Plans to make a drama series about Piper Alpha have been criticised by those who lost family members in the disaster.
A total of 167 men died when the oil platform, located in the North Sea about 120 miles from Aberdeen, exploded and collapsed on July 6, 1988.
The Piper Alpha disaster remains the deadliest offshore accident in history – 36 years after it took place.
Earlier this month, Deadline reported the BBC and STV Studios were “developing” a new factual drama series based on the events.
The project is reportedly in the “research phase” and will be written by STV screenwriter James Wood.
He will use new interviews, existing knowledge, the 1990 Cullen report and the Stephen McGinty book “Fire in the Night” to create the drama series.
Families say Piper Alpha drama series would be ‘painful’
Sources have said the team behind the project, which is yet to go into production, will also work closely with survivors and families.
However, some who lost family members as a result of the Piper Alpha disaster have said the series would be “an invasion of our deepest wounds”.
Alexander Duncan, 51, was working a s a steward on Piper Alpha after swapping shifts with another worker.
His grandson, Paul Sparks, told Mail Online: “I know it’s an important piece of history – but the thought of a dramatisation of it is jarring.
“It feels like an invasion of our family’s deepest wounds.
“The loss of my grandfather had a catastrophic impact on our entire family and this loss shouldn’t be trivialised into a plot point for entertainment – it’s a painful reality for our family.
“I’ve heard the stories and the ripple effect it has had on families since then is huge. It should not be exploited for a creative project or for profits.”
Patrick McLaughlin, whose father Charles died in the disaster at age 46, added: “To have actors who could be portraying someone who was killed that night doesn’t feel right.
“I know if there was someone playing my father I wouldn’t be happy. Families have been through enough.”
Survivors working with production teams
Others survivors of the tragedy believe a factual drama is important in ensuring people “never forget” those who lost their lives.
Ed Punchard said: “Should a Piper Alpha drama be made? If I am asked about it, I would say it’s very important and for one simple reason.
“It is because it will help those who were lost to be remembered. But there is something that might be even more important. It is the fact that when people are reminded of the horrors of this event, it might in some way discourage it from it happening again.
“The more that people in the oil industry, indeed any industry know how easily health and safety can go down the pan then the less likely it will.”
The survivor added he does not think it is right that many younger people have not heard of the Piper Alpha disaster.
He continued: “I would be the last person on the planet who would wish more grief on those people who lost their loved ones. I fought, from the first moment of my escape, to reveal how completely unnecessary this disaster was.
“I have shared the grief of all those who have lost their loved ones, and my fight was by their side. It has never gone away. It lives inside me daily. Everything I have done in my life since that event has been an attempt to keep those feelings under control.
“Those terrible events occurred. Everyone should be outraged by them. Our best work is when we move to stop these things happening again. This will help.”
‘Let them rest in peace’
Fellow survivor Vince Swales added: “I now live in England but go to the Piper Memorial site to pay my respects to the men and families, especially the children who would never know their grandads, dads, uncles and cousins.
“I lost my close mate, my roommate and colleagues and I would like the programme to progress so we never forget.”
A number of The Press and Journal and Evening Express readers have also shared their views on the upcoming series – with most saying it should not be made.
One woman commented: “Absolutely no way this should happen. Even after all these years it’s still very raw for a lot of us.”
Another added: “Not a good idea. Lots of people died that day and their relatives have never forgotten, they don’t need any programme to bring back memories.
“Let them rest in peace.”
A STV Studios source said the production team was “acutely aware of the far-reaching impact of this devastating tragedy”
They added “As such, they are keen to speak to as many people as possible with experience of the disaster, and are managing the project with the utmost care and sensitivity towards the families and wider community.”
Conversation