Gringo
07-15-2004, 11:06 AM
Just got sent this
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=540820
A BITTER row erupted last night over plans to make a film about
notorious IRA man Francis Hughes.
The planned £8m action movie - The Time Has Come - is the brainchild
of stuntman Joe Condren, and is set to be made by an Irish movie
company.
But a group representing victims of terrorism has slammed the
project, claiming it will represent a "glorification" of violence.
Dr Haslett Lynch, co-ordinator of West Tyrone Voice, said the hunger
striker's list of murder victims included his own RUC man brother,
Kenneth.
Casting for Hughes' role is still under way, but the movie could
feature a cameo role from Irish Hollywood star Colin Farrell.
And Nil By Mouth actor Ray Winstone is being lined up to play an
Army officer who pursues the IRA killer.
The movie will cover Hughes' attacks on the security forces, as well
as his time spent on the run.
One of the film's makers, Ned Dowd, said it was an "historical
story".
"There have been a lot of books written about it. A lot of people
are passionate about getting the story to the screen," he said.
But Dr Lynch said he was shocked at the plan.
He claimed Hughes had ordered dozens of killings in Tyrone and
Londonderry during the 1970s.
He added that the gunman was involved in the killing of his brother
Kenneth in June 1977, just seven weeks after he'd murdered RUC men
Kenneth Sheehan and John McCracken, that April.
Dr Lynch told Sunday Life his group would "vigorously" oppose the
film, and urged victims of IRA violence in the province to boycott
it.
A row broke out in 2001 when a Celtic cross in honour of Hughes was
erected outside Maghera.
Said Dr Lynch: "Why would anyone want to hero-worship or elevate
this man? He was nothing but an evil terrorist killer.
"I believe he played a major part in the killing of Kenneth, and our
group also works with the families of people he either murdered, or
helped plan their murders.
"Post-September 11, I can't believe American producers could even be
part of a project that will clearly glorify the actions of a
ruthless terrorist.
"The victims we have spoken to about this find it insulting that a
film-maker could even contemplate instigating such a project.
"We would be willing to meet these film-makers, just to show them
how the people we represent have been affected by men like Francis
Hughes."
However, former IRA hunger striker, Laurence McKeown, said he would
welcome the film as long as it was "an authentic piece".
"I would hope that it would be sympathetic to a famous guerrilla
fighter," he said.
Hughes - once the most wanted man in Northern Ireland - was only
caught after his two-man hit-team unwittingly stumbled upon an SAS
patrol, in 1978.
Although the other terrorist managed to escape, Hughes was captured
the next day, almost 100 yards from the scene of the fierce gun
battle.
He was later jailed, and joined the second IRA hunger strike.
He died on May 12, 1981, after going 59 days without food.
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=540820
A BITTER row erupted last night over plans to make a film about
notorious IRA man Francis Hughes.
The planned £8m action movie - The Time Has Come - is the brainchild
of stuntman Joe Condren, and is set to be made by an Irish movie
company.
But a group representing victims of terrorism has slammed the
project, claiming it will represent a "glorification" of violence.
Dr Haslett Lynch, co-ordinator of West Tyrone Voice, said the hunger
striker's list of murder victims included his own RUC man brother,
Kenneth.
Casting for Hughes' role is still under way, but the movie could
feature a cameo role from Irish Hollywood star Colin Farrell.
And Nil By Mouth actor Ray Winstone is being lined up to play an
Army officer who pursues the IRA killer.
The movie will cover Hughes' attacks on the security forces, as well
as his time spent on the run.
One of the film's makers, Ned Dowd, said it was an "historical
story".
"There have been a lot of books written about it. A lot of people
are passionate about getting the story to the screen," he said.
But Dr Lynch said he was shocked at the plan.
He claimed Hughes had ordered dozens of killings in Tyrone and
Londonderry during the 1970s.
He added that the gunman was involved in the killing of his brother
Kenneth in June 1977, just seven weeks after he'd murdered RUC men
Kenneth Sheehan and John McCracken, that April.
Dr Lynch told Sunday Life his group would "vigorously" oppose the
film, and urged victims of IRA violence in the province to boycott
it.
A row broke out in 2001 when a Celtic cross in honour of Hughes was
erected outside Maghera.
Said Dr Lynch: "Why would anyone want to hero-worship or elevate
this man? He was nothing but an evil terrorist killer.
"I believe he played a major part in the killing of Kenneth, and our
group also works with the families of people he either murdered, or
helped plan their murders.
"Post-September 11, I can't believe American producers could even be
part of a project that will clearly glorify the actions of a
ruthless terrorist.
"The victims we have spoken to about this find it insulting that a
film-maker could even contemplate instigating such a project.
"We would be willing to meet these film-makers, just to show them
how the people we represent have been affected by men like Francis
Hughes."
However, former IRA hunger striker, Laurence McKeown, said he would
welcome the film as long as it was "an authentic piece".
"I would hope that it would be sympathetic to a famous guerrilla
fighter," he said.
Hughes - once the most wanted man in Northern Ireland - was only
caught after his two-man hit-team unwittingly stumbled upon an SAS
patrol, in 1978.
Although the other terrorist managed to escape, Hughes was captured
the next day, almost 100 yards from the scene of the fierce gun
battle.
He was later jailed, and joined the second IRA hunger strike.
He died on May 12, 1981, after going 59 days without food.