In 1990, Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy lost his seminal libel case against the Sunday Times.  

But formerly secret files reveal the south Armagh republican was actually expected to win it – and that the paper was considering throwing in the towel. 

But a tactical error by Murphy led to the paper deciding to fight – and not settle, costing him a fortune.  

Ciarán Dunbar is joined by 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

The mistake that left ‘Slab' Murphy with a big bill and a massive problem  

When journalist Siobhan Fenton was headhunted by Sinn Féin in 2020 she was an outsider.

Entering the party press office in Dublin, she was from Belfast, and didn’t support IRA violence.

At the time Sinn Fein was soaring, with Mary Lou McDonald expected to eventually become Ireland’s first female Taoiseach.

But that hasn’t happened. Instead, the party’s momentum faltered – although it remains the biggest party on the island.

What goes on inside of one of Ireland’s most secretive party, and how is the new generation of Sinn Féin staff changing the party?

After five years working for Sinn Fein, Siobhán Fenton was ruthlessly dumped, learning that she was being ditched through a media report in 2025.

She has released the book ‘Ourselves alone: Sinn Féin behind closed doors’ - and she joined Sam McBride on the BelTel.

Siobhán Fenton: Former insider on Sinn Féin' ideological conundrums 

 “We’ll forget her soon enough.” That is the extraordinary comment Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's brother, claims King Charles made in the days following her death. Now, Spencer’s new book has reignited old tensions and prompted a rare response from Buckingham Palace. Daily Mail features writer Fred Kelly joins Kevin Doyle  to ask why Spencer is speaking out now, whether his claims stack up and what this latest royal row means for Diana’s enduring legacy.

‘We’ll forget her soon enough’ - Earl Spencer’s explosive claims about Princess Diana and King Charles

William McGrath, was an influential loyalist, founder of the paramilitary group Tara, and a hardline evangelical Protestant 

 

He was also a notorious predatory paedophile who rape dozens of young boys.  

 

Widely known as the ‘Beast of Kincora’ McGrath was convicted of abuse at the notorious east Belfast boys’ home and jailed in 1981. 

Now an audio tape of McGrath has emerged after more than half a century. In it he espouses an extreme ideology, inter-mixed with mythology, and fuelled by religion.  

 

?The Belfast Telegraph's Northern Ireland editor Sam McBride joins me to tell the story of the tape, how he got it, and what is on it. 

The mistake that left ‘Slab' Murphy with a big bill and a massive problem

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