The Emmy-nominated documentary will be shown on RTÉ One. Don’t miss it.
On 18 June 1994, members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), a loyalist paramilitary group, burst into a pub in Loughinisland, County Down, and fired on those in attendance.
Six people were killed and five others were injured. The attack on the mainly-Catholic patrons of the pub coincided with the Republic of Ireland’s opening match against Italy in the 1994 World Cup.
Throughout the course of Alex Gibney’s powerful documentary, No Stone Unturned, it’s abundantly clear that this small community was neither pro-Catholic or Protestant, it was just a community. Like so many places in the six counties, Loughinisland wanted no part of the sectarian violence that unfolded in The Heights Bar on that horrific night.
Ultimately, the UVF claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that it was retaliation for the killing of three UVF members by the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA).
A few months ago, the documentary was made available to watch for free on Amazon but at the time of its initial release, Gibney’s feature received massive acclaim.
Since then, the documentary was nominated for an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Investigative Documentary.
Gibney dedicated the nomination to the memory of those innocent people that were killed on that horrific night.
Yes, most important of all. Dedicated to the memory of those who were killed. https://t.co/3P99FgqcUq
— Alex Gibney (@alexgibneyfilm) July 25, 2019
The #NewsEmmys noms for Outstanding Investigative Documentary are: No Stone Unturned, VOD, @FrontlinePBS: Documenting Hate, @PBS, @FrontlinePBS: Myanmar’s Killing Fields, @PBS, @FrontlinePBS: UN Sex Abuse Scandal, @PBS, @HBODocs: I Am Evidence, @HBO pic.twitter.com/TaYqLRt4kI
— News & Documentary Emmys (@newsemmys) July 25, 2019
As stated previously, the documentary was thrust into the spotlight again after two investigative journalists who worked on the film, Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey, were detained over the suspected theft of confidential documents relating to the killings.
In May of this year, three appeal judges at the High Court in Belfast quashed warrants for the arrest of Mr Birney and Mr McCaffrey, arising from their work on the documentary.
Speaking about RTÉ’s decision to air No Stone Unturned, Trevor Birney has said: “This is a very significant moment for this film not just for everyone involved in the production but for the families of those murdered in the Loughinisland massacre, who have campaigned for truth for over 25-years. We thank everyone at RTÈ who have shown faith in our journalism.”
The Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney produced No Stone Unturned and after hearing the news that his colleagues were arrested, he said that he “approached this subject as a crime story, not a sectarian tale.”
In the film, I approached this subject as a crime story not a sectarian tale. The film includes much context of violence from many sides. Key themes of film were: 1) tendency of UK govt to favor protection of informants over solving crimes; govt secrecy leads to govt corruption. https://t.co/3xzGg8Ix8j
— Alex Gibney (@alexgibneyfilm) September 3, 2018
Yes. Instead of pursuing the new evidence in the massacre unearthed by the film, the police try to attack and silence the investigators. https://t.co/8wYIyYd3Uf
— Alex Gibney (@alexgibneyfilm) August 31, 2018
In terms of its aesthetic approach, as Variety said in their review: “His movie is a detective story that investigates the truth of what happened: Who, exactly, were the gunmen? And why, for years, did the crime remain unsolved? Gibney, like many observers, alleges a cover-up, one that reaches to the highest levels of the British government, and he offers convincing evidence.”
The documentary, which was released last year, cites evidence of blunders, coverups, and collusion between the police and the UVF killers.
Having watched No Stone Unturned, there will be only two words that will be on your mind as the final credits roll, collusion and informants.
The Emmy Award nominated No Stone Unturned will air on RTÉ One on Wednesday, 2 October at 9.35pm.
Here’s a look at what’s in store along with the reactions of some viewers when they saw the documentary last year.
Clip via WildCard Distribution
Just watched “No Stone Unturned” a documentary on the Loughlinisland Massacre, unbelievable documentary. Crazy how things went down & how not much was done about it. Ireland back then was a scary place to live, very lucky times have change since then. #Collusion
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) September 3, 2018
Now more than ever, make it your business to watch #NoStoneUnturned
The facts contained within the film are what some, it would appear, don’t want you to know. https://t.co/mBU6tY2z6k— Niall Ó Donnghaile 🇮🇪🇵🇸 (@NiallSF) August 31, 2018
The Streisand Effect.
Inevitably arresting the makers of #NoStoneUnturned is now going to draw further international attention to both #collusion and the ongoing political and security cover-up.
So I say, well played @PoliceServiceNI, well played.https://t.co/bPtGaz9Qbh— John Ó Néill (@JJCONeill) August 31, 2018
Shameful comment by an MP made with wilfull ignorance of facts surrounding arrests. Are you not concerned at focus on leaks rather than what has been exposed by #NoStoneUnturned @NUJofficial Public interest journalism under attack here @GreensladeR https://t.co/zPd9V21oPv
— Séamus Dooley (@Seamusdo) September 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/seamiesanchez/status/1037303791815675904
I was lucky enough to see the film in London – where it had an extremely limited release – last year. If you get a chance to see No Stone Unturned, you really should! #loughinisland #collusion pic.twitter.com/8nuInha0IV
— tash (@tashLDN) September 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/swbstubro/status/1036249074998104071
https://twitter.com/seantbailey/status/1037018321856516096
If you get the chance to watch #nostoneunturned it's excellent and gives an insight into the dirty tactics the British Establishment resort to.
— Cyberbint (@SandPatterson) September 4, 2018
The day #DrewHarris is sworn in as new Garda Commissioner was probably not the best evening to watch #NoStoneUnturned #Collusion 🙄🤷🏼♀️🙈
— Anita Reilly (@ReillyPhysio) September 3, 2018
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