Filmmaker Colm Quinn introduces his new feature documentary Ransom '79, which tells the story of legendary reporter Charlie Bird and his determination to break one final story before his life is cut short by Motor Neurone Disease. Charlie's sources gave him an extraordinary true crime story, one that had remained secret for decades - the attempt by a criminal gang to extort millions from the Irish government.
In the course of some early filming on Ransom ’79, a remarkable moment occurred when Charlie Bird was interviewing former Detective Chief Superintendent of the PSNI Roy McComb on the bizarre events at the centre of the story.
With Motor Neuron Disease stealing Charlie of his ability to speak, he pre-prepared his questions on his iPad using voice bank software. As Roy answered, Charlie furiously typed new questions into the application in order to follow the more natural flow of the conversation.
For the first time Charlie really put his voice bank through its paces and brought the conversation to a place that embraced the intrigue and outrageousness of events in the story. His deep engagement with Roy’s responses were evident to everybody in the room.
It showed that despite the immense suffering he had experienced in the previous months with his MND diagnosis, moments of meaning and fulfilment remained possible. It was an instance that summed up what our film is about.
Pursuing the Ransom ’79 story was a method of coping for Charlie, it offered him purpose, focus, joy and an opportunity to do what he has done best for the past 40 years, which is to tell stories in pursuit of the truth. It was a defiant act of not allowing the illness to define him.
The ransom story at the core of the film had remained secret for over 40 years, until it was revealed to Charlie by former head of the Garda Fraud Squad, 'Four Goals’ Willie McGee. Having recently overcome a stroke, WIllie provided Charlie with an interview that recounted the uniquely strange events of 1979-80. Willie’s determination to contribute while still in recovery further echoes the spirit of this project to challenge taboos around illness and aging.
With Charlie on this journey was another master storyteller in the form of journalist and playwright Colin Murphy. They collaborated previously when Colin adapted Charlie’s book on the marriage equality referendum into the play A Day in May.
Together they form a dynamic partnership as they travel around the country unravelling the various story threads. What was clear travelling with them is that Charlie and Colin were good mates, and with that came a directness to their interactions. Colin brought a deep empathy which offered Charlie the space to honestly speak his mind about how the illness was affecting him, and why he wanted to pursue the story.
Behind the camera there was another friendship, and that was between Charlie and the film’s producer John Kelleher, who have known each other since they met back in RTE in the 1970’s. Charlie came to realise that this story would be his last, and the only person he wanted to do it with was John.
were good mates, and with that came a directness to their interactions.'
I was a bit starstruck when John introduced me to Charlie for the first time, having grown up in the 80’s when Charlie was always on our screens, reporting on all the major stories. As was his way he soon put me at ease, particularly with his sheer enthusiasm for the Ransom 79 story. That was 3 years ago, and a few months before he received the devastating news about his MND diagnosis.
Charlie’s determination to chase the Ransom 79 story despite the illness was inspiring. As he set off in pursuit of one truth, he arrived at a more profound realisation that runs much deeper as the disease encroaches. His experience over these past few years provides unique insight on the nature of mortality and the role of story in all our lives.
Ransom '79 is in cinemas nationwide from Friday May 24th.
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