Northern Ireland

The Secret ‘exploits a tragedy for entertainment,’ says victim’s daughter

Hazel Buchanan (Genevieve O'Reilly) and Colin Howell (James Nesbitt) are portrayed in The Secret
Hazel Buchanan (Genevieve O'Reilly) and Colin Howell (James Nesbitt) are portrayed in The Secret Hazel Buchanan (Genevieve O'Reilly) and Colin Howell (James Nesbitt) are portrayed in The Secret

LAUREN BRADFORD have spoken out about ITV drama The Secret, which depicts the murder of her mother Lesley Howell by her father Colin Howell.

The TV dramatisation of the chilling story of one of the north's most shocking murder cases began on ITV on Friday night.

Writing on the Guardian's website, Mrs Bradford said that "exploiting a tragedy for entertainment can result in further feelings of loss and lack of control" for victims' families.

"Your loved one no longer belongs to you but becomes a character in a book or on television."

"Behind the high viewing figures, whether for fiction or the coverage of real crimes, there are people living with murder bereavement on a daily basis. And an intrusive media experience can often compound this original trauma. If deemed “a good enough story”, private grief becomes public property".

The nephew of Trevor Buchanan, who was also murdered by Colin Howell, also expressed his distaste at the drama.

Fifteen minutes into the first episode Stewart Buchanan tweeted pictures of the deceased pair with the message: "Behind 'entertainment' of #thesecret are two innocent victims & those who loved them. Remembering them all tonight."

In her article, Lauren Bradford also took issue with Howell's murders being referred to a 'story'.

"By calling it a story, they trivialise the reality of these events and dehumanise the impact that it has on those involved."

"In telling these “stories”, they have to re-write truth to fit a narrative that gives the impression of an assumed complicity or even authorisation from the families, which is so often not the case."

"Some members of the media industry continue to exploit the murder-bereaved and victims of crime in pursuit of entertainment. Surely the law needs to change in a way that enforces the human right to privacy, especially in a time of such vulnerability. Victims and their families need more options to express their voice and have more rights over their “story” and the narrative of their loved ones."