Say Nothing: Jean McConville son reacts to Disney IRA drama

One of Jean McConville’s son has reacted to a new Disney series featuring the West Belfast mother’s IRA murder saying his mother’s death is not ‘entertainment’.

Michael McConville released a statement in the wake of the release of the new drama Say Nothing. The show was trailed as “a gripping story of murder and memory in Northern Ireland during The Troubles ”.

The nine episodes began on November 14. In pre-publicity, Disney described the drama saying: “Spanning four decades, the series opens with the shocking disappearance of Jean McConville, a single mother of ten who was abducted from her home in 1972 and never seen alive again.

Read more: Watch: Trailer released for new TV series on The Troubles

Read more: NI director on why he wanted to create a 'found footage' horror set in Belfast

“Telling the story of various Irish Republican Army (IRA) members, ‘Say Nothing’ explores the extremes some people will go to in the name of their beliefs, the way a deeply divided society can suddenly tip over into armed conflict, the long shadow of radical violence for all affected, and the emotional and psychological costs of a code of silence.

“The series stars Lola Petticrew as Dolours Price and Hazel Doupe as Marian Price, young women who became potent symbols of radical politics. Anthony Boyle stars as Brendan Hughes, a charismatic but conflicted military strategist, and Josh Finan as Gerry Adams, a leading political operator who would go on to negotiate peace and has always denied having any involvement with the IRA. Maxine Peake stars as older Dolours Price.”

However, in his statement released via the WAVE Trauma centre, Michael McConville described the hurt his family continues to feel regarding his mother becoming one of the Disappeared.

He said: “In relation to the Say Nothing series currently on Disney+, I have not watched it nor do I intend watching it. I have no interest in it. Disney is renowned for entertainment.

“My mother’s death is not ‘entertainment’ for me and my family. This is our reality, every day for 52 years. And although we live with it every single day and it never goes away, the timing of this is particularly bad given that it is my mother’s anniversary on 1 December.

“I just don’t think people realise how hurtful this is. The portrayal of the execution and secret burial of my mother is horrendous and unless you have lived through it, you will never understand just how cruel it is.

“Everyone knows the story of Jean McConville: even Hillary Clinton who I met a few years ago knew my mother’s story. And yet here is another telling of it that I and my family have to endure.

“Eventually this series will be forgotten and the people who made it will have moved on to something else. They can do that. I can’t.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.