Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A coroner’s ruling the SAS was unjustified in shooting dead four IRA men in Tryone has been controversial with unionist politicians and British Army veterans. The four IRA men were shot dead in Clonoe in 1992, minutes after attacking Coalisland RUC Station. All four were members of the IRA’s East Tyrone brigade – one of the organisations most active. But it was also one which lost many of its own members at the hands of the security forces, particularly the SAS.

Ciarán Dunbar is joined by author of ‘Death in the Fields: The IRA and East Tyrone’ Jon Trigg, who served in east Tyrone as a British Army officer.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twelve people died when the IRA fired bombed the La Mons House hotel on the 17 February 1978. Scores were injured, some horrifically. The Provisional IRA claimed responsibility for the attack, it apologised for the deaths - claiming the bombers had planned to give adequate warning – but were thwarted by a broken phone box.

Journalist Ivan Little’s first shift as a news editor was on that day and has worked on the story ever since – he joins Ciarán Dunbar to tell the story.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

North Korea is one of the world’s most secretive states – known for its dictators who are treated like gods and an iron-clad grip on their citizens. Back in 1988, six members of the Official IRA made their way to North Korea to receive state of the art training – some were expelled from the country after a drunken brawl. The unusual alliance came as secretary general of the Irish Workers Party, Sean Garland, allegedly laundered millions of fake dollars for the Kim dynasty.

Olivia Peden is joined by journalist and author John Sweeney, who has visited the strange nation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

23 years after its emergence, the PSNI is still less than one third Catholic and the numbers attempting to join are according to the Chief Constable "below what's needed". Its latest recruitment campaign attracted a total of 3,500 applications but only 27% are perceived to be Catholic. The PSNI was born out of the Patten reforms of the old RUC but the changes which reforms brought about were painful for many who saw them as a betrayal. The controversial 50/50, Catholic / Protestant recruitment policy was seen as discrimination against Protestants.

Allison Morris joins Ciarán Dunbar to explain the background of the PSNI and the current difficulties it faces.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Methodist College Belfast’s insurers have been stung for £50,000 after a Carryduff boy sued over hazing at rugby camp. The boy was allegedly forced to strip naked and have his head shaved. Gabriel McConkey also claims he also witnessed other boys perform acts on a sex toy. He was also filmed in what the family say were “degrading” videos which left him “traumatised”. The school has apologised and has reviewed how such trips are supervised. What is hazing and does rugby have a particular problem with it?

Belfast Telegraph sports reporter Adam McKendry joins Ciarán Dunbar.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It all began in December, when an ex-girlfriend of Irish independent journalist John Meagher sent him screenshots of a fake dating-app profile using a photo of him. This would lead him on an extraordinary journey to find out who his catfish was – the answer to which would shock everyone involved.

Host: Ellen Coyne. Guest: John Meagher

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.