Sinn Féin are still top of the polls north and south – but all polls show the party has lost ground. Many commentators think Sinn Féin have lost their direction and sense of purpose. 

So - has Sinn Féin really lost its mojo and what can it do about it?  

Ciarán Dunbar is joined by politics lecturer and commentator David McCann to discuss what Sinn Féin will have to do to hold its ground ahead of the 2027 Northern Ireland Assembly elections.  

The BelTel brings you some of Northern Ireland's top journalists, Allison Morris, Sam McBride and Suzanne Breen to name but a few, giving you the inside stories behind what is in the news. Presented by Ciarán Dunbar, the Bel Tel investigates, debates and informs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The BelTel

David McCann on the challenges facing Sinn Féin and a United Ireland 

A report has lambasted ‘institutional misogyny’ in PSNI over failings in the Katie Simpson murder investigation. Police officers on the case were responsible for a catalogue of basic failures including not preserving evidence, missing forensic opportunities, dismissing key witness statements, failing to secure phones or even photographing her injuries. 21-year-old Katie from Tynan, Co Armagh, died almost a week after an incident in Lettershandoney. Police originally thought she had taken her own life. But a year later, Jonathan Creswell was arrested. Creswell’s trial ended in April 2024 after he took his own life following the first day of proceedings. 

The Belfast Telegraph’s Crime Correspondent, Allison Morris, joins Ciarán Dunbar. 

PSNI slammed by review of Katie Simpson murder investigation  

Julia Holmes was born as Cecilia McKitterick in Castlederg, County Tyrone. After leaving Northern Ireland when she was 19, she eventually settled in Texas, where she started her career as a scam artist - using more than 40 names to dupe her targets into handing over huge sums of money. She posed as countless aliases, including a minister and a psychologist. After being deported home for her crimes, she continued her scams, until she was found dead in 2015 alongside her partner, in what appeared as a suicide pact.

Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Gillian Halliday. 

Julia Holmes: The Castlederg woman, her 40 aliases, and the lives she destroyed

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. 

David McCann on the challenges facing Sinn Féin and a United Ireland

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