The State of Us

• Maguiresbridge murders: A rural village plunged into tragedy again

  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: [email protected]

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• Lasagne-gate

  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: [email protected]

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• “I lost £5,000 after going to an IVF middleman”

  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/actionlineGet in touch: [email protected]

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• Libel lawyer to the rich and famous…and to Gerry Adams – Paul Tweed

  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: [email protected]

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• A mother jailed for cruelty and assault against her son – Jamie’s story

  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/actionlineGet in touch: [email protected]

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