A new way of talking and learning about the news in Northern Ireland.

Tara Mills and Declan Harvey react and reflect on the stories that impact all our lives and speak to those who can help us understand why we’re in the state we’re in.

There’ll be lots of candid conversations, special guests, with wisdom, informality and some fun along the way.

Nothing will be off the table on “The State of Us”. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Victims of a former school welfare officer who was convicted of sexual assault and grooming have told ‘The State of Us’ they believe their school didn’t do enough to prevent the abuse. Neil Beckett groomed the schoolgirls and used his position as a welfare officer at Lagan College in Belfast to access vulnerable young women. He was found guilty on 17 counts last December. Lagan College have told the BBC “We pay tribute to the bravery of those pupils who came forward and we assure you that the school acted properly and promptly and in accordance with Lagan College’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, which adheres to Department of Education guidance, at all times”. Two young women, who've spoken to us anonymously, believe the school wasted crucial opportunities to safeguard pupils from harm. Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk If you’ve been affected by the topics in this episode, help is available at www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Tara Mills and Declan Harvey take on the tricky trans rights debate in today’s episode of The State of Us. Two local councils have become embroiled in the discussion. Where does the law stand in Northern Ireland, and what might be coming next?

They also chat about how the media reports on trans issues, and when the BBC has had to grapple with editorial decisions in this area.

Also on this episode: Declan’s dodgy ties and Tara’s TV trolling.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

This is an edited (mid-June 2025) version of our original recording. It includes some additional information about the statement that had been issued by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and reflects listener feedback about our discussion.

The west Belfast rap band Kneecap have dominated recent headlines. Tara Mills and Declan Harvey chat about why there is a such a tie between Northern Ireland and Israel/Gaza. Dr Julie Norman from University College London gives us the very latest from the Middle East.

Also on today’s episode:

Our BBC complaint of the week – should a BBC TV news presenter be allowed to wear trainers?

Contact us: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

The Department of Health tells The State of Us podcast that the Health Minister will make an announcement on the availability of weight loss medication in Northern Ireland ‘shortly’.

Marc McKee’s GP told him, aged 34, that he would be lucky to live to see his 40th birthday. Since then, he’s lost 9 stone in 9 months using weight loss injections.

He says the drugs have been ‘life changing’.

There are two drugs on the market - semaglutide, marketed under the brand name Wegovy, and tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro. Semaglutide is also used in the type 2 diabetes treatment Ozempic.

Tara Mills and Declan Harvey chat about the latest research in this area, and hear from Marc about how it has impacted both his physical and mental health.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this website, help is available at www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

A member of Irish language hip-hop group Kneecap has been charged with a terror offence after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a London gig.

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, 27, has been charged by the Metropolitan Police after an incident on 21 November 2024 at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London.

Mr Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 18 June.

In a statement posted on social media, Kneecap said: "We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves."

Also on today’s episode:

Julie Ann McIlwaine, of Hazel Close, Lagmore, stabbed James Joseph Crossley, 38, while he slept at her former home in Filbert Drive in Dunmurry on 2 March 2022.

The 34-year-old had admitted to killing Mr Crossley but denied his murder.

Her sister, Rachel McIlwaine, tells Tara Mills and Declan Harvey a "loss of control" defence should have been accepted in the case.

During the trial the court heard how Julie Ann McIlwaine and James Joseph Crossley were in a relationship marred by domestic abuse and coercive control.

If you’ve been affected by anything in this episode: www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

After four weeks of evidence in Dublin, the jury in Gerry Adams' libel case against the BBC is expected to be sent out to consider its findings soon.

He is suing over a 2016 Spotlight programme and online report in which an anonymous source alleged the former Sinn Féin leader sanctioned the murder of a British agent, Denis Donaldson.

Mr Adams, 76, denies the claim.

Hit subscribe to get our next episode once the jury reaches their verdict.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

An extra episode of The State of Us.

Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams wins his libel case against the BBC and is awarded €100,000 (£84,000) in damages.

Tara Mills and Declan Harvey talk to BBC Crime and Justice Correspondent Julian O’Neill who has covered everyday of the high profile case and former BBC Political Editor Mark Devenport who has written a book about Gerry Adams.

Mr Adams sued the BBC over a 2016 Spotlight programme and online report in which an anonymous source alleged he sanctioned the murder of a British agent, Denis Donaldson.

The BBC argued the words were couched as allegations – but Mr Adams argued they were presented as fact.

Gerry Adams was the president of Sinn Féin from 1983 until 2018 - he has consistently denied being a member of the IRA.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

NI porn star Meghan O’Neill says that because of her career, she has been treated worse than the man who murdered her brother.

In The State of Us podcast today, Meghan talks about how she explains what she does to her kids, her thoughts on any future relationships and how she balances work with living in a small town in Northern Ireland.

She earns good money on Only Fans and through pornography.

She’s also calling for decriminalisation of the sex industry in Northern Ireland.

If you've been affected by anything in this episode - www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

The high-profile loyalist Winston Irvine is in the UVF wing of Maghaberry Prison after he was given a two and a half year sentence for firearm and ammunition offences.

The 49-year-old of Ballysillan Road in north Belfast will spend half of his sentence in custody and half on licence.

At Belfast Crown Court, his co-accused Robin Workman, 54, of Shore Road, Larne was also sentenced to five years; half to be served on licence.

Both men previously pleaded guilty to possessing firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances.

Neither were charged under terrorism offences, so why has Winkie Irvine been placed on the UVF wing of the prison?

And why, in 2025, do we have separated wings in our prison system at all?

Also on today’s episode:

Northern Ireland-born fashion designer Jonathan Anderson has announced he is to take on the role of creative director of both women's and men's collections at Dior. He has stepped down from his role at Loewe after more than 10 years in the job.

The 40-year-old, who was born in Magherafelt in County Londonderry, said it was a "great honour" to take on the role.

He is set to debut his first collection, Dior Men Summer 2026, during Paris Fashion Week on 27 June.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Hazel Behan was working as a travel rep in Portugal in 2004; she was 20 years old.

She was asleep in her bed, when an intruder broke into her apartment, and subjected her to a brutal and horrific rape attack.

Years later, when she saw a photograph in a news report of the chief suspect in the Madeleine McCann case, Christian Brückner, her world was once again turned upside down.

Convinced he was the same man that attacked her, she went to the police and eventually the case went to a German court.

The convicted paedophile and rapist was acquitted of her rape last year.

In The State of Us podcast, Hazel tells Tara Mills and Declan Harvey about how difficult that verdict was for her, and how her fight for justice continues.

This podcast contains descriptions of sexual violence. If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised: www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

One in four children in Northern Ireland have missed more than a tenth of school days in the current academic year.

One mental health consultant said "school-based anxiety" had become an epidemic which is "off the Richter scale" in Northern Ireland.

Some of the main causes of school avoidance are cited are anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and bullying, either physical or online.

An MLA says this is the single biggest issue she has had to deal with since being elected.

The Education and Welfare Service (EWS) currently receives an average of 300 referrals every month from schools about children who are not attending class.

Tara Mills and Declan Harvey get to grips with what help is available for families, and what to do if your child just won’t, or can’t, go to school.

For help and support: www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Tara Mills and Declan Harvey in an extra episode of The State of Us on a second night of violence in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.

Protesters threw petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks at police.

Five people were arrested and a further 17 officers were injured overnight, bringing the total to 32.

Officers fired baton rounds and used a water cannon to disperse protesters as cars were set on fire and the windows of several houses were smashed.

The disorder began on Monday after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in the County Antrim town.

Crowds gathered in the Clonavon Terrace area for a second night of violent disorder, which has been described by police as "racist thuggery".

Also, why have Union Flags and signs saying: ‘Filipino lives here” appeared on the doors and windows of properties on the street?

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Police were attacked with fireworks, bottles and bricks in violent unrest across several towns on Wednesday – the third night of violent protests in Northern Ireland over immigration.

It began on Monday after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena. Two teenage boys appeared in court, speaking through a Romanian interpreter. Both deny the charges.

It spread to the nearby town of Larne - when masked youths attacked a leisure centre and set it on fire - which had been sheltering families caught up in the disorder earlier in the week.

Officials have described the violence as racially-motivated, with police calling it "racist thuggery targeted at ethnic minorities and police officers."

32 officers have been injured and authorities have struggled to keep the peace.

Also on today’s episode: The Casement Park Soap Opera.

£50 million for the stadium from the UK government has been welcomed by the GAA President Jarlath Burns – but how much will Stormont and the GAA contribute?

The saga has been running for 14 years – some of these decades old moments you may have forgotten!

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

A major upgrade to one of Northern Ireland's main roads has been thrown into doubt after a judge ruled in favour of a group of farmers, residents and landowners who challenged the legality of the project.

The long-delayed A5 scheme, first announced 18 years ago, has now been knocked back three times by the courts.

At the High Court in Belfast, Justice McAlinden ruled the construction should not go ahead in its current form because the plans do not comply with government climate change targets.

The judge said there was a lack of consultation and scrutiny of a new method for estimating greenhouse gas emissions, meaning there was inadequate information for "lawful decision making".

However, Justice McAlinden said the shortcomings identified are "capable of being remedied" and urged officials to make "concerted efforts" to address them so a safer road can be built.

Tara Mills & Declan Harvey talk to BBC NI’s Mid-Ulster Reporter Niall McCracken about what is next for the project.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Tara Mills and Declan Harvey talk to international rugby commentator Mark Robson.

He has one of the most recognisable voices in rugby broadcasting.

To outsiders, he has been living the dream - travelling the world covering a sport he is passionate about.

But in reality, he was suppressing a dark and distressing secret.

He was abused at Bangor Grammar School by the prolific paedophile Lindsay Brown.

The vice principal served two sentences for abusing boys at the County Down school - seven years in 1998 for a catalogue of abuse between 1968 and 1982 and for a further eight months for similar offences in 2021. He died in 2023.

For the last 10 years Mark has focused on rugby commentary with SKY, as well as Premier Sport, Eurosport, BT and the ‘World Feed’ with his commentaries going across the globe. In an extraordinarily candid interview, Mark tells Tara and Declan about the moment police arrived on his doorstep to ask him to testify against Brown, and the spiral his life took after that moment. This episode deals with issues around sexual abuse and suicide. For help and support: www.bbc.co.uk/actionline This episode has been edited.

Get in touch with questions or comments: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

A County Antrim couple have been awarded £300,000 in libel damages after they sued controversial gossip website, Tattle Life.

Entrepreneurs Neil and Donna Sands secured the pay-out in a defamation and harassment lawsuit over abusive comments posted on the website.

The defendant companies and operator of the site, Sebastian Bond, can now be revealed after reporting restrictions were lifted at Belfast's High Court on Friday 13th June.

The website which hosts threads commenting on influencers, celebrities and general members of the public has attracted up to 12 million visitors a month.

The judge said the site had been set up to deliberately inflict hurt and harm on others by allowing the anonymous trashing of people's reputations.

Tara Mills and Declan Harvey talk to journalist Aoife Moore, and hear from Kim Constable, Caroline McKenna and Cathy Martin – who have all been featured on the site.

Get in touch with comments or your questions: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

As we approach the end of the school year, P7 pupils are preparing for the move to big school, and as part of that, might be getting access to their own phone for the first time.

The State of Us team has asked 240 kids about their online lives – the results might surprise you.

It’s something parents/guardians are often unsure about, and can be a familiar dinner-table battle for families.

We haven’t identified the children or the schools, so that they could be as candid as possible.

The children are all pupils in P7 at a cross-section of schools in Northern Ireland.

Topics include: Online bullying experiences, interactions with strangers and the apps that the kids use.

Tara Mills and Declan Harvey talk to internet security expert Wayne Denner, and Charlotte Carson from the ‘Smartphone Free Childhood’ campaign group.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Will food prices come down? Will there be changes in migration? Can we buy more plants? And what of the £200 million spent on brand new port facilities in NI after Brexit? In other words, what will the new EU/UK deal mean for Northern Ireland?

Our Economics and Business Editor John Campbell give Tara Mills and Declan Harvey the lowdown on what all of this means for us.

Also on today’s episode:

- Does John have a photographic memory? - Tara’s days writing for Ceefax - Did Declan break the law?

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

A mother who subjected her young son to repeated abuse, including forcing his head into a cat litter tray, has been sentenced to six months in prison.

Ruth Anne Jennings, 53, of Oakvale Place in Maghera, was sentenced at Londonderry Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to three counts of assaulting her son, Jamie Jennings.

The court was told that two of the assaults took place in 2012, with a third occurring in 2016.

Jamie Jennings spoke to Tara and Declan about the years of abuse he endured at the hands of his mother ahead of her sentencing with her then-partner, Brian McMaster- who was also sentenced to six months in jail on Monday.

He’s the youngest of four boys who lived with their mother in north Antrim.

Jamie tells us what it was like growing up in their house.

He also talks about overcoming the abuse, and how moving in with his Granny meant life would never be as miserable again.

Now with his own baby girl, he talks about the father he will be.

This episode deals with issues around child abuse, and has occasional strong language.

For help and advice: www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

He’s had clients like Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp & Britney Spears.

He’s received Xmas cards from both sides of the political divide in NI, but after representing the former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams in a defamation case against the BBC earlier this year, libel lawyer Paul Tweed raises questions for the corporation.

He learnt a lot from boxing promoter Barney Eastwood, and now, aged 70, the solicitor has no plans to bow out of the fight.

This time, he’s going up against the social media giants like Meta and Amazon.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

What really goes into our food?

Tara Mills and Declan Harvey talk to the Northern Ireland business that is taking on food fraud.

It’s a multi-billion pound industry, and it means that what you think you’re putting in your mouth – might be nothing of the sort.

Remember the horse meat scandal? Well, that could be just the tip of the iceberg.

Dr Terry McGrath and Dr Maeve Shannon from Bia Analytical in Belfast – talk about the latest technology being used to tackle this ever growing problem.

From sawdust to Parma ham – how can we make sure what we eat is safe?

Also: Lasagne-gate – is it time for Tara and Declan to have a cook-off?

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Beth Rogers, 32 from Belfast had already started imagining the baby she and her partner would have, when a chance post on social media revealed the company she had been using had gone bust.

Apricity Fertility is an IVF concierge clinic, it acted like a middleman between patients, donors and doctors.

As the use of IVF increases, this type of clinic is on the rise.

Because Northern Ireland has a severe shortage of donor eggs, Beth had to secure a donor in England.

She and her partner paid Apricity £4,600 and had been matched with an egg donor, when it all came crumbling down.

If you’ve been affected by the issues in this episode, help and support is available at: www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

A mother and her two children murdered in their own home. The man suspected of killing them, their husband and father, died on Monday night.

Vanessa Whyte (45), and her children, 14-year-old James Rutledge and 13-year-old Sara Rutledge, were shot and killed on Wednesday.

Police say a triple murder and attempted suicide is one line of inquiry for detectives.

How does this community even begin to put the pieces back together after such a tragedy?

Tara and Declan discuss how the complex reporting of these cases has dramatically changed over the years.

For help and support: www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

The rising number of women murdered in Northern Ireland is causing concern. Why do some men kill, and what can society do to stop them? Declan and Tara speak to Michael Conroy, who delivers training for professionals in supporting the healthy personal development of boys and young men.

Members of a high-profile Irish evangelical Christian family chased the DUP chairman of the Education Authority, Mervyn Storey, through a church car park in County Antrim to challenge him over gender identity issues - they claim he’s being hypocritical.

The state of our hospital waiting lists continues to be shocking… but have many of us just accepted it?

Houses in religiously mixed neighbourhoods of Northern Ireland sell for more, but what impact do nearby painted kerb stones have on the value of a property?

Tara and Declan chat about the stories that have really struck them in Northern Ireland this week.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

The sight of Northern Ireland's waterways being covered in slimy, potentially toxic blue-green algae has become a regular occurrence in recent years - and 2025 is no different.

The algae has been detected almost 100 times across Northern Ireland since the start of the year, with the majority of sightings in Lough Neagh and the Lower Bann, as well as Lough Erne.

Lough Neagh, the UK's largest freshwater lake, has been blighted by large blooms of the potentially toxic algae in recent years.

With these blooms becoming a recurrent event, not just confined to summer, and scientists warning they are likely to keep happening for many years to come - how bad is the issue and what's being done about it?

From bubbles to space – Tara Mills and Declan Harvey speak to BBC NI’s Agriculture & Environment Correspondent, Louise Cullen about the problem, and how it might be solved.

Also: can you grow pineapples in NI’s climate?

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

It's been two months since scenes of hate and violence erupted on the streets of Ballymena, County Antrim – and the fallout is still evident weeks later.

Many homes remain boarded up on Clonavon Terrace, which bore the brunt of rioting described by the police as "racist thuggery".

Tara Mills and Declan Harvey revisit the street, along with the MP for the area Jim Allister.

The target of much of the aggression in June was the town's Roma (Gypsy) community and other foreign nationals. Some who fled say they are not coming back.

"Locals live here" posters, which first appeared by residents trying to protect their homes from being attacked, are still affixed to front windows on Queen Street.

For some, the eight weeks since the rioting has seen a change in Ballymena – Jim Allister said there had been "an exodus of largely Roma and some other eastern Europeans".

"It has transformed the feel in the area. There's no longer people standing around our street corners here," he told Tara Mills and Declan Harvey.

In this episode of The State of Us, the team look at the data around all of this, in a bid to find out what is really going on in Ballymena.

For organisations that offer support: www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

The accuracy of weather forecasting has improved almost beyond recognition in recent years. But despite those strides, there are still gaps in public trust. On The State of Us today, Tara Mills and Declan Harvey chat to the weather team about how tricky it is to get things right. Cecilia Daly and Barra Best answer questions like: How does weather forecasting happen? Why are there weather stations in Castlederg and Katesbridge? What’s the difference between “rain” and “showers”? And how did Barra get an actual storm named after him? Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Máire Mhic an Fhailí is the 74 year old woman who was arrested in Belfast earlier this month under the Terrorism Act.

She was wearing a T-shirt with the slogan “We are all Palestine Action”.

Palestine Action became a proscribed organisation in July under the Terrorism Act, making membership of or support for the group a criminal offence.

MPs voted to proscribe the group after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in June, spraying two Voyager aircraft with red paint and causing £7m worth of damage.

Palestine Action said it was behind the incident.

Máire tells Tara Mills and Declan Harvey about what led up to that arrest, why she feels so strongly and inextricably linked to the people of Gaza, and what she would do if she was sent to prison.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Tara and Declan talk to the women taking on the government over the cost of raising a family in NI. Louise McCullough and Rachel Benson are single mums, who are desperately trying to get themselves and their families out of poverty. Louise has two degrees, and is working towards her Masters qualification, she works 20 hours a week, the maximum she’s allowed to to retain her benefits. Rachel works part-time, but can’t afford to take on more hours. On The State of Us today, they give us their assessment of the long-awaited draft Anti-Poverty Strategy, which was agreed by Executive parties in May. They say there are too many barriers for them to be able to lift themselves out of the position they’ve ended up in. Almost 75 charities and anti-poverty organisations have called for the Northern Ireland Executive to withdraw the draft strategy, saying that families "deserve better". An anti-poverty strategy was first committed to by Stormont 19 years ago. In the next few weeks, we will be speaking to the Minister for Communities, the department behind the strategy, Gordon Lyons. For help and support: www.bbc.co.uk/actionline Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Are we in the grips of a cocaine crisis? It is the most prevalent Class A drug in Northern Ireland, and there has been a dramatic increase in use according to those working on the ground.

BBC Reporter Kelly Bonner tells Tara Mills and Declan Harvey about the people injecting it 20-30 times a day, and the devastating consequences of their addiction.

Also – is Ireland the gateway for the drugs trade from South America into Europe?

And what can be done about it?

Help and support is available at: www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Summer is over, its back to the benches for our MLAs – how are relations on the hill?

BBC NI Political Editor Enda McClafferty tell Tara Mills and Declan Harvey what’s coming up in the 18 months left of this political mandate.

Also: Why the Stormont canteen resembles an American TV drama, and Declan’s terrible taste in ties.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Gardaí continue to search a site in Donabate, north county Dublin, for a missing child, who is presumed dead.

Since the authorities last contact with the family - five years ago - the child disappeared. He would have been aged two at the time.

The case is disturbingly similar to that of Kyran Durnin, and gardaí have renewed an appeal for information on him a year on.

The last known images of Kyran were taken in June 2022, when he was six-years-old.

He was reported missing from his home in Drogheda, County Louth, in the Republic of Ireland in August 2024.

Despite extensive and ongoing enquiries carried out by Irish police, they have been unable to locate Kyran or determine what has happened to him.

How can two boys disappear for years, and it go unnoticed?

Tara Mills and Declan Harvey speak to Eimer McAuley, a correspondent for TheJournal.ie about the latest in both cases.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

It was a story of institutional inhumanity – which, at first, many found unbelievable.

Hundreds of babies and children, buried in an unmarked mass grave, at the site of an institution for unmarried mothers near the west coast of Ireland.

St Mary’s Home operated in Tuam, County Galway, from 1925 until 1961.

A religious order ran the institution, at a time of moral taboos when there was a social stigma around pregnancies outside of marriage.

It’s 11 years since a local amateur historian uncovered evidence of the scandal – and now, an excavation has begun to try to identify the lost children.

BBC Ireland Correspondent Chris Page tells Tara Mills and Declan Harvey about his long association with this horrifying news story, and has the very latest on the excavation.

For organisations that can offer help and support visit: www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Radio presenter Stuart Robinson started his broadcasting career 3 decades ago, as a wide-eyed 16 year old.

He has risen through the ranks of commercial radio and is now controller of NI’s most successful commercial radio portfolio – Cool FM, Downtown and Downtown Country.

In this interview he goes ‘behind enemy lines’ to tell Tara Mills and Declan Harvey just how real his public spats with Stephen Nolan and Barra Best are.

He also discusses why he’s critical of the BBC licence fee, and how successful the cash call has been.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

It was a case that shook the equestrian community. Now a new series explores the secret investigation that led to a murder trial.

Tara Mills speaks to Rachel Hooper and Natalie Maynes, producers from ‘Walk on Air’ films about events that led up to the death of 21-year-old showjumper Katie Simpson.

In a new documentary series, recorded over a period of years, Rachel and Natalie delve into the coercive control so many women experienced at the hands of Jonathan Creswell.

He’s the man accused of Katie’s rape and murder, and was found dead one day after going on trial.

Police initially thought Katie had taken her own life, and were it not for the tenacity of a small group of people, the case would likely have ended there.

For help and support: www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Action, some laughs and a lot of tears are to be expected as BBC One's police drama Blue Lights returns for its "most emotive season yet".

The long-anticipated third season of the show, which follows rookie cops navigating law and order in a post-conflict Northern Ireland, is set to air from Monday 29 September.

After scooping up a Bafta award for best drama earlier this year – producer and co-creator Louise Gallagher joins Tara Mills to talk about the huge success it has been.

While the premiere of season three is a matter of weeks away, headway is already being made on season four, with filming pencilled in for February.

Will Louise give Tara any spoilers?

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Nominations for the next president of Ireland close on Wednesday.

Already there has been some controversy around this race to the Áras.

BBC NI’s new Dublin correspondent Gabija Gataveckaitė joins Declan Harvey to talk about what we can expect from this campaign.

Who are the runners and riders?

What does the president actually do? Or, perhaps more crucially, what don’t they do?

Confirmed candidates so far include Catherine Connolly, Jim Gavin and Heather Humphreys.

Will Maria Steen get the required support to enter too?

Michael D Higgins' time as president of Ireland will come to an end in November.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Julian O’Neill joins Tara and Declan on The State of Us after new details were revealed on how the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) unlawfully used covert surveillance powers. A report has uncovered how the PSNI used journalists' phone numbers to check for any leaks of information by its officers or staff, and also revealed there were 21 unlawful uses of covert powers to attempt to uncover reporters' sources. Its author, lawyer Angus McCullough KC, said he found that the PSNI's surveillance of journalists and lawyers is not "widespread or systemic". PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said the report "rightfully highlights that we have to improve our processes, and we will". Julian, Tara and Declan take you through everything you need to know. Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

A bonus episode of the State of Us after the terrorism case against Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was thrown out.

Kelly Bonner joins Declan from outside Woolwich Crown Court to bring us how the case fell apart as well as reaction from the band.

The rapper who performs under the stage name Mo Chara was charged in May after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London, in November 2024.

He denied the charge and has described it as political.

We examine the technicality that brought the prosecution down, and what this means for Kneecap.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Following on from our chat with Rachel and Louise, two mothers living in poverty in Northern Ireland, the minister heading up the executive anti-poverty strategy defends his plan.

Minister Gordon Lyons joins Tara and Declan in The State of Us studio as they discuss the 28-page paper which sets out the proposed route to tackling poverty over the next 10 years.

It outlines efforts already being taken by various departments to help minimise the risks of people falling into poverty in Northern Ireland, as well as reducing its impacts and ways to help people get out of poverty.

Tara and Declan put some of the criticisms the strategy has faced directly to the minister.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Has the world of golf gone mad?

Swearing, shouting, and lobbing pints – that was the Ryder Cup 2025.

Stephen Watson is one of the closest journalists to NI golfer Rory McIlroy.

He's just back from Bethpage Black, where he said the atmosphere sometimes felt like a Trump rally.

He has followed Rory's career since he was a kid; through Masters wins and defeats, and at countless Ryder Cups.

But Stephen tells Tara Mills and Declan Harvey that the abuse the golfer received in New York was like nothing he has ever seen before.

A furious McIlroy swore at American fans during one of many heated moments of the golf tournament.

Is all of this just par for the course in a Ryder Cup competition, or is it time to call Fore! on golf’s bad behaviour?

This episode contains references to strong language.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Childhood vaccination rates in Northern Ireland are dropping year on year. Experts are worried. The Public Health Agency is warning that if rates drop further we will start to see the return of “diseases of the past” such as polio, diphtheria and tetanus. Measles returned to Northern Ireland last year. So why are people so divided about vaccines?

Two men who have been battling it out on social media, come together on the pink sofa to talk through it all.

Paul Frew, DUP MLA and Dr Connor Bamford, Virologist at Queen’s University Belfast go head to head in our great big vaccine debate.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

When a man was convicted of raping a woman last month, he went on the run. His victim says she felt down when it took police nearly two weeks to publish his picture.

Ahmed Abashar, 31, from University Avenue in Belfast, was convicted of rape last month but failed to appear in court.

Jane, not her real name, said the lack of action made her feel the police "weren't taking it seriously".

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said sexual crimes were "incredibly complex to investigate" and supporting victims was a priority.

Abashar raped Jane in March 2023 after they met on an online dating site.

A trial commenced on 23 September 2025 and he was convicted in court in his absence on 30 September. A bench warrant was then issued for his arrest.

Jane said his image should have been released by police as soon as he failed to appear, adding that the "sooner you get it out, the sooner everyone can be on the lookout".

So why did it take the PSNI so long to release the image? What is their policy on ‘mugshots?’ Why is it different to GB?

BBC reporter Brendan Hughes tells Tara Mills & Declan Harvey that victims feel ‘ignored and not taken seriously’ when no mugshot is issued.

Also today – our verdict on The Celebrity Traitors.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

The parents of a SEN teenager have been convicted for their son’s non-attendance at school in a case that has cost them £30k.

The Education Authority took the case against James and Leigh Bryson after their son Archie, who is autistic, missed almost a year of school.

The couple join Tara and Declan on the podcast to talk about having their lives dissected in court and feeling victimised by the process.

We also ask them about being found to have failed to meet their legal duty to ensure their child has access to education.

A spokesperson for the Education Authority said that following a long period of engagement, during which they say the Brysons were not cooperative, they were left with no other option but to pursue court action.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Donald Trump says the next stage of negotiations over his Israel/Gaza peace plan to end the war are under way.

There are no details yet though, about when, where or how that will be carried out.

The PM Keir Starmer says the focus in the days and weeks ahead is "the relentless implementation of this peace plan", which he calls "no small challenge."

With Tony Blair being tipped to potentially help oversee governance of post-war Gaza, his experience in helping to bring about peace in NI is being lauded as a blueprint for negotiations in the Middle East.

We are familiar here with talk of decommissioning, prisoner release and special envoys.

But can the diplomacy that took place then, really be useful now?

Kevin Connolly was a BBC foreign correspondent for more than 40 years.

He has covered his fair share of peace declarations and the aftermath, including here in Northern Ireland during the years leading up to and after the Good Friday Agreement.

He gives Tara and Declan his expert analysis about how much Northern Ireland's history can help in drafting a plan for the Middle East.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

Want to hear more about the Good Friday Agreement?

Have a listen to Tara and Declan on the Year ’98 podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0f6ltxb

People in the arts community who have sympathy with Israel are treated “basically like a Nazi” according to the writer of a major new TV drama.

David Ireland has said that the situation in Israel and Gaza is an “impossible thing to talk about” for some people working in the arts.

Ireland is the writer behind the ITV crime thriller Coldwater staring Eve Myles and Andrew Lincoln, as well as The Fifth Step, a play currently starring Jack Louden and Martin Freeman and showing at the Soho Place in London.

Born in Belfast, Ireland has said that there is a natural affinity between unionist communities in Northern Ireland and Israel.

In this episode of The State of Us, he explores that, and much more – including his relationship with alcohol, God and the rest of the arts community.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

A former paratrooper has been found not guilty of murdering two people on Bloody Sunday in Londonderry in 1972.

Known only as Soldier F – he was also found not guilty of five counts of attempted murder.

Thirteen people were shot dead, and 15 others injured, when soldiers opened fire at a civil rights demonstration in a predominantly Catholic part of the city.

Soldier F - the only military veteran to be prosecuted over the shootings - was screened from public view. The trial took place without a jury, with verdicts delivered by Judge Patrick Lynch.

On today’s episode, Tara Mills is at Belfast Crown Court, Declan Harvey is in Derry.

We’ll hear from families, veterans and have political reaction.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk

At least 116 children – including 91 teenage girls – have been married in Northern Ireland since legal reform to criminalise the arrangement of child marriages was announced over three years ago.

On 1 July 2022, Stormont’s then Finance Minister Conor Murphy said that work would begin on new legislation following a public consultation which showed overwhelming support to raise the minimum age for marriage and civil partnership to 18.

Currently, 16 and 17-year-olds can still marry in Northern Ireland if they have permission from a parent or a guardian. You cannot get legally married in England, Wales or Ireland under the age of 18. The Scottish Government confirmed in July that it is committed to consulting on raising its minimum marriage age from 16 to 18.

Tara Mills and Declan Harvey speak to data journalist Kathryn Torney, who has been delving into the figures.

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk