New film rejects - Searcaigh abuse

A NEW film about poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh claims to show he has been falsely depicted as an exploitative sex tourist.

The Truth about Kathmandu is described by filmmaker Paddy Bushe as a personal response to the 2008 documentary Fairytale of Kathmandu, which raised questions about Ó Searcaigh’s relationship with young men in Nepal.

Bushe, whose 20-minute film includes interviews with some of the participants in the original documentary by Vinegar Hill Productions, claims his work raises questions about the earlier film.

“What I heard in Kathmandu raises huge questions for both Vinegar Hill Productions and RTÉ,” Bushe says. “The young people to whom I spoke felt extremely angry at being exploited. They were angry, however, not at Ó Searcaigh, but at the way they felt used, abused and exploited by the film.”

Bushe’s film includes an interview with Naryan Pant, a young Nepalese man who was central to accusations of inappropriate behaviour made against Ó Searcaigh in Fairytale of Kathmandu. It claims he was encouraged to give rehearsed answers.

David Rane of Vinegar Hill rejected Bushe’s claims and said the full 40-minute unedited interview with Naryan Pant was available to show proper procedures were followed.

He said he stood over Fairytale of Kathmandu , but had lost hope that any action would be taken against Ó Searcaigh.

The poet has criticised his portrayal in Fairytale of Kathmandu, saying it gave a distorted and unfair impression of his relationships with young Nepalese men. He said he had long-standing, affectionate relationships with Nepalese friends but denied using them for sexual gratification.

The Truth about Kathmandu will be shown at the Féile na Gréine festival in Waterville, Co Kerry, later this month.