and hear?  Lee Reynolds joined Ciarán Dunbar in the studio.

Dave Rupert, a six and half foot tall, middle-aged trucker from Chicago, with no Irish links. Rupert was a tourist who enjoyed a pint and through a series of chance events became a trusted republican insider and then an agent working for the FBI. How did an American man with no background in republicanism end up living a double life as part of the Real IRA Army council, and why did its leader Mickey McKevitt believe him? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Abdon Pallasch.

Belfast man Colin Davidson is one of Ireland’s most celebrated painters. Queen Elizabeth II, Bono, Ed Sheeran and Seamus Heaney are among the host of famous faces to have sat for him. Yet the Belfast-born painter regards his greatest work as a series of 18 portraits, which he did for free. In his new book, titled ‘Twelve paintings: Conversations with Mark Carruthers’ the NI artist speaks to BBC Journalist about 12 of his key works about why he does what he does. Belfast Telegraph's Northern Ireland Editor Sam McBride is joined by Colin Davidson and Mark Carruthers. 

The newly appointed Irish Language Commissioner says the Irish language is not controversial and that opposition to it is “amplified” by the media. Dr Pól Deeds also said he couldn’t think of an example of language “weaponisation”. Unionist opposition to the language has long been justified as legitimate due to “weaponisation” of Irish by republicans.  Dr Deeds spoke to the BelTel’s Ciarán Dunbar in a wide-ranging interview. 

The long-awaited report on the activities of IRA double agent ‘Stakeknife’, Freddie Scappaticci, has now been released. The investigation, which cost close to £48 million and took eight years, has revealed new details, despite not naming Scappaticci as Stakeknife. It reveals details of security forces confirming that the Stakeknife operation probably cost more lives than it saved and established. that Scappaticci ‘volunteered interest in helping security forces’. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Allison Morris and Kurtis Reid. 

Four victims of the Troubles - all believed to be victims of the IRA, remain missing. The so-called ‘Disappeared’, people murdered and secretly buried by republicans have long been searched for but the remains of Columba McVeigh, Joe Lynskey, Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire have yet to be found. A new search for Seamus Maguire is planned for the spring. The body responsible for finding them is the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains – informally known as the Disappeared Commission. The body is headed by former Garda Eamonn Henry, he joined Ciarán Dunbar on the BelTel.

50 years ago, on November 29, 1975, the UDA attacked Dublin Airport, leading to the death of a baggage handler. The tragedy has been largely forgotten by the wider public over the last five decades. However, for those who still seek answers it is as pressing as ever.     Host: Kevin Doyle Guest: Brendan Hayes  

A criminal investigation has been launched after a group of masked and armed men issued threats where they described politicians in the Newry area as “legitimate targets”. In the video, the three masked men, who are shown holding what looks like firearms, say they are members of the ‘New Republican Movement’. One of the masked men accuses local politicians of ‘flooding our communities with undocumented military age men’, before hitting out at the supposed ‘sexual indoctrination’ of children. Olivia Peden is joined by Allison Morris.