The BelTel

The inquest into the death of Noah Donohoe, which is being heard before a jury, has now heard 13 weeks of evidence. The 14-year-old’s body was discovered in north Belfast on June 27, 2020, six days after he went missing as he cycled to meet friends.  On Monday, the jury heard from Daryl Paul, the thief convicted of stealing Noah Donohoe’s laptop.  Under cross-examination he denied an image of a hand found on the schoolboy’s phone belonged to him.  Liam Tunney is covering the inquest for the Belfast Telegraph.  

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 attacks a delivery driver was hijacked, threatened, and told to drive the bomb to its target. These attacks, claimed by the New IRA, came after a lull in violence– so what has sparked this outbreak? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph security correspondent, Allison Morris.

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 journalist Liam Clarke, then at the Sunday Times, the public, and indeed the IRA, had no idea.  There was a clear public interest in the story, but when it began to emerge M15 and MI6 went to great lengths to try to keep a lid on it – and were worried about another story Clarke was investigating, which involved Martin McGuinness. Formerly secret ‘Kew Files’ reveal their motivations.  Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph’s Northern Ireland editor, Sam McBride. 

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, is now being used by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. A former Nisos employee says few people understand the significance of what’s involved, but “it’s like handing a toddler a loaded gun”. Invest NI, is an agency under Sinn Féin Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald’s department – she ordered officials to look into the funding.  The Belfast Telegraph’s Northern Ireland editor Sam McBride joins Ciarán Dunbar.  

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 speculation”.  Earlier this week, the inquest heard that PSNI officers searching for Noah “never” thought they would find the schoolboy in the storm drain tunnel where his naked body was eventually discovered.  Liam Tunney is covering the inquest for the Belfast Telegraph. 

A majority of those polled in from the latest Belfast Telegraph / Lucidtalk polling believe that Gerry Adams was a member of the IRA.  The former Sinn Féin leader has always denied being a member of the organisation.  However, the overwhelming majority of people across the political spectrum say the matter has no impact on how they would vote.  Sinn Féin remain as the most popular party, despite First Minister Michelle O’Neill’s personal popularity dropping.  And over 60% don’t want US President Trump to visit – but unionists and nationalists sharply disagree on the Donald.   Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph’s Political Editor Suzanne Breen. 

When a lone Garda decided to arrest a squad of SAS men found in the Republic of Ireland on 1976, little did he know he had sparked an international incident which would involve the Taoiseach and Prime Minister – or that it would see the Irish government interfere with the justice system. Top secret files have revealed how the PM drew up a law to let two SAS men go on the run from the Irish but that in fact Dublin was determined that the soldiers would never do time. Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland editor Sam McBride discovered the file at the National Archives in Kew, London. 

The chief and only suspect in a Belfast satanic-style murder of a 10-year-old schoolboy is maintaining his innocence. Billy McDermott says he did not kill his little brother Brian. Brian McDermott’s dismembered remains were found in the River Lagan in 1973. Now living in England, Billy McDermott says his life has been ruined by accusations over the notorious murder of his sibling.  The Sunday Life’s Angela Davison travelled to Liverpool to put the accusations to McDermott - she has also spoken to other members of the family.