Michael Fanning / Managing Director
Michael is an award winning producer and director who has produced a range of current affairs and factual programmes for both network and regional broadcasters including Channel 4 News, Sky, RTE, BBC and TG4.
He currently manages all of Below The Radar’s television projects both English and Irish language as Executive Producer.
He joined Below The Radar in 2006 having spent 5 years working in news and current affairs at UTV.
Trevor Birney / CEO
Emmy-nominated producer, award-winning director, and the founder of Fine Point Films. Trevor Birney has most recently produced his first scripted feature, Kneecap, directed by Rich Peppiatt, which will have its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival in January, 2024. In 2023, he produced the Cyndi Lauper documentary, “Let The Canary Sing” which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival. Previously, he produced the Critics’ Choice Award-winning and Sundance hit film The Go-Go’s directed by Alison Ellwood. He directed the RTÉ television documentary series, “Quinn Country” which aired in 2022. His slate also includes Emmy-nominated film No Stone Unturned directed by Oscar-winner Alex Gibney, Sundance World Competition film Gaza, Emmy-nominated Elián for CNN Films, Netflix Originals Documentary Mercury 13, George Best: All By Himself for ESPN and BBC, Wave Goodbye To Dinosaurs in collaboration with Abigail Disney’s Fork Films, Bobby Sands: 66 Days and HBO’s Emmy-winning Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God directed by Alex Gibney. In 2020, he directed The Dakota Entrapment Tapes which premiered at Hot Docs and was released on Sundance Now.
He is also the founder of the television production company Below the Radar and the multi-award-winning investigative journalism website The Detail.
Máire Bhreathnach / Head of Irish Language
Máire began working with Below the Radar in 2009 as presenter on Sláinte agus Easláinte, a three part series on Ireland’s health care system for TG4. The success of this series led to presenting roles in Scéal an Airgid, a documentary series on Ireland’s economy for TG4; Luí na Talún, a rural and environmental series for BBC NI; the long running magazine series I Lár an Aonaigh (BBC NI) and most recently An Focal Scoir, an issues based discussion studio series for BBC NI.
She now heads up the Irish language unit in BTR and works as Producer, Production Manager and/or presenter across BTR’s Irish language content. She has recently produced her first feature length documentary Rocky Ros Muc which won best documentary at the Boston Irish Film Festival.
Máire also presents BBC Radio Ulster’s Irish language weekly current affairs panel show ‘Blas’.
Claire Burgoyne / Head of Development
Claire joined the company in 2016 after working as a programme manager at Catalyst Inc, formerly the Northern Ireland Science Park. There she was responsible for developing Generation Innovation, a network for innovative, creative and entrepreneurial young people. She also managed the annual Knowledge Economy Index report, charting the growth of the Northern Ireland innovation sector.
Previously Claire spent 18 years at the BBC. Highlights include leading a network radio development team in Belfast, responsible for commissions to BBC Radio 2, 3 and 4. She was also part of the project team for the acclaimed A History of the World collaboration with the British Museum.
Sabina Cherek / Chief Financial Officer
Sabina joined Below The Radar in 2011 as Finance Officer and has been an integral part of the company advancement over the past number of years. In February 2014 she was invited to join the Main Board of Fine Point Films as Chief Financial Officer with responsibilities across the group, Fine Point Films, The Detail and Below The Radar. Her key focus is to manage finances and maintain accurate and transparent financial records for all documentaries, feature films and online media productions with oversight for financial planning and reporting, auditors relations and human resources.
Sabina graduated with 2.1 in BS (Hons) Business from the University of Ulster in 2012. As a qualified CIMA member and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), Sabina holds the CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting. She is also a member of Accounting Technicians Ireland (MIATI) and a member of Chartered Management Institute (MCMI).
Michael Paisley / Editor
Michael Paisley joined Below The Radar as Senior Editor in November 2011. He is former Principal Editor with UTV.
With almost 20 years experience Michael has edited two Royal Television Society Award winning current affairs programmes. Having worked in a wide range of genres he has had productions short listed for RTS, Broadcast and ITV Awards as well as recognition in Broadcast Creative Review.
Andrew Pugh / Producer - Director
Andrew joined Below the Radar in 2018. He began his career as a newspaper journalist before moving into television production, producing and directing current affairs and factual programmes for network and regional broadcasters including the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. Credits include The Power of Parkrun, Saving the Shipyard, Restoring Ormiston, Home Ground, Dispatches: The Dirty Truth About Your Rubbish, Walkin’ Hame, and The One Show.
Ryan Ralph / Editor
Ryan joined Below the Radar as a researcher in 2013 following his placement on Northern Ireland Screen's Aim High scheme. He made the move into editing in 2018 and has worked on projects such as the BBCNI series Restoration Rescue and the RTS winning Colm Tóibín: On Memory's Shore for RTE.
Chris Scott / Colourist - VFX
Chris joined Below The Radar in 2006 and works as a Colourist and visual effects artist creating graphics for films, and TV shows. He has worked on such projects originating from 'The Day The Troubles Began (2008)' and many more documentaries through to the present day. Another one of his roles is to create PDF proposals to help secure future commissions. Chris is proficient in using software such as DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Suite, Blender, Nuke, and Silhouette. Chris is also a keen, designer, videographer, and photographer. He is passionate about exploring new techniques and technologies to use in future productions.
Maria Murphy - Production Manager
Maria has nearly 20 years of experience working in the television and film industry. She has worked across feature films, short films, entertainment, factual and documentary. Maria joined the team at Below the Radar in 2014 as an AP on Ulster-Scots productions. In 2018, Maria took on the role of Production Manager. She has managed several multi-episode series and single feature documentaries, overseeing projects for major broadcasters, including BBC, RTÉ, TG4 and Channel 4. Maria is also closely involved with the production management of the Irish Language department within Below the Radar.