Each episode of Say Nothing concludes with a disclaimer stating that Gerry Adams has consistently denied any involvement with the IRA or any knowledge of the 1972 disappearance of Jean McConville, a mother of 10 suspected by the IRA of being a British informant. In 2019, Adams reiterated his denial in a Belfast court, stating, “I categorically deny any involvement in the abduction, killing, and burial of Jean McConville, or indeed any others.” The allegations against Adams stemmed from The Belfast Project, an oral history initiative conducted by Boston College, featuring interviews with former IRA members Dolours Price, Brendan Hughes, and others. However, a judge deemed the Belfast Project tapes unreliable and inadmissible as evidence against Adams.
One of the most captivating moments in the series involves the Price sisters robbing a bank disguised as nuns. This improbable event, as depicted on screen, is based on a real incident detailed in Keefe’s book. In the summer of 1972, three nuns entered the Allied Irish Bank in Belfast just before closing time. To everyone’s surprise, the nuns revealed guns hidden under their habits and proceeded to carry out a robbery, with the Price sisters and another female volunteer involved.
Another harrowing scene in the series depicts the British government’s force-feeding of the Price sisters during their hunger strike. The portrayal of this barbaric act raises questions about its accuracy. The intense depiction of the force-feeding is based on historical accounts of the treatment endured by hunger strikers in Northern Ireland during the conflict. The Price sisters’ hunger strike and subsequent force-feeding were part of their protest against being classified as ordinary criminals rather than political prisoners.
The integration of these real-life events into the narrative of Say Nothing adds depth and authenticity to the series, shedding light on the complexities of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The portrayal of Gerry Adams’s denials and the Price sisters’ daring actions serves to highlight the blurred lines between politics, violence, and personal conviction during this turbulent period in history. Say Nothing effectively captures the tension and moral ambiguity of the era, leaving viewers with a deeper understanding of the human cost of conflict.
