It’s been a busy year of news in 2024, with big headlines across news, sport, business and entertainment.
We’ve been at the forefront of the news agenda in Northern Ireland, and here are some of the biggest stories that we’ve brought you over the past 12 months:
Our most read story: Just hours before his arrest, Sir Jeffrey attended an Easter service
The biggest headline of the year was, of course, former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson’s arrest and subsequent charge with historical sex offences.
In the days following his arrest, Sam McBride brought details of his final public sighting as DUP leader and analysis of the events that followed over the coming hours.
Jeffrey Donaldson
Our most clicked-on story: Storm Isha live updates
While Sam McBride’s article on Jeffrey Donaldson got the most considered attention of our readers, nothing attracted users onto our site quite like weather updates. We put a lot of effort into keeping you all up to date – and safe – in the midst of storms, such as Storm Isha, which hit in January last year.
Watch: Trees down as storm Isha strikes Northern Ireland
Our most subscribed-for story: The 11 sex crime charges facing Jeffrey Donaldson
The Sunday Life exclusively revealed the exact 11 charges levelled at the former DUP leader back in April, with over 100 of your subscribing to the site directly from that story.
Jeffrey Donaldson takes a selfie with party faithful (Photo by Colm Lenaghan /Pacemaker)
Editor’s Choice: Eight of the biggest exclusive stories we brought you this year
One: Baroness For Hire: Arlene Foster is asking for £10,000 a day to advise firms on green energy
In September a Belfast Telegraph exclusive revealed that former DUP leader Arlene Foster, was seeking to cash in on her ‘expertise’ on renewable energy – despite having set up the disastrous RHI scheme.
The former First Minister had presented herself for hire through a public speaking agency which states that her guideline fees are between £2,500 and £5,000 a time.
However, when this newspaper posed as a fictitious corporate fixer asking about the cost of speakers, the agency revealed that the cost of a full day engagement was £10,000.
Read more
Arlene Foster is asking for at least £10,000 a day to advise on green energy – despite not even reading the RHI legislation she introduced
Two: Belfast council probe after show of strength by masked men during funeral of former UDA man at Roselawn
In May we revealed that Belfast City Council was “looking into” how three masked loyalists were allowed to put on a “show of strength” inside the local authority’s crematorium during the funeral of a UDA man.
It followed the funeral of Andrew ‘Andy’ Best from the Limestone Road during which six masked men in paramilitary uniforms carried his coffin, and floral tributes included one from the ‘Officers and members of the North Belfast UDA’ naming him as a volunteer “who’s (sic) service and sacrifice will never be forgotten”.
Best was a former member of the UDA’s 3rd Battalion based in Tigers Bay.
Masked men at the funeral of Andrew ‘Andy’ Best at Roselawn Crematorium
Three:‘Everybody wants to see Armagh win’: Poyntzpass Silver Band helped GAA club put their flags up as communities unite
In July, as Armagh prepared for its first All-Ireland final in two decades, we shared a story about the community in Poyntzpass.
Despite its small population being evenly split between those who identify as unionist and nationalist, the people of Poyntzpass united to decorate the village ahead of the big game.
Even the local Poyntzpass Silver Band joined in, helping the local GAA club raise flags throughout the village.
Armagh GAA flags and A union flag in Poyntzpass (Picture by Peter Morrison)
Four: NI Lotto winner returns to work at Tesco just weeks after £3.8m windfall
In January, we revealed how a lucky lottery winner returned to his job as a Tesco delivery driver in freezing conditions, despite becoming a multi-millionaire.
Dedicated Fermanagh man Jonny Johnston and his partner Christina Williams insisted their December lotto win would not change them.
He proved this to be true when, just weeks after the win, the hardworking man braved icy conditions that left much of Northern Ireland paralysed, ensuring groceries were delivered across Co Fermanagh.
Jonny Johnston out on deliveries last week. Picture: Aodhan Roberts/Sunday Life
Five: Lindy McDowell: The name’s Bryson, James Bryson… agent 007 Tests
After a senior DUP member entered a secret party meeting “wearing a wire,” Lindy McDowell jokingly suggested that Jamie Bryson could be in line for the role of the next James Bond, playfully dubbing him “agent 007 Tests.”
The meeting, convened by then DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, was supposed to be confidential, following a series of leaks to the media.
But it was later revealed that the audio of the hours long meeting was in fact relayed to loyalist activist Bryson, who provided a blow-by-blow account of events on social media.
How Jamie Bryson could look as 007
Six: Man cancelled as speaker at NI council’s Women’s Day event: ‘Social media pile-on gave false impression of who I am’
In March, ahead of International Women’s Day, eyebrows were raised when a male image consultant was chosen as the keynote speaker for a council event marking the occasion.
The backlash led to Billy Dixon being “cancelled” and withdrawing from the event, organised by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
Speaking exclusively to the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Dixon expressed his ‘anger’ and ‘hurt’ over the “social media pile-on,” which he claimed misrepresented who he truly is.
Billy Dixon
Seven:Caught on camera: NI guru who told clients to inflate income for credit
In November, we brought our readers an exclusive investigation into an NI entrepreneur who allegedly advised clients to inflate their income for credit.
The story centered on Darren Campbell, the Co Antrim-based founder of ‘FBA Brand Builder,’ a business that charges individuals for guidance on launching online selling ventures through Amazon.
While Mr. Campbell denied encouraging clients to falsify earnings, sources with firsthand experience of the brand expressed unease over some of its methods.
Caught on camera: NI guru who told clients to inflate income for credit
Darren Campbell after launching his initial business, Commerce DC
Eight: Former Linfield General Manager David Graham: ‘The job I got wasn’t the job I agreed to do’
In a standout episode of our podcast BelTel Football, former Linfield General Manager David Graham joined host Keith Bailie and chief sportswriter Steven Beacom.
Over the course of the episode, David reflected on his year-long tenure at Windsor Park and called for former Linfield manager David Jeffrey to be installed as the club’s new Director of Football.
A former DUP councilor, Graham left his role as Linfield general manager after just a year, a few months after resigning as Rangers head of communications.
At the time the club said that Graham would not be replaced, as they restructure roles.
Former Linfield General Manager David Graham: ‘The job I got wasn’t the job I agreed to do’
Former Linfield General Manager David Graham is this week’s special guest on BelTel Football
2024: The year of political scandals, returns and bizarre plot twists
