COMMENTING on the planting bombs by the Provisional Belfast's city centre during the early 1970s, the narrator of the fourth part of The Troubles, to be screened on ITV next Monday, says the bombs were for 'defensive purposes'.
The narration goes on to explain that the bombs were designed to occupy the attentions of the British Army while the IRA organised Catholic ghettos. What is remarkable is that a documentary on Ireland, a British TV company should choose to relay this fact.
Equally abnormal, part four of The Troubles describes the policy adopted by the Tory Government in 1970 in Ireland as one of coercion.
For those who have watched the first three parts of such descriotions, accurate as thev are will not come as much of a surprise.
The series nas which means more pro-Republican as it has progressed. on the first 50 years of the Ireland state. was the most forthriaht ex posure of the policies of that state that of IRA in Stained Michael, defence of the made by Loyalist The Troubles, the use of steadily better, tion of Last Monday's episode, Northern incidents has ever been put on film.
Michael Farrell's
Orande state as well as interviews with the film underlined repressive policies of the Unionists, their use of discrimination, and the apathy and censorship of the governments.
One criticism that can be made of this evisode is the use ot Glen Barr. as the 'expert' chosen to Michael Farrell. Barr is no fool, and as the leader of the Ulster Defence Association he could be considered enough representative of the Loyalists.
The content of what he said on Monday suggests otherwise. His condemnathe Unionist times, as harsh as Michael's; especially his comments on the 1932 unemployment demonstrations and their aftermath. And vet the opinions Barr expressed on such show just how appears to be. book the divide media and riddle. How s riddle.
sciously COunter JOSI be a fair Is this barrs government was, at tual with the colour-supplement tative of Loyalist opinion he is, or at least If it is the case, as Barr suggested, that he is fully aware of and opposed to the attempts of the Unionist leadership and rule the Northern Irish Inen tnere Is an obvious come that Glen Barr heads UDA, adopted and still follows policy ot assassination acainst Catholic. in general, and more recently against the socialist ¡caders imperialist movement?
path to workino class unity? Is not what he is involved with merely carrying on, indeed intensifying, the practices he condemns?
The answer to this riddle is that Glen Barr is a hypocrite, a liar, and an intellec confidence trickster. He loyalty to the cause of a united Northern Irish working class within the UK, and i a comedy sack rice comedy scenes give way gradually to an intense and optimistic chmax no sues chant or' we car' take no more of that' as the and break down the barricaded doors of the hall Cannot SOlVE the political crisis movement no1 consciousness black who reconnise mer exoerence. in the screen version But these are not the tasks that it sets out to accomplish.
Ccoo antentions nadette McAliskey. would of justify the defend the indefensible.
next Monday's episode, governments.
Reggie Maudling is the section on Bloody Sunday makers on ane presented, benefit of any doubt declares real WIl It seems the way to hell is paved with , However. comfort this week to the friends ; of Berhave been better if the The Troubles had chosen someone who would have attempted to Unionist government.
Perhaps, though, none could be found to Just how indefensible is underlined in which also puts under scrutiny the role of recent British Watch out for the way , and tor Indeed the technique used by the filmBloody Sunday is representative ot the entire series: the evidence is both sides of the dispute are stated, no final judaement is made. But the viewer is left in little doubt about who was right and who was wrong, and it is not the British Army, the Unionists or the government who are given the Which is why The Troubles is not only good television; it also displays a degree of honesty about Ireland which has rarely been seen betore on British TV