Conor Spackman
Verified
As seen in:
BBC Spotlight,
Bottom LINE,
BBC,
BBC News,
Yahoo Canada,
Yahoo News Australia,
Yahoo News Malaysia,
Yahoo Singapore,
Aol,
Yahoo,
Belfast Telegraph
and
BBC Spotlight reporter formerly @bbcnewsni and @bbcpanorama. Work includes Panama Papers and Spotlight RHI trilogy.
Email: conor.spackman@bbc.co.uk
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Conor Spackman
A prolific abuser, a deathbed promise, and the boys who fought back
A school tutor who sexually abused boys more than 100 times was allowed to continue to prey on his pupils despite two complaints against him, victims say. Prolific predator Patrick Sharkey, jailed for six and a half years in June, worked at the County Londonderry school for more than a decade after the complaints and attacked more boys. One of his victims, Eamon McLaughlin, said his parents went to the principal after he was attacked during a weekend in Donegal.
Former school worker jailed for sexually abusing 19 boys
Conor Spackman - BBC News NI Thu, June 18, 2026 at 11:52 AM UTC 2 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. The court heard how Patrick Sharkey abused 19 victims over a 25 year period [BBC] A former Coleraine school worker has been jailed for six and a half years in the Republic of Ireland after pleading guilty to historic child sex offences.
Scammed out of £17k, one woman flew across UK to try to confront the suspect
Rhonda Montgomery has not been able to recover all of the money she lost [BBC] After losing thousands of pounds in a scam, one woman has described how she flew across the UK in an attempt to find the fraudster. Rhonda Montgomery lost £17,000 from her bank account after she was contacted by scammers pretending to work for Revolut. Embarrassed and angry, she travelled hundreds of miles to confront the person she believed had stolen her money.
'Housing shortage forced my family apart after sectarian attack'
Briege Begley is now living in temporary accommodation [BBC] A Catholic woman intimidated out of her home in June has said her replacement housing is substandard and, as a result, has split up her family. Briege Begley and her family lived at Westland Way in north Belfast for just three days but fled after what police have described as a sectarian hate crime.
Parents question 'flawed' Garda canal death probe
The family of a County Down woman found dead in Monaghan in March have blamed what they see as a series of mistakes by Garda (Irish police) investigators for leaving them with unanswered questions about what happened. Kelly Lynch, 23, was found in the Ulster Canal on St Patrick’s Day, 30 hours after the last confirmed sighting of her.
Nurses lived in hospital after race attack on homes
Nurses who were forced to leave an estate in County Antrim in July after racist intimidation spent several weeks living in a hospital with their children. BBC Spotlight visited the disused building tucked away in a corner of Whiteabbey Hospital, turned into the most basic accommodation. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) did not tell the nurses, on temporary visas, that they could apply for support for emergency housing.
Fijian living in NI describes home 'lost' to sea Original
'Climate change means I don’t have a village anymore' Conor Spackman, Chris Morrison and Denise O’Connor,BBC Spotlight Sireli McGoon says his home village has been lost as a result of climate change Sireli McGoon has been living in Bangor for 30 years. He’s settled in Northern Ireland, a stalwart of the city’s rugby club. But the plan was always to retire to the coastal village of Togoru in Fiji where he grew up.
South East Antrim UDA 'in talks' to end paramilitarism Original
Image caption, Martin Quinn believes members of the UDA were behind his brother's murder By Conor Spackman & Guy Grandjean Mediators have been speaking to the leadership of South East Antrim UDA about abandoning paramilitarism, sources have told BBC Spotlight. The group has become notorious for its involvement in organised crime. Martin Quinn, who believes its members were behind the murder of his brother Glenn in Carrickfergus in 2020, said he welcomed the move.
Michael Watts: Doubts over inquest findings following patient review Original
Image source, Brian Norma Sparkes Image caption, Stephen Sparks died in 2006 at the age of 32 Fresh evidence has cast doubt on the findings of an inquest into the death of a former patient of discredited neurologist Michael Watt. Stephen Sparkes died in 2006 at the age of 32. In 2010, an inquest found an epilepsy drug he was taking was "complicit" in his death. A coroner said the drug was "properly prescribed" but a review last year found Stephen was misdiagnosed.
Belfast gun victims’ families fear culprits will not be caught
Image caption, Mark Hall with his partner Sabrina Wilde By Conor Spackman and Pippa Cooke Spotlight Relatives of those killed in a spate of gun murders in Belfast over the past four-and-a-half years are concerned the culprits will never be caught. Mark Hall, 31, was shot dead in his family home in the Lower Falls in 2021. ……
Belfast gun victims’ families fear culprits will not be caught
Image caption, Mark Hall with his partner Sabrina Wilde Relatives of those killed in a spate of gun murders in Belfast over the past four-and-a-half years are concerned the culprits will never be caught. In their first broadcast interviews, Mr Hall's partner, Sabrina Wilde, and Mr Donegan's brother, Sean, tell BBC Spotlight about the impact the murders have had on their families. In both murders, police have said dissident republican activity is a line of inquiry.
NI health crisis: No money to ease A&E pressures, says top official Original
By Conor Spackman BBC Spotlight In trouble and needs help - that's the verdict on the health service from the most senior civil servant at the Department of Health. Peter May said there was no room in the budget for additional social care funding to ease emergency department overcrowding. Mr May is in charge of the department in the absence of Stormont ministers. He was speaking to BBC Spotlight, which spent two days filming at Craigavon Area Hospital in County Armagh.
Animal baiting: 150 people involved in Northern Ireland, says USPCA
The USPCA has told BBC Spotlight its intelligence indicates there are 150 people actively involved in animal baiting in Northern Ireland. Baiting involves deliberately setting up fights between hunting dogs and wild animals like foxes and badgers. Baiting badgers is illegal because badgers are a protected species while foxes have no legal protection. The charity believes there could be up to 14,000 cases of badger baiting in Northern Ireland each year.
Animal baiting: 150 people involved in Northern Ireland, says USPCA Original
By Conor Spackman and Guy Grandjean BBC Spotlight The USPCA has told BBC Spotlight its intelligence indicates there are 150 people actively involved in animal baiting in Northern Ireland. Baiting involves deliberately setting up fights between hunting dogs and wild animals like foxes and badgers. Baiting badgers is illegal because badgers are a protected species while foxes have no legal protection.
Mount Merrion minister moved in 1976 after abuse allegations Original
By Conor Spackman & Pippa Cooke BBC Spotlight A Church of Ireland minister in east Belfast transferred to a rural parish in the Republic after child sex abuse allegations were made about him in the 1970s, a BBC investigation has found. Billy Neely was also a scout leader and was banned from the organisation after he moved to Tipperary in 1976. Canon Jonathan Barry said complaints were made to a bishop and believes the move was connected to the allegations.
Coronavirus: Sir Van Morrison takes legal action against Robin Swann
By Conor Spackman BBC Spotlight Sir Van Morrison is taking legal action against Northern Ireland's Department of Health and its minister Robin Swann over an opinion piece in Rolling Stone magazine. In the op-ed article, first published in September 2020, Mr Swann criticised Sir Van's stance on Covid restrictions. A spokesperson for Sir Van confirmed the musician had issued legal proceedings. The Health Department said it would not comment on active legal matters.
Arc21: Council requests withdrawal from waste incinerator project
By Conor Spackman and Pippa Cooke BBC Spotlight Image source, Becon Consortium Image caption, An artist's impression of the waste incineration facility shows the scale of the project Evidence uncovered by BBC Spotlight indicates that a council involved in a proposal for a multi-million pound waste incinerator wants to withdraw. Six councils - acting as the Arc21 waste management group - submitted a planning application for the Mallusk site, in north Belfast, in 2014.
Covid-19: New calls for care home pandemic public inquiry
By Conor Spackman & Pippa Cooke BBC Spotlight Media caption, 'Care home work completely changed me as a person' The commissioner for older people Eddie Lynch has called for a Northern Ireland-based inquiry into the handling of care home residents. Former employees of a Newtownabbey care home where 14 residents died during the first wave of the pandemic echoed the call. Speaking to BBC Spotlight, one said the deaths had been "pushed to the side".
Causeway land investigation: Jim Allister calls for auditor's exclusion
By Conor Spackman & Michael Fitzpatrick BBC News NI A senior Audit Office staff member should be excluded from investigating land disposals by a council because of "appalling" handling of a previous complaint, an assembly member has said. Jim Allister said Colette Kane should not take part in an investigation into Causeway Coast and Glens Council. He criticised Ms Kane's response to a complaint he lodged in 2017.
Covid-19: Care home resident died after missing Covid-19 jab
By Conor Spackman and Claire Irwin BBC Spotlight image copyrightKane Family Photo image captionDorothy Kane and other temporary care home residents were not vaccinated A 92-year-old woman died with Covid-19 weeks after she, and other temporary care home residents, were skipped over during the vaccination programme. Vaccinators came to the County Antrim care home where Dorothy Kane, from Ballymena, was staying on 16 December 2020.
Dr Michael Watt: Concern over neurologist's contacts with patient Original
By Conor Spackman and Pippa Cooke BBC Spotlight image caption, Dr Michael Watt is at the centre of Northern Ireland's biggest patient recall Interactions with a patient by former Belfast Trust neurologist Dr Michael Watt have raised serious concerns, according to a medical ethics expert. London-based barrister Daniel Sokol has reviewed evidence obtained by BBC Spotlight, including text messages between Dr Watt and the woman that were sent between 2017 and 2020.
Green energy: NI's wind turbines generate controversy
By Conor Spackman and Claire Irwin BBC Spotlight Published duration32 minutes ago Fifteen years ago, hardly any of the electricity we use in Northern Ireland came from renewable sources like wind and solar power. Polluting fossil fuels, many of them sourced from distant lands, were our staple. But all that has changed. In the year to March 2020, renewable sources provided almost 47% of our power, easily hitting the Northern Ireland Executive's target of 40% by 2020.
Coronavirus: 'Thousands' of Covid cases not tracked and traced
By Conor Spackman BBC Spotlight Published duration26 minutes ago image captionContact tracing is considered a key element in slowing the spread of coronavirus Thousands of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 appear not to have been contacted by the Public Health Agency's Contact Tracing Service (CTS) this month. The CTS provides weekly updates of the number of positive cases transferred to its system and how many were 'reached'.
Coronavirus: Robin Swann did not make NI best-case scenario public
Image copyright PAcemaker Image caption Robin Swann did not want the public to have a false sense of security NI's health minister decided not to make public the best-case scenario laid out in pandemic modelling, a BBC Spotlight investigation has revealed. A leaked executive document showed that Robin Swann chose to keep the scenario secret to try to ensure public adherence to the lockdown. On 1 April, Mr Swann shared some of what new scientific modelling of the pandemic said.
Coronavirus: Robin Swann did not make NI best-case scenario public
Image copyright PAcemaker Image caption Robin Swann did not want the public to have a false sense of security NI's health minister decided not to make public the best-case scenario laid out in pandemic modelling, a BBC Spotlight investigation has revealed. A leaked executive document showed that Robin Swann chose to keep the scenario secret to try to ensure public adherence to the lockdown. On 1 April, Mr Swann shared some of what new scientific modelling of the pandemic said.
Coronavirus: Cancer referrals fall by half during lockdown
By Chris Thornton & Conor Spackman BBC Spotlight image sourceSCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY The number of people being referred to consultants with suspected cancer has fallen by about 50% during lockdown. BBC Spotlight has obtained figures showing that during April and May there were 7,500 fewer "red flag" referrals than in the same months in 2019. The number of hospital referrals by GPs for all conditions fell by 48,278.
What now for unionism?
By Conor Spackman BBC News Online The general election of 2010 will be remembered as a disastrous night for the leaders of unionism. Those who went to bed early will be waking up to one of the biggest shocks in the political history of Northern Ireland - Naomi Long beating Peter Robinson to take his East Belfast seat. As recently as the general election of 2001, Mr Robinson won 42.5 per cent of the vote in the constituency and his position seemed impregnable.
Dr Michael Watt: Neurologist 'carried out hundreds of needless procedures'
Image copyright Getty Images The suspended Belfast neurologist Michael Watt carried out hundreds of unnecessary procedures on patients, a BBC Spotlight investigation has revealed. Dr Michael Watt worked at the Royal Victoria Hospital as a neurologist diagnosing conditions like epilepsy and Parkinson's Disease. He is currently suspended from practising medicine. It follows about 3,000 patients being given recall appointments last year.
Dr Michael Watt patient recall: 'One in five misdiagnosed'
Image copyright Getty Images/utah778 Image caption Thousands of Dr Michael Watt's patients have been re-examined One-in-five patients of a Belfast-based consultant neurologist were misdiagnosed, according to details of a report obtained by BBC Spotlight. Dr Michael Watt is currently suspended from practising medicine. It follows about 3,000 of his patients being given recall appointments last year.
Saoradh's Ashe Mellon and Melaugh ‘in New IRA leadership'
Image caption Thomas Ashe Mellon, left, and Fergal Melaugh have not responded to the allegations Two Saoradh activists from Londonderry are also in the leadership of the New IRA in the city, security sources have told BBC Spotlight. Thomas Ashe Mellon and Fergal Melaugh were both Provisional IRA members in the 1990s, Spotlight understands. Spotlight wrote to the men for their responses to the allegations, but they have not responded.
Saoradh's Ashe Mellon and Melaugh ‘in New IRA leadership'
Image caption Thomas Ashe Mellon, left, and Fergal Melaugh have not responded to the allegations Two Saoradh activists from Londonderry are also in the leadership of the New IRA in the city, security sources have told BBC Spotlight. Thomas Ashe Mellon and Fergal Melaugh were both Provisional IRA members in the 1990s, Spotlight understands. Spotlight wrote to the men for their responses to the allegations, but they have not responded.
MOT diesel test failure may spark legal bid
Friends of the Earth has said it is considering legal action over the failure to carry out diesel emissions tests during MOTs in Northern Ireland. A BBC Spotlight programme revealed that tests on diesel cars were suspended in 2006 and have never been reintroduced. Emissions tests on diesels at MOT are meant to be carried out using a device called a smoke meter and are required by law. The purpose is to keep the most polluting diesels off the road.
MOT diesel test not performed in NI for 12 years
By Conor Spackman & Guy Grandjean BBC Spotlight Emissions tests on diesel cars have not been carried out during MOTs in Northern Ireland for 12 years, despite being legally required. The tests were crucial, an air pollution expert told BBC Spotlight, and not to do them was "virtually criminal". The government is legally required to do an emissions test on diesels. The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) said its staff do a "visual test" and make a "personal judgement" about emissions.
MOT diesel test not performed in NI for 12 years
Emissions tests on diesel cars have not been carried out during MOTs in Northern Ireland for 12 years, despite being legally required. The tests were crucial, an air pollution expert told BBC Spotlight, and not to do them was "virtually criminal". The government is legally required to do an emissions test on diesels. The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) said its staff do a "visual test" and make a "personal judgement" about emissions.
Inga Maria Hauser murder: Backpacker's nephew hopes for justice
The nephew of murdered German backpacker Inga Maria Hauser has spoken of his hope that his aunt's killer will be caught. The 18-year-old was murdered 30 years ago, shortly after she arrived in Northern Ireland. No one has been convicted of the crime. Viktor Liebl, and Inga Maria's friend Walter Schreiner, told the BBC's Spotlight programme that they are still hopeful of a breakthrough in the investigation.
A bookmaker has been arrested after a PSNI investigation into whether fixed odds betting terminals are in breach of Northern Ireland gambling laws. A file has been sent to the Public Prosecution Service which will decide if the bookmaker will be charged. There are believed to be about 600 fixed odds betting terminals or FOBTs in Northern Ireland. The machines were formally legalised in the rest of the UK in 2005.
Bookmaker arrested in gambling law probe
A bookmaker has been arrested after a PSNI investigation into whether fixed odds betting terminals are in breach of Northern Ireland gambling laws. A file has been sent to the Public Prosecution Service which will decide if the bookmaker will be charged. There are believed to be about 600 fixed odds betting terminals or FOBTs in Northern Ireland. The machines were formally legalised in the rest of the UK in 2005.
Labour's Barry Gardiner calls for Invest NI HQ probe
A Shadow Cabinet member and former Northern Ireland minister has called for an investigation into Invest NI's Private Finance Initiative contract. Barry Gardiner said he would ask the Audit Office to investigate revelations by the BBC Spotlight programme about Invest NI's Belfast headquarters. The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) was a way for the government to get buildings now and pay later. But many contracts have been criticised as they turned out to be too expensive.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Conor
Contact Conor, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack