6 November 1997 Edition
Television: A few home truths
By Sean O'Donaile
In the early days of the Troubles RTE earned a reputation for on-the-spot footage and reporting which exposed British brutality to Civil Rights marchers etc. Conor Cruise O'Brien and Section 31 soon put a stop to that and by the early eighties coverage had deteriorated to such an extent that reporters and researchers were `directed' to Workers Party supporters in Belfast, when covering the Hunger Strikes.
Last Thursday's Prime Time was a flashback to honest reporting which an exposure of the Widgery Tribunal and the experiences of Don Mullan, author of ``Eyewitness Bloody Sunday''.
The report began with the now infamous footage of Edward Daly waving the handkerchief and we were told how this event ``reverberated throughout the last 25 years''.
We were reminded of the great whitewash that was the Widgery Tribunal - ``a resounding defeat for truth'' (Dr Dermot Walsh). Widgery concluded that the soldiers came under attack from ``...Petrol bombers and nail bombers...'' and that the Paras' testimony was ``compelling''. He also concluded that ``there was strong suspicion that the victims were carrying arms...'' and ``as many shots were fired at the soldiers as they fired themselves...''
It is worth remembering Prime Minister Heath's famous reminder to Widgery before the Tribunal sat that Britain was ``also fighting a propaganda war''. Small wonder then that only 15 out of 700 statements were carefully handpicked, there was no cross-examination of the soldiers and the families were denied access to those statements.
In fifteen minutes this report cut to the bone, and Mullan alleged that there was ``a cover-up right to the top including the monarchy''. If the British again fudge Bloody Sunday the ``consequences could be as devastating,'' he said.
We await an apology, an honest account of what happened and an investigation into why the Widgery Tribunal lied. 25 years on little has changed in the eyes of the British military as evidenced by the remarks of the father of one of the Scots Guards found guilty of murdering Peter McBride in the New Lodge, when he stated it was McBride's ``own fault'' that he was shot (while unarmed).
The victims of government shoot-to-kill policy in South Africa have had more luck as seen in last Saturday's excellent documentary on BBC 2, South Africa - The Truth Commissions. Unlike the Six Counties a number of ex-police and military have come clean about their role in torturing and eliminating anti-government activists and they have requested amnesty. To do this they must re-enact their actions in front of their victims in packed courtrooms and ask for forgiveness, a small but important step on the road to reconciliation.
Geoffrey Benzene, who would fit in well at Castlereagh, had to face his victims as part of his amnesty and explain why he inserted electrodes in a victim's anus. He admitted approaching a psychiatrist afterwards to ``find out what type of person I was becoming'' and pleaded forgiveness from his victims.
Pila Ndwande, an ANC activist was abducted, tortured, shot in the head and covered in lime, and was described as an informer by the police in 1988. Nine years on her father was taken to the murder site where her bones were unearthed and the real truth revealed. Most importantly the smear of informer was lifted and she was finally given a hero's funeral.
Unfortunately not all cases end like this as only a fraction of the perpetrators have confessed - still a positive step and a refreshing difference to Lord Widgery and friends.
Access for TV cameras into courtrooms has reached farcical proportions with the coverage of the Louise Woodward trial. The personal trauma of individuals such as Woodward is now open season for the cameras and we're all invited.
We now have the ludicrous situation where TV is now influencing the outcome of a murder trial, with Sky TV's wall to wall coverage turning the case into a real life soap for those who can't watch Eastenders at three o'clock in the afternoon.
While acknowledging the pain of Woodward and the Eappen family we now have the sad situation where hundreds of Dubliners are now picketing the US Embassy because Sky TV tells them they can now play a part in this soap opera.
The cry of ``justice for Louise'' rings hollow when one considers the many innocent prisoners who languish in Long Kesh with no coverage or support from ``concerned'' Southsiders.
In the early days of the Troubles RTE earned a reputation for on-the-spot footage and reporting which exposed British brutality to Civil Rights marchers etc. Conor Cruise O'Brien and Section 31 soon put a stop to that and by the early eighties coverage had deteriorated to such an extent that reporters and researchers were `directed' to Workers Party supporters in Belfast, when covering the Hunger Strikes.
Last Thursday's Prime Time was a flashback to honest reporting which an exposure of the Widgery Tribunal and the experiences of Don Mullan, author of ``Eyewitness Bloody Sunday''.
The report began with the now infamous footage of Edward Daly waving the handkerchief and we were told how this event ``reverberated throughout the last 25 years''.
We were reminded of the great whitewash that was the Widgery Tribunal - ``a resounding defeat for truth'' (Dr Dermot Walsh). Widgery concluded that the soldiers came under attack from ``...Petrol bombers and nail bombers...'' and that the Paras' testimony was ``compelling''. He also concluded that ``there was strong suspicion that the victims were carrying arms...'' and ``as many shots were fired at the soldiers as they fired themselves...''
It is worth remembering Prime Minister Heath's famous reminder to Widgery before the Tribunal sat that Britain was ``also fighting a propaganda war''. Small wonder then that only 15 out of 700 statements were carefully handpicked, there was no cross-examination of the soldiers and the families were denied access to those statements.
In fifteen minutes this report cut to the bone, and Mullan alleged that there was ``a cover-up right to the top including the monarchy''. If the British again fudge Bloody Sunday the ``consequences could be as devastating,'' he said.
We await an apology, an honest account of what happened and an investigation into why the Widgery Tribunal lied. 25 years on little has changed in the eyes of the British military as evidenced by the remarks of the father of one of the Scots Guards found guilty of murdering Peter McBride in the New Lodge, when he stated it was McBride's ``own fault'' that he was shot (while unarmed).
The victims of government shoot-to-kill policy in South Africa have had more luck as seen in last Saturday's excellent documentary on BBC 2, South Africa - The Truth Commissions. Unlike the Six Counties a number of ex-police and military have come clean about their role in torturing and eliminating anti-government activists and they have requested amnesty. To do this they must re-enact their actions in front of their victims in packed courtrooms and ask for forgiveness, a small but important step on the road to reconciliation.
Geoffrey Benzene, who would fit in well at Castlereagh, had to face his victims as part of his amnesty and explain why he inserted electrodes in a victim's anus. He admitted approaching a psychiatrist afterwards to ``find out what type of person I was becoming'' and pleaded forgiveness from his victims.
Pila Ndwande, an ANC activist was abducted, tortured, shot in the head and covered in lime, and was described as an informer by the police in 1988. Nine years on her father was taken to the murder site where her bones were unearthed and the real truth revealed. Most importantly the smear of informer was lifted and she was finally given a hero's funeral.
Unfortunately not all cases end like this as only a fraction of the perpetrators have confessed - still a positive step and a refreshing difference to Lord Widgery and friends.
Access for TV cameras into courtrooms has reached farcical proportions with the coverage of the Louise Woodward trial. The personal trauma of individuals such as Woodward is now open season for the cameras and we're all invited.
We now have the ludicrous situation where TV is now influencing the outcome of a murder trial, with Sky TV's wall to wall coverage turning the case into a real life soap for those who can't watch Eastenders at three o'clock in the afternoon.
While acknowledging the pain of Woodward and the Eappen family we now have the sad situation where hundreds of Dubliners are now picketing the US Embassy because Sky TV tells them they can now play a part in this soap opera.
The cry of ``justice for Louise'' rings hollow when one considers the many innocent prisoners who languish in Long Kesh with no coverage or support from ``concerned'' Southsiders.