The BelTel

In the past six weeks, four women have been killed in NI, bringing this year’s total of alleged femicides up to six. At the time of recording, a further two deaths from this weekend are under investigation. Why is femicide so high in Northern Ireland, how does the PSNI deal with domestic violence here, and can anything be done? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Allison Morris. 

On the 13 October 1994, six weeks after the IRA announced a ‘complete cessation’, the Loyalist paramilitary groups declared their ceasefires. The UVF’s Gusty Spence announced loyalist violence was over, in a step that is seen as one of the vital steps towards a lasting peace in Northern Ireland. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by former PUP leader Billy Hutchinson, Historian Aaron Edwards, and journalists Allison Morris, Mark Simpson, and Vincent Kearney. 

22 people died in the 2017 Manchester Bombing, and over a thousand were injured. Former TV producer Richard Hall has been in court for allegedly harassing victims of the bombing to show that the event was an ‘elaborate hoax’. He believes that the bombing was staged, and the people involved were ‘crisis actors’. What are they, and why do so many people believe in them?Olivia Peden is joined by Belfast Telegraph journalist Kurtis Reid to find out why conspiracy theorists deny events like these. 

Michelle O’Neill faced the assembly and with the repeated use of the words “sorry” and “apologise” tried to extricate Sinn Féin from the mire of the Michael McMonagle controversy – is it enough? Claire Hanna has now officially taken charge of the SDLP, can she turn around the party’s fortunes? And does Mike Nesbitt have a similar task ahead of him as he returns to the UUP driving seat?   Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Suzanne Breen. 

Former-UDA man Jim Spence, who has always denied links with the murder of solicitor Pat Finucane, has sold his £275,000 house in West Belfast and fled to England. Billy ‘Beachball’ McCune, not believed to be a UDA member at all, has returned to his home stomping ground after making a deal with the UDA’s Jackie McDonald. Newtownards UDA boss Adrian Price has been in court following his failure to stop for a police checkpoint amidst a feud that ripped through North Down. The Sunday World’s Northern Editor, Richard Sullivan, reports on the recent dealings of this anarchic terror and crime group.

Michelle O’Neill says she’s “aghast and horrified” that two Sinn Féin press officers, including their top spin doctor, gave references to a former colleague then under investigation for child sex offices – both have now resigned. Michael McMonagle has now plead guilty to 14 charges despite earlier denials and failing to turn up in court on two occasions. Sinn Féin suspended him as soon as they learned of the investigation, but he later gained employment with the British Heart Foundation, having provided the references. Guest: Sam McBride 

Former First Minister Arlene Foster has been advertising herself as a renewable energy expert at a cost of more than £10,000 a day. The Belfast Telegraph went undercover to get a quote for her services, the agency said that hiring the Baroness for a full day would cost “in the region of £10,000”. The decision to advertise her as a ‘renewable energy expert’ comes as a surprise to many due to her involvement in the RHI scandal. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride. 

During the Troubles, Republicans ‘disappeared’ 17 people - murdering them, and secretly burying them. But the Provisional IRA and the INLA were not the first republicans, or indeed combatants in Ireland, to use this method, it started long before the Troubles.   Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc has spent over a decade researching the fate of ‘the disappeared’ and how this phenomenon came about . He joined Ciarán Dunbar.