'˜Terrorism idolatry' of Sands film angers IRA victims

The South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) said the release of ‘Bobby Sands: 66 Days’ – a documentary based on the IRA man’s hunger strike and death in the Maze prison – had caused “a great deal of angst and hurt” to the many innocent victims and survivors of terrorism.

In response to the general release of 66 Days on Friday, the group has arranged the screening of a film that includes the testimonies of those whose lives were torn apart by the actions of the IRA and other paramilitary organisations.

Kenny Donaldson, director of services at SEFF, said: “The truth must and will prevail.”

He said: “The response from victims to this terrorism idolatry will be the same response that they have shown from the moment their lives were irreversibly changed – they will remain dignified.

“On the evening of Wednesday, August 10, 2016, South East Fermanagh Foundation will be showing our very own film which will include the testimonies of those who have been directly impacted by the terrorism perpetrated by Bobby Sands and his ‘comrades’ within the Provisional IRA.

“We say very clearly to the community, make your choice, go to Enniskillen IMC and other cinemas across Northern Ireland and allow yourselves to be propagated by a production which seeks to diminish the role and impact of terrorism, which seeks to banish individual responsibility and which promotes an over-arching notion of communal victimhood, or come and hear the stripped back factual truth of the legacy of PIRA terrorism throughout this county and beyond.”

Mr Donaldson said the legacy of Sands has “particular prominence” in Fermanagh in light of Sands’ election as MP for Fermanagh & South Tyrone on April 9, 1981 – just weeks before he died on May 5.

Sands – standing as an ‘anti H-block’ candidate – was successful in a Westminster by-election which took place following the death of independent republican Frank Maguire.

Nine more IRA and INLA prisoners starved themselves to death before the hunger strike was called off in August 1981.

There was an upsurge in violence during the six-month period, leading to the deaths of security force members, terrorists and innocent civilians on both sides of the divide.

Mr Donaldson said it was important for everyone in Northern Ireland to remember that the hunger strikers knew their actions were leading to the deaths of many innocents beyond the prison walls.

“We have written to the hierarchies of each of the main churches (from a numerical perspective), and also other churches within the county, and we call upon church leaders to join with us on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 for an evening of myth busting, remembrance, reflection and prayer.

“We owe it to those whose lives were ravaged by terrorism never to sit idly by allowing others to portray their actions as necessary or legitimate.

“In the context of Northern Ireland there is not and was not ever legitimacy for the taking of life in the advancement of or defence of a so-called political objective.”

Mr Donaldson added: “The deaths of the hunger strikers was a human tragedy – it was a tragedy allowed and encouraged to happen because of the ideology for which those men subscribed allegiance. But greater still was the tragedy caused by the actions of terrorism and others who committed criminal violence in the context of the Troubles – the hunger strikers had a choice to live; they and their ‘comrades’ did not extend that same fundamental right to others.”

Writing in the News Letter after a preview screening of 66 Days, commentator Alex Kane said the film asks tough questions of nationalists as well as unionists.

He said: “Bobby Sands: 66 Days is the story of that hunger strike. It doesn’t really address the moral/political issue of whether he was right to demand ‘political’ status, but it does force the audience to ask, “what sort of man would do that sort of thing?”

SEFF has invited those interested in attending the event on August 10 to contact their offices on 028 677 23884 / 677 22242 for further information.