https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/16m-in-public-money-for-kneecap-film-disgusting-says-son-of-enniskillen-bomb-victim/a1919373019.html
A man whose father was killed in the Enniskillen bomb has said the awarding of around £1.6m in public money to help fund a film on controversial Irish language rappers Kneecap is “disgusting”.
Last week, a biopic directed by Rich Peppiatt which documents the rise of the west Belfast trio, became the first-ever Irish language film to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
Last year, the band revealed a mural with the slogan “England Get Out of Ireland”.
A hand extends from a partitioned map of Ireland to grip an arm adorned with a Union flag as it places a Northern Ireland-shaped piece of land into place.
Both land masses are depicted in the colours of the Irish flag.
Their film, entitled Kneecap, stars Michael Fassbender alongside the group and has been picked up by Sony Pictures Classics, which has acquired all rights to the title for North America, Latin America, eastern Europe, Turkey and the Middle East.
The project received £810,000 from the National Lottery via the British Film Institute, as well as £805,000 from Northern Ireland Screen.
Stephen Gault, who was standing next to his dad Samuel (49) when he was killed in the Remembrance Day bombing, said the use of public money to fund the film was an insult to victims of terrorism.
Twelve people lost their lives in the 1987 atrocity and over 60 were injured.
“I personally think this is disgusting that the National Lottery, who give money to very worthy causes, would give money to glorify terrorism,” he said.
“As a victim of the IRA, I am sickened about them being portrayed in this way, as if they were okay.
“The victims once again have had their hurt stamped on by those who continue to rub salt into the wounds with this continued glorification of terrorism.”
It comes after the group hit out via their X account at a Daily Mail article highlighting the public money spent on the film.
They said the best part of the last five days had been “P*****g off the Daily Mail”.
An earlier post sharing the article was accompanied by the caption: “We only need to get lucky once.”
This phrase was used in an IRA statement after the October 1984 Brighton bombing which targeted members of the Conservative Party — including then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher — during their annual conference at the Grand Hotel.
ive people were killed, including Conservative MP and deputy chief whip Sir Anthony Berry.
“Today we were unlucky, but remember, we have only to be lucky once, you will have to be lucky always,” said a statement from the Provos at the time.
Kneecap said they couldn’t wait for the film “to show people a side of Belfast that isn’t about guns, bombs and death”.
“To give an insight into the youth culture that has been born out of that madness — we all needed a break from it and there’s revenge in our laughter,” they told Variety.
“Wherever we go we aim to smash preconceptions about cultural identity, language and highlight the role of the working classes to overthrow oppressive power.”
The film is earmarked for a release in Irish cinemas later in the year.
The National Lottery and NI Screen have been contacted.
by Gazmac_868855