Action adjourned over claim dead mother’s image used in horror film

A Co Wexford family's High Court action against film-makers who they claim used the image of their late mother in a Hollywood horror movie without their consent has been adjourned.

Members of the Purcell family have sued over the use of an image of the late Stacia Purcell (66) in a film who went missing on October 30th, 2013.

Following a search involving gardaí, her body was discovered days later.

It is thought she fell into a river after suffering a heart attack.

The photograph, which was provided by her family and issued to the press to assist in the search, was used in the horror film Wrong Turn 6: Last Resort.

In proceedings against 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, WT6 Productions and UFO Film and Television Studios Ltd (Bulgaria) and UFO International Productions (Los Angeles) Ms Purcell's children Anna Kehoe, Patrick Purcell, Catherine Doran and son-in-law Sean Doran sought orders preventing the use of her image in the film.

The family claim the image was used in the film without their consent or permission and has caused them great pain, distress, and suffering.

Their lawyers told the court that their upset has been added to as they discovered the image was used in the film in the week leading up to the first anniversary of her loss.

They seek orders preventing the use of her image in the film in any further broadcasts or distribution of the film.

The family say the film is owned controlled, broadcast and distributed by the defendants.

Today at the High Court when the matter returned before Mr Justice Paul Gilligan the court heard the sides required more time in order to exchange documents.

On consent the matter was adjourned to early next week.