The Truth Commissioner Page #4

Synopsis: Henry Stanfield is the new Truth Commissioner in Northern Ireland. Part of his job is to facilitate the peaceful sharing of power in Belfast. However, the investigation into the murder of a teenage boy, who acted as an informer, brings to light more buried secrets than either London or Dublin want to become known, and various people, both at home in Ireland and as far away as America, find out that old sins cast long shadows.
Genre: Drama
Director(s): Declan Recks
Production: Big Fish Films
 
IMDB:
5.7
Year:
2016
94 min
34 Views


- Mr. Stanfield? - Yes, what is it?

- I was in at the tribunal.

If you don't mind me saying, you

seem to be in a bit of a state.

I'm not sure what was going on in there

but I don't want my brother's

hearing to be like that.

How do you know Anna

Connelly, the Sinn Fein lawyer?

She came into the chamber

just now with some other woman.

I've met a lot of

lawyers since I came here.

Do you like the truth, Truth Commissioner?

- Truth is rarely pure and...

- And never simple. Yeah, I know.

- But it's what gets me out of bed at the morning.

- Yes, I can see.

I'll make sure Anna Connelly

will not humiliate my family

even if you won't.

I'll see to it that she won't.

It's Henry Stanfield.

I'd like to speak to Francis Gilroy.

(TANNOY ANNOUNCEMENT)

So, Michael, I was very sorry

to hear about your mother.

You'll be able to get me back?

You do what we tell you, you'll be

back in Boston before you know it.

The salmon are back.

That was a filthy pond when I was a boy.

Do you know this woman?

- No.

- She turned up at the commission yesterday

- with your Ms Connelly.

- And?

- No, I didn't think you knew.

- This is not my doing. I'm sorry.

Who's Madden?

- He's nobody. He was a boy.

- So why him? - He was there.

And did he kill Connor?

The Roches want a name. A guilty man.

- That's what you promised them, isn't it?

- They seem to want you.

Those photographs are for

Jake Marston's benefit.

- What does that mean?

- They make it seem like

they're serious about protecting me.

- A man Dublin and London could deal with.

- And?

Some of my colleagues

are protecting themselves.

If that's true, why don't you

stop them? I won't name names.

I think you'll let Madden take the rap

because it's the least

worst option for you.

I didn't kill Connor Roche, but you drag me

before the commission,

it'll be as if I did.

No-one will benefit except

those who replace me.

How many times in how many

countries have I heard that speech?

You must do what you

have to do, Mr. Stanfield.

I always knew my job

was a poisoned chalice.

What about yours?

(CAR ENGINE STARTS)

- Interesting.

- He's old school.

He won't be pleased about the photographs.

Send Mr. Stanfield the other images.

(MOBILE PHONE BEEPS)

- Dad. - Emma.

- Dad, what's it? What's wrong?

- I'm sorry to wake you.

- No, no, I was... What's wrong?

I... I just wanted to hear

the sound of your voice.

Make sure you're all right.

- Well, I'm uncomfortable. I'm fine.

- Right.

- Emma?

- What is it, Dad?

It's... nothing.

Goodnight.

Prime Minister, I'm afraid I'm going

to have to tender my resignation.

I have a daughter who's moved

here. She's pregnant, vulnerable.

I cannot guarantee her safety.

I realise your personal investment in this.

Yes, you made it very plain.

This is to be your legacy.

Just let me try to explain.

No, of course not. No, I haven't. Not yet.

Yes. All right. All right.

(PHONE RINGS)

Yes, what is it?

- Henry, are you all right?

- What is it, Laura?

I'm sorry to pressure you but you

need to make a decision on Gilroy.

You need to know now?

Yes, the Roche case has been

moved forward to Thursday.

Hello.

Take Gilroy off the list. Let's see

what their star witness has to say.

- You're sure?

- Yes.

OK. Sleep well.

It's the right choice. Believe me.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

- Is everything all right? Emma?

- She's fine. There's a guard at the house.

I know the men on duty. Very

discreet. She's in good hands.

I was told to give this to you. It

was left at the commission for you.

- Can I offer you a drink?

- Thank you. But I'd better get back.

- Good night, sir.

- Goodnight.

When we get there stay close to me.

Keep your head up and look straight ahead.

Keep everything for the commission.

And remember, we're here for

you, shoulder to shoulder.

Maria Roche wants me to call the

man responsible for Connor's death

before the tribunal.

Yes.

I can't give the Roches what they want.

Why not?

Threats have been made.

Threats?

What kind of threats?

They've made it plain

that they could hurt you

if I call Francis Gilroy.

Gilroy?

The Minister?

- You have to call him.

- Emma...

I'm not risking you or my

grandchild for a truth commission,

- not even this truth commission.

- See this as an opportunity, Dad.

A chance to do something that matters

for those you say matter to you.

I won't make pointless grand gestures.

OK, so when the truth doesn't suit you,

it's a pointless grand gesture.

You owe this to me.

You owe it to my mum.

And if you ever, ever hope to see

him, you owe it to your grandchild.

Do not pass up on this chance.

There won't be another.

Michael and I have been

working on the events that led

to the unfortunate death of Connor Roche.

Michael?

Connor was passing information

about Republicans to the police.

He'd been seen with the Special Branch

so he was to be taken over the

border and questioned about it.

I drove the car for two

other volunteers, now dead.

He was crying, but no-one heard him.

He freely admitted what he had been doing.

It was decided to set up a press conference

where he'd describe how he

was recruited by the police

and passed information.

But early next morning, he somehow

managed to climb out a window.

I was supposed to be watching him.

I had a gun.

I panicked, I chased

after him into the woods.

I shouted after him that

he'd get me in big trouble,

not to be stupid.

All of a sudden, he was on top

of me, punching and kicking me.

I was on the ground.

I tried to push him off.

But he gets hold of the gun...

He was trying to wrestle it off me.

And then...

- I don't know how...

- (GUNSHOT ECHOES)

...but the gun went off.

And he stopped moving.

It was a terrible accident.

I'm sorry for what happened

to Connor. I'm truly sorry.

Very good, Michael.

Can you let me have a

copy of that, please, Anna?

I had no idea they'd put so much

pressure on you not to call Gilroy.

I'm sorry if I...

Where's Francis Gilroy?

They sent him instead.

Sure, he was only a child himself.

- (WHISPERING):
They're not sending Francis Gilroy

- (WHISPERING):
What's going on?

I'd ask everyone to stand

in silent memory of all those

who lost their lives in the conflict.

Thank you.

I'll begin by asking Maria

Roche if she would tell us

about the events leading up to

her brother Connor's disappearance.

When Connor disappeared,

he was 15 years old.

It was a Thursday night.

He said he was going

down to the boxing club.

He didn't come home.

When another day passed,

we went to the police.

They told us they believed

he'd been abducted by the IRA.

A few days later, word reached us.

A neighbour said that Connor

had been supplying information

to the police and that

he'd confessed it all,

that it was all on tape.

How could Connor work for the police?

What did he know about anything?

Years went by and nobody was able

or willing to tell us anything.

It was as if he never existed.

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Eoin O'Callaghan

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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