Afleveringen
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Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots has performed a massive U-turn on a strange decision which has caused unusual controversy around Stormont. Last month, Mr Poots blocked MLAs from discussing a proposal which survivors of abuse wanted to become law.
The episode was extraordinary - because a large majority of MLAs not only wanted to discuss the proposal, but to vote for it to become law.
Mr Poots has now changed his mind but has refused to give any explanation for why he did what he did.
Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride.
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Throughout the trial of Jeffrey Donaldson, his work for what he called “the local MP” was referenced in court. That MP was Enoch Powell – one of the most controversial British politicians of the 20th century. Donaldson served as Powell’s election agent in the mid-80s. Powell, who passed away in 1998, had been accused of being a paedophile, with allegations arising from around the time Jeffrey Donaldson had been working for him.
Former DUP leader Donaldson was found guilty of historical sex offences, including rape, at the start of this week.
Olivia Peden is joined by Belfast telegraph reporter Andrew Madden
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Jeffrey Donaldson has begun his new life in Maghaberry Prison. Donaldson and his wife, Eleanor, are set to be stripped of their honours. The former MP and DUP leader, Jeffrey Donaldson was found guilty of 18 child sex offences on Monday - including one count of rape.
The 63-year-old had pleaded not guilty, but the jury of seven men and five considered its verdicts for ten hours over three days, believing his victims.
His wife Eleanor Donaldson was found to have committed the acts relating to offences of aiding and abetting following a trial of the facts.
Allison Morris joined Ciarán Dunbar to talk about what we couldn’t report while the trial was ongoing.
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Jeffrey Donaldson has been found guilty of 18 historical sex offences, including one count of rape, 13 of indecent assault and four of gross indecency. The offences were against two women when they were children. His wife Eleanor Donaldson has been found to have committed the acts relating to offences of aiding and abetting following a trial of the facts.
The leaders of the UUP and TUV immediately called for the Donaldsons to be stripped of their titles.
Jeffrey Donaldson has been taken to Maghaberry prison to start his sentence.
Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Allison Morris, Sam McBride, and Suzanne Breen.
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Jeffrey Donaldson has been found guilty of all charges – the judge said prison is “inevitable”.
A jury of seven men and five women had considered its verdicts for more than nine hours over two days, and reached a verdict just after lunch on Monday.
The 63-year-old former MP had pleaded not guilty to 18 offences including one count of rape.
His wife Eleanor Donaldson found guilty of all charges including five of aiding and abetting – she was facing a trial of the facts and cannot be convicted or go to prison.
Belfast Telegraph reporter Kyle Frazer joins Ciarán Dunbar.
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Another British Prime Minister is heading for the exit. Just days after insisting he would stay and fight, Keir Starmer has announced his resignation, bringing a sorry end to a premiership that lasted just two years. With his only serious rival out of the running, Andy Burnham now appears to have a clear path to Downing Street. Enda Brady joins Fionnan Sheahan to discuss how Burnham could approach the Irish relationship, handling Trump and defeating Nigel Farrage’s reform?
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Katie Simpson was a talented showjumper whose short adult life centred around the equine industry she'd grown up in. So, when first responders collected her, unconscious and not breathing, from the care of Jonathan Creswell, who would eventually be charged with her murder, police initially believed his claim that he'd found her hanging at home.
Creswell died by suicide in the early days of his trial. Since then, Ms Simpson’s story has been covered at length in documentaries, podcasts, a Police Ombudsman’s report, an independent case review, and a book by Nicola Tallant.
Although a tragic death among the showjumping set is far from her regular Crime World beat, Tallant believes Simpson’s is a dark story with more yet to be told.
This episode contains material that may be distressing. Please take care while listening.
Host: Fionnán Sheehan | Guest: Nicola Tallant (author of Groomed: Coercion, Control and a Cold-blooded Murder, and investigations editor at the Sunday World)
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Noah Donohoe’s remains were found in a storm drain in north Belfast on June 27, 2020.
The 14-year-old had gone missing six days earlier.
A post-mortem examination found that the likely cause of death was drowning.
The inquest into his death, which is being heard before a jury, is in its 20th week.
The jury has now heard from Detective Chief Inspector Tom Phillips. He was the senior investigating officer tasked with finding Noah and is the inquest’s final witness.
He told the court that Police may ‘never have answers’ to some questions around Noah’s death.
Liam Tunney is covering the inquest for the Belfast Telegraph.
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Jeffrey Donaldson’s trial is nearing its end. The court has now heard the closing arguments – all that remains is for the judge to give directions to the jury. On Wednesday, Donaldson’s barrister told the jury the complainants were “not sufficiently reliable enough to drive you to a sure conclusion that he is guilty”. 63-year-old Jeffrey Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences which include one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency. His wife Eleanor Donaldson’s barrister asked the jury to end her nightmare by returning verdicts that she did not do the acts alleged. The sixty-year-old from Dublinhill Road in Dromore, Co Down, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending.
She is facing a trial of the facts to test the evidence in the case but cannot result in a criminal conviction.
Allison Morris was in court.
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Belfast Telegraph’s Sam McBride went to East Belfast to ask people blocking a road – albeit peacefully – why they were protesting. That led to him being assaulted, challenged to a fight, intimidated and sworn at.
The fallout from last week’s riots continues with 35 arrests, and 23 people charged.
Police have described the events as “inexcusable lawlessness”.
Sam McBride joined Ciarán Dunbar.
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A prosecution barrister has told a jury that the two complainants in the case against Jeffrey Donaldson had ‘No reason to lie’. But Jeffrey Donaldson’s barrister has told the jury to look at evidence ‘dispassionately’, and that “When all is said and done, it is their word against his word”. Rosemary Walsh KC, for the prosecution, told the jury in Newry Crown Court that Jeffrey Donaldson’s wife Eleanor “was aware her husband had a sexual interest in pre-pubescent girls”. The former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson is accused of rape and several counts of gross indecency and of indecent assault. The 63 year old has pleaded not guilty to the 18 alleged offences. Eleanor Donaldson, from Dublinhill Road, Dromore, Co Down, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending.
Allison Morris is covering the trial for the Belfast Telegraph
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His killing shocked Ireland, cast a shadow over the peace process, and left a family searching for justice. Fionnán Sheahan and John Downing look back at the killing of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe, the political fallout, and why the case remains open three decades later.
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Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has now been cross-examined by the prosecution in Newry Crown Court where he is on trial over 18 alleged offences. He has plead not guilty to charges including rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency. Both complainants alleged they were abused as children. His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, from Dublinhill Road in Dromore, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending. She is facing a trial of the facts on mental health grounds.
Allison Morris is covering the trial for the Belfast Telegraph.
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The inquest into the death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe has now heard its 19th week of evidence. The inquest has now heard from mental health experts - one said it ‘feels like there is so much we don’t know about this case’. But the experts do agree that Noah is “unlikely to have died by suicide”. They also agreed that Jordan Peterson’s book ‘12 Rules For Life’ would have had an “influence” on Noah. The teenager’s body was found in a storm drain in June 2020 after being missing for six days.
Liam Tunney is covering the inquest for the Belfast Telegraph, he spoke to Olivia Peden.
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Jeffrey Donaldson has denied raping a seven-year-old child, under cross-examination, saying “it simply didn’t happen”. The former MP spent Thursday on the witness stand in Newry Crown Court. During the questioning, he admitted having an affair. Mr Donaldson is accused of rape and several counts of gross indecency and of indecent assault. The sixty-three-year-old has pleaded not guilty to the 18 alleged offences.
Allison Morris is covering the trial for the Belfast Telegraph.
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Violence sparked by a knife attack in Belfast continues. A Sudanese man has been charged over that incident. Twelve police officers have been injured as they confront rioters and attempts to target minorities. The PSNI deployed a water cannon in Newtownabbey as they were pelted with bricks. Meanwhile a health trusts says it is ‘horrified’ after a nurse ‘with different skin colour’ was chased into hospital by masked men.
Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Kevin Scott.
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Northern Ireland has seen serious race riots for the third year in a row. Masked men staged violent protests in number of areas, but the trouble was concentrated in the greater Belfast area, with homes set alight off the Crumlin Road and in east Belfast.
A Glider bus was set alight on the Newtownards Road and a police car was burned in Portadown.
The disorder followed an attempted murder involving a knife in north Belfast on Monday night.
A 30-year-old Sudanese man has been charged.
The Belfast Telegraph’s Visuals Editor Kevin Scott was on the ground in Belfast and Liam Tunney was in court.
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Eleanor Donaldson “met with a blank wall” when asking her husband Jeffrey about an incident with an alleged abuse – a jury has heard. Eleanor Donaldson also accused her husband of infidelity during police interviews.
And Jeffrey Donaldson told police a letter sent to one of his alleged victims had nothing “to do with any allegation or any action involving sexual abuse”. His trial over alleged sexual offences is continuing in Newry Crown Court.
The 63-year-old has pleaded not guilty to 18 charges, including one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency. His wife Eleanor Donaldson faces five related charges including aiding and abetting – she is facing a trial of the facts due to her mental health issues.
Allison Morris is covering the trial.
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A man believed by police to be Sudanese has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a violent incident involving a knife in north Belfast.
The attack, which has been declared a ‘critical incident’, happened in Kinnaird Avenue shortly after 10.30 PM last night. The victim - a man in his 40s - is in hospital in a serious condition. A video of the attack has shocked and horrified the public in Northern Ireland.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer labeled the incident as “sickening”.
A major police investigation is ongoing.
Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph Visuals editor Kevin Scott
This episode was recorded at 12PM on Tuesday 9 June.
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“I can’t get my head around” the abuse allegations made by Witness B, Jeffrey Donaldson told police.
The tape of the former MP’s interview with the PSNI was played at his trial in Newry Crown Count on Monday morning.
The jury also heard Donaldson deny that he apologised to Witness in the case because he thought it would “make this go away”.
“I wasn’t doing anything untoward,” Jeffrey Donaldson told police officers in relation to accusations made by Witness A.
Donaldson (63) is accused of rape and several counts of gross indecency and of indecent assault. He denies all 18 alleged offences. There are two alleged victims, Complainant A and Complainant B.
His wife Eleanor Donaldson, from Dublinhill Road in Dromore denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending.
Allison Morris was in court.
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