VICTIM SUPPORT GROUP TO LODGE COMPLAINT WITH CARLTON TV
Victim support group to lodge complaint with Carlton TV
BY: JOHN McCUSKER
In the letter, the group voices anger at what it sees as the "immeasurable damage" inflicted on victims' families who took part in the hour-long debate.
The programme at the centre of the dispute - 'Thursday Night Live' - was screened within hours of eight of those killed in the blast being buried.
Hosted by presenter Nicky Campbell, the programme has been described as a "tasteless" and "flippant" game-show which showed no regard for the feelings of the bereaved.
And within minutes of the programme finishing, UTV phonelines were jammed with over 1,000 complaints - four times the previous record of complaints for any programme's contents.
This week, Aftermath's founder and director, Karin McBride told the 'Herald' that the group was currently compiling a report before lodging an official complaint with the Independent Television Complaints group.
She said: "Concerning the Omagh atrocity, we know that all in all, everyone would be in agreement in congratulating the local media in the sensitive and respectful way in which their approaches to victims in particular were conducted.
"They themselves have had the unenviable task of reporting and trying to make sense of this crime against humanity.
"However, on the Thursday-evening, there was a live broadcast from Carlton TV for those brave enough to convey their testimonies.
"Aftermath International acknowledges that UTV is not responsible for the production or arranging the programme. This responsibility lies entirely with Carlton TV.
"Those taking part, it would appear, were approached on the basis and guaranteed that it would not be a platform to express political opinion, but would be a time to help them express, in their way, what had occurred in Omagh on 15th August.
"However, it would appear that for the second time in five days, the people of Omagh were deceived.
"This has caused immeasurable damage to those families who participated'' the group's statement added.
Ms McBride said the choice of venue for the programme -Omagh Leisure Complex - was also very tactless, as most of the families who were trying to locate their loved ones had an agonising wait there in the hours following the explosion.
"It was also from here that the identification process was coordinated and we feel very strongly, as do families, that this in itself was totally insensitive.
"We also feel that it was too soon after such an event to hold the interview in the first place.
"Of the total air-time of 60 minutes, only seven minutes were given to the survivors themselves.
"Some were in physical pain from their injuries, others had lost loved ones, left waiting and hoping that at some point in the proceedings, the presenters would have got back to them.
"As if that was not enough, a 'phone-in' was orchestrated and only added to the pain.
"It is the view of Aftermath International NI that the programme, from start to finish, was haphazard, shoddy and above all damaging and detrimental to all concerned."
Ms McBride urged anyone who felt strongly about the programme's format and content to contact the organisation, either by letter, fax or E-mail.
Aftermath International NI was also anxious to establish links within the Omagh area with anyone who would be prepared to spearhead the establishment of the group locally.
The director can be contacted at: PO Box 102. Newtownards, Co Down, BT22 2BF.
BY: JOHN McCUSKER
In the letter, the group voices anger at what it sees as the "immeasurable damage" inflicted on victims' families who took part in the hour-long debate.
The programme at the centre of the dispute - 'Thursday Night Live' - was screened within hours of eight of those killed in the blast being buried.
Hosted by presenter Nicky Campbell, the programme has been described as a "tasteless" and "flippant" game-show which showed no regard for the feelings of the bereaved.
And within minutes of the programme finishing, UTV phonelines were jammed with over 1,000 complaints - four times the previous record of complaints for any programme's contents.
This week, Aftermath's founder and director, Karin McBride told the 'Herald' that the group was currently compiling a report before lodging an official complaint with the Independent Television Complaints group.
She said: "Concerning the Omagh atrocity, we know that all in all, everyone would be in agreement in congratulating the local media in the sensitive and respectful way in which their approaches to victims in particular were conducted.
"They themselves have had the unenviable task of reporting and trying to make sense of this crime against humanity.
"However, on the Thursday-evening, there was a live broadcast from Carlton TV for those brave enough to convey their testimonies.
"Aftermath International acknowledges that UTV is not responsible for the production or arranging the programme. This responsibility lies entirely with Carlton TV.
"Those taking part, it would appear, were approached on the basis and guaranteed that it would not be a platform to express political opinion, but would be a time to help them express, in their way, what had occurred in Omagh on 15th August.
"However, it would appear that for the second time in five days, the people of Omagh were deceived.
"This has caused immeasurable damage to those families who participated'' the group's statement added.
Ms McBride said the choice of venue for the programme -Omagh Leisure Complex - was also very tactless, as most of the families who were trying to locate their loved ones had an agonising wait there in the hours following the explosion.
"It was also from here that the identification process was coordinated and we feel very strongly, as do families, that this in itself was totally insensitive.
"We also feel that it was too soon after such an event to hold the interview in the first place.
"Of the total air-time of 60 minutes, only seven minutes were given to the survivors themselves.
"Some were in physical pain from their injuries, others had lost loved ones, left waiting and hoping that at some point in the proceedings, the presenters would have got back to them.
"As if that was not enough, a 'phone-in' was orchestrated and only added to the pain.
"It is the view of Aftermath International NI that the programme, from start to finish, was haphazard, shoddy and above all damaging and detrimental to all concerned."
Ms McBride urged anyone who felt strongly about the programme's format and content to contact the organisation, either by letter, fax or E-mail.
Aftermath International NI was also anxious to establish links within the Omagh area with anyone who would be prepared to spearhead the establishment of the group locally.
The director can be contacted at: PO Box 102. Newtownards, Co Down, BT22 2BF.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0290
Published Date: 03-Sep-98
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