Former IRA Volunteer Marian Price Takes Steps to Sue Disney Over Depiction in ‘Say Nothing’

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As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in the complex narratives of various video games, I find myself drawn to this real-life drama that seems to mirror the intricate plots of many fictional stories. The line between fact and fiction often blurs in these situations, much like the boundary between good and evil in our favorite games.

Previously active member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, Marian Price, has started legal proceedings against Disney for their representation of her character in the critically-acclaimed miniseries Say Nothing.

On Wednesday, lawyer Peter Corrigan revealed that his client, Price (formerly known as Marian McGlinchey), was compelled to launch a lawsuit in Ireland against Disney, due to the show’s portrayal of her past reporting linked to the 1972 death of Belfast mother Jean McConville. The show is based on Patrick Radden Keefe’s book with the same title, published in 2019. Radden Keife claims that Price was responsible for the fatal shot that took McConville’s life, one of Northern Ireland’s “Disappeared.” The final episode of the series reflects this reporting, with Price portrayed by Hazel Doupe and Judith Roddy as McConville.

In his statement, Corrigan stated, “In light of the situation, it’s hard to imagine a more serious accusation that has been made against our client.” Previously, Corrigan represented a different former Provisional IRA volunteer who was accused of being involved in McConville’s murder. That case was dropped because evidence from Boston College’s oral history project was deemed inadmissible. Continuing his statement, Corrigan said, “Being deeply involved in the Boston College criminal proceedings related to this matter, it is evident that this current accusation lacks even a scrap of evidence.

The attorney remarked, “These accusations, spread worldwide, are not just unjustified but also despicable because they aim to inflict immense damage on our client for the sake of increased popularity in streaming. As a result, we have no choice but to launch legal action against Disney to make them answer for their behavior.

In Northern Ireland, before bringing a case against someone, the claimant is required to inform the possible defendant first. The defendant then gets 21 days to offer a response. However, FX chose not to provide any comments on this matter.

During the “Troubles,” a time of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, McConville was falsely accused of spying for the British army. In 1972, she was abducted and murdered by Republicans, leaving her 10 children without parents. Her remains were found on an Irish beach in 2003. However, a police investigation conducted in Northern Ireland in 2006 showed no proof that McConville had ever provided information to the British army.

Price chose not to respond regarding the book “Say Nothing,” according to Radden Keefe. However, following its release, she strongly denied the accusations made within. When questioned by THR about a specific scene, showrunner Josh Zetumer stated that the series’ portrayal of the murder was not speculative. He emphasized that Radden Keefe’s findings were verified by various sources, and added, “The ending is intended to be conclusive: This is the individual responsible for Jean McConville’s death. If Patrick felt differently, he wouldn’t have published it. And if we didn’t share his conviction, we wouldn’t have included it in our television series.

The television series “Say Nothing” made its debut on November 14 across the U.S. and English-speaking regions, garnering both high praise and controversy. This production has found a place on various prestigious lists of the year’s top shows, such as those from The New York Times, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and Vulture. However, its portrayal of sensitive historical events in Northern Ireland has sparked intense reactions, particularly among family members of the depicted subjects. For instance, one son of a central figure, Geraldine McConville, expressed strong disapproval in November, stating that he hadn’t watched the series but found it unacceptable that her murder was depicted. He emphasized the deep hurt and cruelty such depictions could cause for those who lived through these events.

On Monday, a letter penned by the parents of a British solider (who was tragically killed in a 2009 Real IRA attack) was published in the Belfast Telegraph. Price admitted to purchasing a phone that was later used by Real IRA members to communicate with media outlets and claim responsibility for their actions.

In response to Price’s lawsuit, Geraldine Ferguson wrote a letter to the Telegraph. She said, “We are painfully aware of what ‘immeasurable harm’ truly means because our son was murdered, and this is exactly what we experienced.” She continued, “Maybe Marian Price feels genuinely upset by her representation in the series; maybe she is genuinely innocent of this crime – that’s for her to decide with her own conscience. But I sense a hint of hypocrisy here, and it’s something we find extremely troubling.

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2024-12-11 02:24