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The Nolan Show

Standing ovation at Lyra McKee's funeral as priest issues challenge to political leaders. But will his plea, or Lyra's death, make any difference?

We've had countless big funerals for victims of terrorism. We've had thousands of powerful sermons from the pulpit. But few have been as remarkable as the effect of yesterday's homily by Father Martin Magill at the funeral of murdered journalist Lyra McKee. With the Prime Minister and Taoiseach looking on, he issued a direct challenge to the Northern Ireland party leaders sitting in the front row at St Anne's cathedral. What impact will those words - and the standing ovation that followed - have on the politicians? Stephen spoke to Reverend Harold Good, the former Moderator of the Methodist Church who's been a key figure in peacemaking, the Newsletter's political editor Sam McBride and the Irish News security correspondent Allison Morris.

Also on the programme, Scotland is gearing up for a re-run of the Independence Referendum. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs at Holyrood yesterday that she's drawing up plans for a vote within the next two years. The last referendum took place in 2014 and delivered a vote against independence, but Ms Sturgeon said that Brexit means the circumstances have changed and that Scottish people should be given another say. Is there any evidence to suggest that the result might be different next time? And how do unionists here view the prospect of another Scottish referendum? Will it increase the pressure for a border poll? Stephen got the views of commentators Nelson McCausland and Daithi McKay.

All that and more on the biggest show in the country...

1 hour, 27 minutes

Last on

Thu 25 Apr 2019 09:03

Broadcast

  • Thu 25 Apr 2019 09:03

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Nolan True Crime: The Murder Of Marian Beattie. A podcast series from the Nolan Show

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