The BelTel

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. 

People before Profit has one MLA in Stormont – Gerry Carroll. But the west Belfast man, known for his pro-Palestinian views and critiques of capitalism, has a high profile. People before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll spoke to Ciarán Dunbar about what he thinks a socialist Ireland would look like, his views on a border poll, and his views on immigration and the far right. 

Danny Morrison was once Sinn Féin’s publicity director - well-known for the phrase ‘a ballot box in one hand and an Armalite in the other’. Now, he’s no longer involved in front-line politics and is better known as a writer. His latest work is an updated memoir entitled ‘All the Dead voices’, which was originally released in 2002. Danny Morrison joined Ciarán Dunbar. 

Northern Ireland is six counties. But the province of Ulster was – and is – made up of nine counties – all including Ulster Protestants. As partition loomed, Unionists chose six counties and demographic dominance over nine counties with a much smaller protestant majority. But what if Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan remained in the UK? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Samuel Beckton, author of ‘The Unbroken Covenant: Could Ulster Unionists have controlled a nine-county Northern Ireland, 1920-1945'. 

Julian Simmons is a Northern Ireland broadcasting legend, best known for his colourful introductions to soaps on UTV. Although continuity was axed on the Channel during covid, Julian is still adored by the public, now swapping the tv studio for DJ decks and much more. But despite his bright plans for the future, Simmons says he fears that a comet coming through earth’s solar system could put humanity to an end. Julian Simmons talks with Ciarán Dunbar about his illustrious career, his childhood, and his thoughts on an alien visit to earth.