The BelTel

The Northern Ireland under-secretary of state Fleur Anderson has said publicly that opinion polls will determine if and when a referendum on Irish unity is called. It’s never been exactly clear what would trigger a poll on a united Ireland – so has she overstepped the mark, made a mistake or actually let the cat out of the bag. And who are this middle-ground who have the magic votes? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Professor Jon Tonge from the University of Liverpool and political commentator Ursula Savage. 

Brian Stack was the chief officer in the maximum security Port Laoise prison, which housed IRA members. In March 1983, he was gunned down by the IRA in Dublin after attending a boxing match – he succumbed to his wombs 18 months later. Austin Stack has long fought for the truth and for justice for his father, meeting with Sinn Féin and IRA officials, including Gerry Adams, to try and get to the bottom of the killing. He joined Ciarán Dunbar.

The Sallins train robbery was one of the most daring and lucrative heists in the history of the Irish State. And for Osgur Breatnach, a journalist and activist, it was the beginning of an ordeal that haunts him to this day. He was arrested that morning in 1976, as one of six accused of carrying out the robbery. One week before Christmas of the same year, he and his co-accused were brought into the Special Criminal Court and charged with the crime. It would become one of the most dramatic and longest-running criminal trials in the history of the State. In the final episode of this two-part documentary special, Kevin Doyle revisits the Sallins Train Robbery, speaking to Osgur Breathnach about the trial of the ‘sleeping Judge’, living with PTSD, and why he feels a public inquiry is justified for he and his co-accused.  

On the night of March 30th, 1976, a gang of armed men held a family hostage in rural County Kildare and derailed a mail train carrying the equivalent of over €1 million in cash and valuables. It was one of the most audacious robberies in the history of the Irish state—but today, it is remembered for very different reasons. What followed was one of the longest and most controversial trials in the history of the Irish state—one that would see IRSP menber Osgur Breathnach’s conviction overturned, but not before spending 17 months in Portlaoise prison. The IRA would later claim responsibility for the Sallins robbery, and nearly five decades on, Osgur is still seeking justice for his treatment in the Bridewell Garda station and wrongful conviction. Host; Kevin Doyle. Guest; Osgur Breathnach 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin says that he is “not planning” for a 2030 border poll. He’s currently promoting his Shared Island Initiative – which some unionists fear is a trojan horse for Irish unity but others are comfortable with. Republicans have always been distrustful of the Fianna Fáil leader. Sam McBride recently sat down with the Taoiseach, producing an interview that has sparked debate, satisfaction, and anger - has Micheal Martin really ruled out unity?He joins Ciarán Dunbar to interpret what the Taoiseach thinks of a united Ireland. 

Belfast pensioner Oliver MacCormack has been handed a seven-year sentence for exploiting vulnerable young women by plying them with heroin and forcing them to work as prostitutes. Three other men have already been sentenced as part of the same investigation, the oldest of which being 79. Some question whether the sentences handed out to the gang was stiff enough. Allison Morris joins Ciarán Dunbar. 

How successful were far-right attempts to influence loyalism and how deep do radical right links with loyalism go today? From the National Front to Combat 18, the English far-right has tried to colonise loyalism but how successful were they?   Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Aaron Edwards.  

On Sunday night at Augusta National, Rory McIlroy defeated Justin Rose in a heart-stopping playoff to win the Masters for the first time in his career. The Holywood man has become the sixth person to complete a career grand slam. In a special edition of the BelTel, Keith Bailie is joined by the Belfast Telegraph’s Chief Sportswriter Steven Beacom and Chief Audience Editor Gareth Hanna.   

Joe Lynskey, one of the Disappeared, was murdered by his IRA colleagues in 1972 and his body secretly buried. Remains recently found in a County Monaghan grave were hoped to belong to him, but the DNA says no. The finding leaves a new mystery - who was the extra body in the plot, and if it wasn’t Joe Lynskey - then whose remains are they? What are republican sources saying about the prospects of finding him now?  Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph’s security correspondent, Allison Morris.