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Howell TV drama 'will raise more questions than answers'

The Secret, starring James Nesbitt, tells the real-life story of killer dentist Colin Howell
The Secret, starring James Nesbitt, tells the real-life story of killer dentist Colin Howell The Secret, starring James Nesbitt, tells the real-life story of killer dentist Colin Howell

A DRAMA depicting the crimes of killer dentist Colin Howell and his former lover will raise more questions than answers, it was claimed last night.

However former SDLP MLA John Dallat said he believed it was "important" the drama had been made in order to demonstrate the inadequate police investigation that saw Howell get away with murder for almost 20 years.

Many people living in Coleraine are said to be angered that the tragic deaths of Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan have been retold for a TV audience.

The four-part drama 'The Secret' tells the real-life story of Howell's affair with Sunday school teacher Hazel Stewart, previously Buchanan, which led to them kill their spouses in 1991 and make it look like suicide.

When the truth behind the killings was uncovered, there was a real sense of shame in the largely middle-class town, particularly among Coleraine Baptist Church parishioners where Howell and Stewart first met. Repeated attempts for comment from the Baptist church have failed to produce any response.

Such is the disquiet, it has been difficult to get people to speak on record about the feelings ahead of the airing of the first episode tomorrow.

One man told The Irish News it was "pure sensationalism" and said many people in the town were refusing to watch it.

However, Mr Dallat said he believed revisiting events for a television drama would raise more questions.

"Maybe 20 years have passed but there's still a lot of people upset that this happened, questions will be asked of how the police allowed this to happen," he said.

"There's certainly a lot of disquiet about how such an amateur murder was not picked up by police, there are many questions still remaining.

"It's important this drama has been made, if only to learn from it, in the hope and expectation that police now act in a more professional manner.

"I feel sorry for both families, who through no fault of their own became involved in these awful crimes.

"We have to keep them in our minds, they didn't know the deadly crimes that were committed."

Another man from the town told The Irish News there was "a lot of embarrassment" in Coleraine that the drama had been made.

"A lot of people have been saying they're not going to be watching it," he said.

"They believe it's pure sensationalism and raking up the past once again.

"There's many who are ashamed of it."

He added: "So many people have been hurt by this and here it is bringing it all up again.

"The main thing is the children, they've been through so much in this. They're severely damaged by what went on and to make this drama can only but add to their hurt."

Another resident said: "People don't think this should have been made, they're adamant they won't be watching it.

"There are a lot of bible-fearing people in Coleraine who have been very embarrassed by the church's link to Howell, they would prefer this isn't highlighted again."