'KATHY'S REAL STORY' - LETTER IN SUNDAY TRIBUNE

Has RTE a Hidden Agenda On Kelly book?

Letter from Eric Conway, Sunday Tribune, 23 December 2007
THE furore, as recently reported in the papers, over the launch of the Hermann Kelly book . . . Kathy's Real Story prompted me to buy the book to see what all the fuss was about. To say that its contents "rocks the state to its foundations, " is an understatement. First and foremost is the sheer scale of the patently false claims exposed, along with the ruined reputations of many innocent individuals. It has to be admitted that a number of very prominent journalists emerge from the whole sorry saga with seriously damaged (or should that be flawed) reputations.

In view of the level of miscarriages of justice exposed, surely it's well past time that the concept of a Redress Board is scrapped.

Over and above all of the foregoing is the total lack of debate on the serious issues raised, by the national broadcaster, RTE. Given the station's very close involvement with this area in the past, eg commissioning such shockumentaries as Dear Daughter, States of Fear, etc, its sudden reticence is all the more surprising. It's extraordinary that we have not had one TV or radio programme on RTE, discussing the enormous issues raised by Mr Kelly. The station seemed positively gung-ho when covering the issue from a different angle! One doesn't wish to appear a conspiracy theorist, but could there be a hidden agenda behind RTE's apparent denial in this matter?

Eric Conway, Balreask Village, Navan, Co. Meath.