COUNCIL PRAISE FOR INSIGHT PROGRAMME ON ATROCITY
Council praise for 'Insight' programme on atrocity
OMAGH District Council is to write to UTV to congratulate the station on its 'Insight' programme on the Omagh bombing.
The programme, which was repeated on Sunday, featured some of the victims speaking for the first time about the trauma they suffered. Police officers told of how they unwittingly sent people to where the bomb was, and the carnage they were faced with after the explosion. And some of the bereaved told their stories.
At the council's monthly meeting, comparisons were made between the UTV programme and Carlton Television's 'Thursday Night Live' broadcast, which caused outrage among both the participants, and viewers throughout Northern Ireland, because of its 'insensitivity'.
Victims' support group, Aftermath International (Northern Ireland) is currently investigating the programme, and is making an official complaint to the Independent Television Commission.
Carlton has defended the programme, saying there were technical problems regarding the linkups between London and Omagh, and it is understood that the company's chief executive has written to all the participants 'explaining what happened'.
Speaking at the council meeting, Mr. Oliver Gibson, who was one of the participants in the Carlton broadcast, said he had already met with Aftermath International, and would be meeting them again.
He said the support group had the means of putting pressure on a large television company, like Carlton.
And he referred to the fact that UTV, which had received over 1,000 complaints about the programme, had, rightly, distanced themselves from the broadcast.
He pointed out that the Political Development Minister, Paul Murphy, who had also taken part in the Carlton programme, had been equally as annoyed about it.
And he said, hopefully, the television company would be forced to issue an apology and make recompense.
Mr. Pat McDonnell said Carlton needed to make some kind of retribution for, what he termed, "that travesty of a broadcast".
He went on to commend UTV for its recent 'Insight' programme on Omagh, saying: "That was a tremendous piece of television, and I have written to UTV about it. It was a sensitive, slow, patient and intelligent broadcast.
"The interviewees were given all the time in the world to answer, and spoke from their hearts. It was very moving, and showed documentary at its very best."
He proposed that the council write to UTV to congratulate them on the excellence of the programme.
OMAGH District Council is to write to UTV to congratulate the station on its 'Insight' programme on the Omagh bombing.
The programme, which was repeated on Sunday, featured some of the victims speaking for the first time about the trauma they suffered. Police officers told of how they unwittingly sent people to where the bomb was, and the carnage they were faced with after the explosion. And some of the bereaved told their stories.
At the council's monthly meeting, comparisons were made between the UTV programme and Carlton Television's 'Thursday Night Live' broadcast, which caused outrage among both the participants, and viewers throughout Northern Ireland, because of its 'insensitivity'.
Victims' support group, Aftermath International (Northern Ireland) is currently investigating the programme, and is making an official complaint to the Independent Television Commission.
Carlton has defended the programme, saying there were technical problems regarding the linkups between London and Omagh, and it is understood that the company's chief executive has written to all the participants 'explaining what happened'.
Speaking at the council meeting, Mr. Oliver Gibson, who was one of the participants in the Carlton broadcast, said he had already met with Aftermath International, and would be meeting them again.
He said the support group had the means of putting pressure on a large television company, like Carlton.
And he referred to the fact that UTV, which had received over 1,000 complaints about the programme, had, rightly, distanced themselves from the broadcast.
He pointed out that the Political Development Minister, Paul Murphy, who had also taken part in the Carlton programme, had been equally as annoyed about it.
And he said, hopefully, the television company would be forced to issue an apology and make recompense.
Mr. Pat McDonnell said Carlton needed to make some kind of retribution for, what he termed, "that travesty of a broadcast".
He went on to commend UTV for its recent 'Insight' programme on Omagh, saying: "That was a tremendous piece of television, and I have written to UTV about it. It was a sensitive, slow, patient and intelligent broadcast.
"The interviewees were given all the time in the world to answer, and spoke from their hearts. It was very moving, and showed documentary at its very best."
He proposed that the council write to UTV to congratulate them on the excellence of the programme.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1282
Published Date: 15-Oct-98
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