Madam, - The letter from Ben Barnes (December 12th) concerning the play Beauty in a Broken Place, by Colm Tóibín, seems to contain a contradiction. One sentence is a gracefully worded tribute to the high reputation of the actor F.J. McCormick, while the next justifies, on grounds of freedom of artistic expression, the staging of Mr Tóibín's play, which rubbishes that reputation and vilifies the man.
The two sentences could, perhaps, be reconciled had the play been accompanied by some clear disclaimer from the Abbey, saying it was a vehicle for the expression of the author's personal views, and not to be regarded as conveying history. Lacking this, the very fact of its production by the Abbey actually lent it credibility.
But, in any case, I do not think that the concept of freedom of artistic expression would be widely understood as entailing carte blanche to promulgate damaging falsehoods about real people, living or dead.
I protested at the portrayal of F.J.McCormick (my father), not because it is hurtful, but because it is simply untrue, in detail and as a whole. It is not clear to me if those involved in the production still believe that the portrayal is fair and justified, or if so, why. - Yours, etc.,
DAVID JUDGE, Palmerston Gardens, Dublin 6.