In 1984, a massive explosion rocked the Grand Hotel in Brighton, where the Tory party conference was being held. The bombing went down in history as one of the most audacious attacks on the British government since the Gunpowder Plot. The target, Margaret Thatcher and her entire cabinet. In the new book, Killing Thatcher, author and journalist Rory Carroll takes a look back at the attack and the consequences. 

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

Margaret Thatcher: The IRA's plot to kill the 'Iron Lady' in the Brighton Bombing

The murder of Pat Finucane is one of the most notorious of the troubles. The 39-year-old Belfast solicitor was shot dead at his family home in north Belfast in 1989 by UDA gunmen. A series of investigations revealed collusion with the state. The first hearing of a public inquiry into the killing is set to take place next month – with Sir Gary Hickinbottom as chairman of the inquiry. Pat Finucane’s family, including his son, Sinn Fein MP John Finucane, has long fought for an inquiry into the case to be opened.  

Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Allison Morris to preview the inquest. 

Pat Finucane: Inquiry set to begin into the Belfast solicitor’s murder  

The jury in Noah Donohoe inquest have heard a sixteenth week of evidence. 

The schoolboy was just 14 when his naked body was found in a storm drain tunnel on June 27, 2020. He had been missing for six days. 

 On Thursday, an expert witness gave testimony on the CCTV footage of Noah leaving his flat during the night before he went missing.  

Earlier in the week the jury heard that conditions in culvert where his body was found would have been “terrifying”. 

Liam Tunney is covering the inquest for the Belfast Telegraph. 

Noah Donohoe inquest, week 16: Jury hears of ‘terrifying’ conditions  

In 1920 a momentous decision was finalised - three Ulster counties, Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan would not be included in the new Northern Ireland. It was felt that the new entity would be more secure without those counties which had nationalist majorities. But they also had large, Protestant, Unionist, Loyalist minorities - then abandoned in the new Irish Free State.  

Ed Burke has written a new book – it's called ‘Ulster's Lost Counties: Loyalism and Paramilitarism since 1920’. In it he examines armed loyalism and resistance to Irish nationalism coming from the people of the three counties. 

Margaret Thatcher: The IRA's plot to kill the 'Iron Lady' in the Brighton Bombing

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