Ben Lowry is no longer the editor of the News Letter. The outspoken commentator was removed from his position without explanation. 

Mr Lowry had spent 19 years at what is the world's oldest continuously published English language daily newspaper. 

The 288-year-old unionist paper now appears to be drifting without an editor at the helm. 

The Belfast Telegraph has been told that staff are shocked and dismayed by the departure but the paper’s new owner has declined to answer questions about what is going on amid claims there was a row about possible Irish Government funding. 

I’m joined by the Belfast Telegraph’s Northern Ireland editor, and former political editor at the News Letter, Sam McBride. 

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

Mystery as News Letter editor Ben Lowry dumped – and won't be replaced 

For much of the world, the Troubles in Northern Ireland were about Catholics and Protestants fighting each other.  

With those labels being used as shorthand to this day to describe members of the two main communities, it's easy to see why.  

 But whilst for some the conflict clearly included a religious element, the role of religion is certainly up for debate.  

 But what about peacebuilding – what role did Christians have in ending the conflict?   

 Professor Gladys Ganiel’s research focuses on the role of religion in conflict in Northern Ireland.  

 She has written a new short book – it's entitled Christianity and Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland. 

She joined Ciarán Dunbar.  

God, Religion, the Troubles, and the Christian Peacebuilding  

Paddy Mackin and Eamon MacMahon's bodies were found on the morning of the 13th of July, 1983.  

They both had been blasted with a shotgun as close range.   

The murders of the 34 year olds were first blamed on INLA leaders Dominic and Mary McGlinchey.  But their families don’t believe that – they believe “other republicans” were involved.  

They claim that an informer recruited by Captain Robert Nairac helped set up their loved ones   They say this man later fled Northern Ireland after Freddie Scappaticci tipped off MI5 that his identity had been compromised.  

The story was broken by our political editor, Suzanne Breen. 

Families search for truth over 1983 south Armagh murders  

At 37, Jason Arday became the University of Cambridge’s youngest black professor.  

However, he is now at the center of a plagiarism accusations which have cast a shadow over his career – and thrust him into the international limelight.   

Parts of his CV have been rubbished, and his most implausible claims about his personal life and achievements have been ridiculed.   

Arday resigned from Cambridge last week saying he was under an "unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack".  

 The controversy has sparked intense debate.  While allegations against Arday have become a focal point for right-wing press and far-right groups online, many academics argue the case has been caught up in a wider culture war.  

 Ciaran Dunbar is joined by Kurtis Reid, to talk about Jason Arday – what he says, and what his detractors and defenders say. 

Mystery as News Letter editor Ben Lowry dumped – and won't be replaced

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