A son of Jean McConville has hit out at the Disney TV series telling his mother’s story, describing its portrayal of her murder and secret burial as horrendous and cruel.
Critically acclaimed, Say Nothing recounts the tragic tale of Belfast mother-of-10 Jean McConville, who was abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in 1972.
She was the first of the Disappeared, and her remains were only discovered found on a beach in the Republic of Ireland in 2003.
The killing of the widowed mother is remembered as one of the most notorious crimes of the Troubles.
Last week, former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams insisted he had “no involvement” in the killings of the Disappeared, including Ms McConville, as the new drama series launched on the streaming giant.
The nine-part series also depicts the troubled lives of IRA members Brendan Hughes and Marian and Dolours Price with plotlines spanning from the time of Ms McConville’s disappearance to the disappearance of others including Kevin McKee (17), Seamus Wright (25), and Joe Lynskey (40).
While critics have praised the show, it has re-opened old wounds for the family.
Last night, Michael McConville said he had not watched Say Nothing “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.
scenes from the Disney documentary, say nothing, which deals with IRA abuduction and murder of Jean McConville single mother of 10
“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.”
Scenes from the Disney documentary Say Nothing
Recently, Seamus McKendry, who is married to Ms McConville’s eldest daughter Helen, said the couple had binge-watched the entire show.
He said the abduction scene in the first episode was “poorly portrayed” and “should have shown the full horror of what happened”.
“There was no communication with the programme-makers at all,” he told the Sunday World.
“They never once lifted the phone to ask us what is your opinion on this or that.
“There was a total lack of communication with Helen and myself.”
Before their deaths, Hughes and Dolours Price both gave interviews in which they linked Mr Adams to an IRA unit associated with the killings.
The ex-Sinn Fein leader was arrested but later released without charge.