BAFTA SUCCESS IS A FANTASTIC TRIBUTE, SAY OMAGH FAMILIES
Bafta success is a fantastic tribute, say Omagh families
THE families of the victims of the Omagh bomb atrocity have told how success at the Baftas has vindicated the trust they placed in the film makers.
Michael Gallagher, whose son, Aiden, died in the massacre, was overwhelmed after the harrowing movie scooped best single drama at the glittering award ceremony in London.
He said: "It's a fantastic tribute and for me this night is for the families.
"It's for the people who put their faith in the team that made this film. This is the Icing on the cake and it cannot get any better than it did tonight."
Mr Gallagher had just flown into Belfast from Reykjavik where the film, simply titled Omagh, had featured in Iceland's first international film festival.
He told of his delight at seeing producer and co-writer Paul Greengrass take to the stage in triumph for their version of the August 1988 Real IRA bomb attack that killed 29 people, including the mother of unborn twins.
"This has just come as a shock, we never honestly thought that Omagh could do this," said Mr Gallagher, who is behind a High Court bid to sue the men he suspects of plotting the attack.
The drama, which has also won the Toronto Film Festival's Discovery Award, features a powerful performance by Gerard McSorley as Mr Gallagher.
And the real-life campaigner was filled with emotion as he watched those who had taken his darkest hour onto the screen achieve such high recognition.
"It's just fantastic to see everybody up on that stage, led by Paul Greengrass. I knew Omagh was up for being mentioned at the Baftas but I never thought it would have won," he said.
THE families of the victims of the Omagh bomb atrocity have told how success at the Baftas has vindicated the trust they placed in the film makers.
Michael Gallagher, whose son, Aiden, died in the massacre, was overwhelmed after the harrowing movie scooped best single drama at the glittering award ceremony in London.
He said: "It's a fantastic tribute and for me this night is for the families.
"It's for the people who put their faith in the team that made this film. This is the Icing on the cake and it cannot get any better than it did tonight."
Mr Gallagher had just flown into Belfast from Reykjavik where the film, simply titled Omagh, had featured in Iceland's first international film festival.
He told of his delight at seeing producer and co-writer Paul Greengrass take to the stage in triumph for their version of the August 1988 Real IRA bomb attack that killed 29 people, including the mother of unborn twins.
"This has just come as a shock, we never honestly thought that Omagh could do this," said Mr Gallagher, who is behind a High Court bid to sue the men he suspects of plotting the attack.
The drama, which has also won the Toronto Film Festival's Discovery Award, features a powerful performance by Gerard McSorley as Mr Gallagher.
And the real-life campaigner was filled with emotion as he watched those who had taken his darkest hour onto the screen achieve such high recognition.
"It's just fantastic to see everybody up on that stage, led by Paul Greengrass. I knew Omagh was up for being mentioned at the Baftas but I never thought it would have won," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0959
Published Date: 18-Apr-05
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