The BelTel

The murder of Pearl Gamble and the man who hung for it

The morning after a dance in a Newry Orange hall, 19-year-old Pearl Gamble’s body is found at the end of a trail of blood. Suspicion immediately falls on 25-year-old Robert McGladdery, known locally for his predatorial behaviour. Less than a year later, McGladdery is the last man to be hanged on the island of Ireland. Historian Joe Baker and Charlie McSherry, a neighbour of Pearl Gamble, join Ciarán Dunbar to tell the story of her vicious murder. This podcast was first broadcast in February 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin O’Hagan: The LVF murder of Sunday World journalist and the struggle for justice

Martin O’Hagan was a former IRA prisoner who eventually rejected violence and became an investigative reporter with the Sunday World. He was murdered by the LVF in Lurgan on 28th of September 2001. No-one has ever been convicted of the killing. The National Union of Journalists wants an independent inquiry into the killing and the subsequent investigation into it. Ciarán Dunbar is by joined by Anton McCabe, Seamus Dooley, and by Jim McDowell, Martin O’Hagan’s editor at the Sunday World.This episode was first broadcast in November 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The time the Stickies went to North Korea

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.This podcast was originally published in February 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

McIlroy’s masters win, boxing success, and NI wins the World Cup... Northern Ireland’s top 15 2025 Sport moments

2025 was a platinum year for Northern Ireland’s sport superstars, from winning Premier League medals to securing world titles. Rory McIlroy finally got his hands on the green jacket, Lewis Crocker upset the odds to win the IBF Welterweight World title at Windsor Park, and Northern Ireland won its first ever World Cup... as Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney took home the glory of the 2025 PDC world cup. To count down Northern Ireland’s top 15 Sporting Moments of 2025, Keith Bailie is joined by Belfast Telegraph chief sportswriter Steven Beacom and reporter Niamh Campbell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The DJ Carey Story EP 3: The Con Collapses

DJ Carey said he was fighting for his life, but the truth was far more shocking. We ask how one of hurling’s greatest heroes went from legend to scandal, and what the courts would say as the law eventually caught up with him.Host: Kevin Doyle. Guests: Noel Tynan, Amy Molloy, Niamh Horan and Colm Keys Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.