Sam McBride argues that the strength of the Irish Army is a crude barometer of how seriously the Republic takes the possibility of unity. 

Ireland’s Defence Forces are small, underequipped and getting weaker as more and more service men and women abandon the ranks due to poor pay and conditions.  

But what about a united Ireland – if loyalism chose to resist it would Ireland’s armed forces be able to deal with that? 

This is part three of a three-part series. 

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

Sam McBride: 'The state of Defence Forces shows the Irish government and republicans aren't seriously planning for a United Ireland'

Tullylish is a quiet rural parish, in the east of county Down. But during the troubles, it was known for being part of a ‘murder triangle’. From the 1970s to the mid-90s, over 20 people in the area were killed by paramilitary violence, with the UVF commander Robin ‘The Jackal’ Jackson co-ordinating many of these attacks. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sunday Life editor Martin Breen and Martin Doyle, author of “Dirty Linen” - a book about his experiences growing up in Tullylish.

Robin ‘the Jackal’ Jackson and the murders of Tullylish 

A mysterious double murder in Co. Longford in 1986 has been tied to Loyalists from Derry. Killed in their kitchen on a cold November night, Marie Murtagh (43) and Tom Taaffe (50) were mysteriously murdered in their farmhouse in the village of Aughnacliffe, Co Longford in 1986. Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Liam Collins, journalist with the Sunday Independent, who reported this gruesome murder at the time. 

Longford double murder: Mysterious case linked to loyalists 

When a restaurant review is published in the Belfast Telegraph, they can often attract a huge number of readers – especially if it is negative!

Many dream of being a food reviewer, but what gives them the right to publicly slate local restaurants? What sets an establishment apart? And exactly how disastrous is a bad review for the business? Belfast Telegraph food reviewer Joris Minne joins Ciarán Dunbar.  

Sam McBride: 'The state of Defence Forces shows the Irish government and republicans aren't seriously planning for a United Ireland'

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