Mullaghmore Return Recalls Mountbatten

An independent TV company has been commissioned to produce a hard-hitting programme documenting the violent death of The Queen's 'uncle'.

Below the Radar, a Ten Alps company is to make Mountbatten: Return to Mullaghmore, for RTÉ and AETN UK.

It will explore events surrounding the IRA's murder of Lord Mountbatten - whose nephew is Prince Phillip - but known affectionately as 'uncle' to The Queen.

In 1979, Lord Louis Mountbatten (pictured) and his grandson Nicholas were killed in a bomb attack off the coast of Co Sligo in August 1979.

Their 15-year-old deck hand, Co Fermanagh lad, Paul Maxwell was also killed as was Baroness Brabourne, his elder daughter's 83-year-old mother-in-law.

The story will follow Paul's father John, as he returns to the scene of the attack, and shares his journey from a devastating bereavement to the setting up of an integrated school in memory of his son.

The documentary also includes interviews with key political players, who recall the reactions of British and Irish Prime Minsters Margaret Thatcher, as well as reconstructions of the encounters between the two governments.

Trevor Birney, Managing Director, Below the Radar, said: "Mountbatten: Return to Mullaghmore marks the 30th anniversary of the attack.

"This was a particularly shocking moment in Irish and British history, as the IRA's campaign of terror infiltrated the Royal family.

"It has been incredibly moving to work with John Maxwell, and to explore the repercussions of the event through his eyes," he said.

Sean Mac Giolla Phadraig, Assistant Commissioning Editor for Factual Programming at RTÉ, commented: "RTÉ is pleased to work with the Below the Radar team on Mountbatten: Return to Mullaghmore.

"As the Irish public service broadcaster, we were interested to mark the 30th anniversary of Mountbatten's assassination, by giving viewers an insight into the events that led up to the attack and indeed the repercussions of it.

"A personal as well as political overview, we believe the programme will have particular appeal for a broad audience, a significant group of whom will have personal recollections of the terrible event in Sligo in 1979," he said.

Mountbatten: Return to Mullaghmore is directed by Trevor Birney and produced by Michael Fanning for Below the Radar.

It was commissioned by Sean Mac Giolla Phadraig for RTÉ and Rachel Job for AETN UK.

(KMcA/BMcc)