A secret file provides a new insight into the fate of a quiet-spoken Donegal man who killed an infamous assassin and informer off the coast of South Africa in 1883... Actor Stephen Jones introduces The Queen V Patrick O'Donnell, a new TG4 docu-drama revisiting one of the most compelling murder plots in Irish history.
It’s always very exciting for an actor to have the opportunity to play a character who was/is a real person. I have been fortunate in my career so far to have had the chance to play several, mostly on stage. From people like John Riley, leader of forgotten Irish heroes The San Patricios to Thomas MacDonagh, one of the seven signatories of the Irish proclamation and even a (comedic) version of the great Roy Keane in the comedy-musical I, Keano at the Olympia Theatre. It always adds a little something extra to the initial preparation for the role and no matter the subject matter, it adds a little more pressure (in a good way), a sense of responsibility to that person to represent them in a fair and three dimensional way.
In The Queen v Patrick O'Donnell I play a man by the name of James Carey. The first lines about him on Wikipedia (yes, I went there first) read as follows 'James Carey (1845–1883) was a Fenian, most notable for his involvement in the Phoenix Park Murders. He has been called "the most militant-minded republican you could possibly meet" by historian Dr Shane Kenna. That quote would prove to be really helpful to me because it made Carey’s betrayal of his comrades that much more powerful.
Although I had heard of The Phoenix Park Murders, I knew very little about the specific details of the case, the members of the hit squad ‘The Invincibles’, the aftermath or James Carey himself and his participation in what has to be one of the earliest versions of a witness protection programme. I had never heard of Patrick O’Donnell.
The film centres on these two characters, one from James' Street in Dublin, the other from Gaoth Dobhair in County Donegal. One who became an infamous traitor and one who became a national hero as in bizarre circumstances their paths cross in 1883, on board a ship off the coast of South Africa.
I was really excited to be involved in this project. I had seen the docu-drama Murdair Mhám Trasna (The Mám Trasna Murders) on TG4 and I thought it was exceptional. I knew that this project would be made/shot in a similar style. I think audiences will really enjoy the story and the mix of drama with historical commentary included.
We shot the film over three weeks in 2020, at the end of summer into Autumn after a planned Spring shoot earlier in the year was postponed due to the initial lockdown. The pandemic was a tough time for people in general including those of us who work in the arts. Having the chance to go to Sligo and An Spidéal to make this film would have been a privilege at any time, but it came at a particularly important moment for me and restored some hope in a dark period. I hope it provides entertainment and insight to its viewers.
The Queen V Patrick O'Donell screens on Wednesday 16th March @ 9.30pm as part of TG4’s Wednesday Documentary Season.
