The State of Us

• 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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• What do kids really get up to on their phones?

  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: [email protected]

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• John Campbell to the rescue! (The UK/EU deal explained)

  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: [email protected]

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• The A5 upgrade has been blocked…again

  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: [email protected]

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• Suppressing a sex abuse secret: Why the voice of rugby stopped talking

  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 Get in touch with questions or comments: [email protected]

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