The State of Us Podcast
Tara Mills and Declan Harvey deliver the detail on news stories in a BBC NI podcast.
Episodes to download
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How we make court podcasts
Yesterday
Tara Mills and Declan Harvey take an in-depth look at the rise of the court podcast.
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11. Provisional IRA & police notes—Drumcree Explained
Tuesday
The outcome of the legal challenge will be revealed next week.
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10. Threats from paramilitaries—Drumcree Explained
Monday
Police intelligence was revealed in the challenge of Sir Chris Bryant’s parade ban.
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22. The sentencing of Jeffrey Donaldson—The Donaldson Sex Abuse Trial
Last Thursday
Tara Mills and Declan Harvey report on the prison sentence handed to Jeffrey Donaldson.
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9. ‘Seismic’ court ruling—Drumcree Explained
Mon 12 Oct 2026
Garvaghy Road residents lost their bid to challenge the Parades Commission's decision.
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8. Bryant bans parade—Drumcree Explained
Sat 10 Oct 2026
The Secretary of State has banned the Orange Order parade on Garvaghy Road.
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Trial of the facts: A survivor's story
Wed 7 Oct 2026
Tara and Declan hear from a woman whose abuser faced a trial of the facts.
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7. Back in court—Drumcree Explained
Mon 5 Oct 2026
The Appeal Court reserves judgment in a residents bid to challenge the Drumcree parade.
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6. The new legal battle lines—Drumcree Explained
Wed 30 Sep 2026
Garvaghy Road residents are heading back to the Court of Appeal on Friday.
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5. Was the law broken?—Drumcree Explained
Tue 29 Sep 2026
First Minister Michelle O’Neill has been reported to the police by the Orange Order.
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4. Rules v Reality—Drumcree Explained
Mon 28 Sep 2026
The rules of marching and policing. How do they play out and do they apply to everyone?
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3. Inside the court battle—Drumcree Explained
Sun 27 Sep 2026
How the courts gave the Drumcree march the go ahead.
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21. Victims face Donaldson—The Donaldson Sex Abuse Trial
Fri 25 Sep 2026
The two women were in court as Jeffrey Donaldson's sentence was considered.
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2. Drumcree Now—Drumcree Explained
Fri 25 Sep 2026
The Parades Commission has given the march the go ahead. What arguments tipped the scale?
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1. Drumcree Then—Drumcree Explained
Wed 23 Sep 2026
How did the Drumcree dispute bring Northern Ireland to a standstill?
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20. Jeffrey and Eleanor to appeal—The Donaldson Sex Abuse Trial
Thu 17 Sep 2026
Eleanor Donaldson is to appeal the verdict from her trial of the facts.
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80. The verdict explained—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Tue 15 Sep 2026
The jury delivers its verdict on where, when and how Noah died.
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79. Second juror removed—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Mon 14 Sep 2026
Nine people are left on the jury to decide where, when and how Noah died.
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78. The inquest returns—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Fri 11 Sep 2026
The inquest into the death of Noah Donohoe is due to return next week.
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4. The verdict—Trial of a CEO
Wed 26 Aug 2026
The judge delivers her verdict in the trial of former council boss Anne Donaghy.
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3. The Sunday meeting—Trial of a CEO
Tue 25 Aug 2026
The court hears Anne Donaghy called colleagues to her house to discuss the deleted email.
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2. ‘Oh no, who sent that?'—Trial of a CEO
Mon 24 Aug 2026
A Council CEO is in court over allegations she deleted an email to a politician.
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1. The deleted emails—Trial of a CEO
Mon 24 Aug 2026
The trial about an email sent to former DUP First Minister Arlene Foster is underway.
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77. Shock adjournment—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Fri 3 Jul 2026
Shock adjournment – late night pause on inquest with no verdict for weeks.
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76. Jury out—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Tue 30 Jun 2026
Jurors start work on answers to the inquest’s questions.
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75. Final words to the jury—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Mon 29 Jun 2026
The coroner finished his closing speech to the jury.
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74. Jury findings restricted—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Thu 25 Jun 2026
The Coroner begins to sum up and explains to the jury what findings they cannot come to.
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19. The verdict—The Donaldson Sex Abuse Trial
Mon 22 Jun 2026
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is a convicted paedophile and child rapist.
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18. Jury still deciding—The Donaldson Sex Abuse Trial
Fri 19 Jun 2026
The jury considers the combined 23 charges for a second day.
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17. Jury considers verdict—The Donaldson Sex Abuse Trial
Thu 18 Jun 2026
The jury retires to consider the combined 23 charges.
