The BelTel

Summer has begun, and once again, controversies continue to surround bonfire season. A man has been arrested over the erection of a replica of a mosque on top of a bonfire in Moygashel with a loyalist source in the area warning that any attempt to move in on the bonfire will result in a ‘stand-off’. Paramilitary flags remain flying on streets and other bonfires across Northern Ireland just weeks after the PSNI were legally given powers to remove them, including banners in Antrim and Dungannon eulogising Loyalist Terror Chief Billy Wright. Olivia Peden is joined by Belfast telegraph reporter Abdullah Sabri. 

Jeffrey Donaldson looks set to be investigated again after a further allegation of sexual assault on a woman in the DUP offices at Westminster. The young woman at the heart of the allegations says that the former DUP leader tried to get her to drink vodka shots in his office, that she refused to do, before he allegedly tried to kiss her on the mouth and put his hand up her skirt.The DUP has commissioned an investigation into who knew what and when, and if members failed to act, or turned a blind eye to Donaldson’s behaviour.Olivia Peden is joined by Allison Morris.

The trial for the murder of father-of-two John George is expected to begin in January 2027. The remaining suspect in the case, Newtownabbey man Johnny Smyth, is in a Spanish jail awaiting trial. A man who was occupying the villa where John George was last seen was stabbed in Lisburn City Centre last week - after previously suffering a knife attack in spain last year.Meanwhile, footage has emerged of wife of Johnny Smyth, Madison Allen , receiving multiple lacerations to her face from a man she is seen kissing just moments before.  Belfast Telegraph Crime Correspondent Allison Morris joins Olivia Peden.

The Noah Donohoe inquest has been adjourned until later in the year following an “unprecedented” late-night sitting. Jurors were sent out on Tuesday to begin discussions about their verdict and had been deliberating for almost 25 hours. The jury of eight men and two women were asked to deliver a verdict on teen’s death, and were asked to cover “what police knew, when they knew it and what they did in response”. Court was adjourned until at least August or September. Gareth Hanna joins Belfast Telegraph Journalist Liam Tunney. 

In 1996, Peter Lavery's life changed overnight. The Short Strand man was earning £300 a week driving buses when he became one of Northern Ireland's biggest ever lottery winners, scooping up a £10.2 million. Nearly 30 years later, he's one of Belfast's best-known businessmen. Today, he's the founder of Titanic Distillers, bringing whiskey production back to the city for the first time in almost 90 years, despite giving up drinking after being given what he calls a health 'ultimatum'.He joined Cathy Martin to talk about working the day after winning the jackpot, legendary nights out, and if money really can buy you happiness.This edition of the BelTel is an episode of the Belfast Telegraph's business and lifestyle podcast, In Good Company - available wherever you get your podcasts.

Two decades ago, a senior PSNI detective who had come from MI5 headquarters in London saw something he couldn’t believe – DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson entering a gay sauna.That story, which was revealed last week, has fed into speculation around what the police and intelligence services knew about Jeffrey Donaldson’s behaviour. It has now become clear that police were aware of the far more serious accusations of pedophilia against the former DUP leader before he led the DUP back to Stormont in January 2024 – just months before he was charged with historical sex offences.Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland Editor Sam McBride joins Olivia Peden.

Jeffrey Donaldson was an “unmitigated liar” and was living a double life while working in Westminster – according to former DUP MLA Jim Wells. In the days following Jeffrey Donaldson’s guilty verdict for child sex offences, more information has arisen about the disgraced MPs personal life – including affairs, the use of gay saunas, and drinking to excess. Former MLA and DUP member Jim Wells joined Olivia Peden. 

Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots has performed a massive U-turn on a strange decision which has caused unusual controversy around Stormont. Last month, Mr Poots blocked MLAs from discussing a proposal which survivors of abuse wanted to become law.The episode was extraordinary - because a large majority of MLAs not only wanted to discuss the proposal, but to vote for it to become law.Mr Poots has now changed his mind but has refused to give any explanation for why he did what he did. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride. 

Throughout the trial of Jeffrey Donaldson, his work for what he called “the local MP” was referenced in court. That MP was Enoch Powell – one of the most controversial British politicians of the 20th century. Donaldson served as Powell’s election agent in the mid-80s. Powell, who passed away in 1998, had been accused of being a paedophile, with allegations arising from around the time Jeffrey Donaldson had been working for him.Former DUP leader Donaldson was found guilty of historical sex offences, including rape, at the start of this week. Olivia Peden is joined by Belfast telegraph reporter Andrew Madden