Miriam Meets RTE One
The Blame Game Radio 4
It is 35 years since the 1981 hunger strikes but the testimony of three brothers made for painful listening.
The programme began with the news flashes from the time – the voice of Margaret Thatcher, the voice of Oliver Hughes at his brother, Francis's funeral and news reports from the scene - that brought back dark days.
Oliver Hughes said it was even more difficult to talk about now than it had been. Raymond McCreesh's brother, Malachy and Kevin Lynch's brother Gerald also spoke.
This was the human story – ordinary people talking about their childhoods, their brothers and what shaped the men who went on hunger strike.
``The only thing that helped my mother was that she was quite religious, she believed in prayer and that helped her through,'' said Oliver Hughes.
``When Francis was arrested, it might seem surprising, it was a relief for us to know where he was. We didn't know what lay ahead of us.''
This was no easy Sunday morning listening... it was difficult and tough to hear, no matter what your politics or creed.
But O'Callaghan gives people space and time to tell their stories and ended with a question: do you think it was worth it?
The Blame Game brings together people whose professional lives came crashing around them and asks if we are too quick to apportion blame.
Among them was former children's services chief Sharon Shoesmith from Northern Ireland. She was sacked over the Baby P case because her department at Haringey Council had failed. She later won a claim for unfair dismissal and was awarded thousands of pounds.
Shoesmith may have won, but since then she has applied for scores of jobs and never been offered an interview.
``No-one would come anywhere near me. I was totally isolated and unable to walk. I have never been able to work again despite over 100 applications. People are too frightened to have me near.''
It begs the question of how accountable one individual should be.
