The dark Irish documentary-drama series ‘Fir, Marú agus Grá’ is back on TG4 Thursday 23rd March for a second series. Offering a startling, compelling and uncompromising look at the trials of six men for the killing of their intimate partners.
Directed by Martin Daneels, ‘Fir, Marú agus Grá’ aims to shine a light on the cases where victims of intimate partner homicide are often too quickly forgotten.
IFTN spoke to the series Director who praised the work and commitment of his production team and had this to say about the new episodes: “Being the second season of ‘Fir, Marú agus Grá’, as a production team, we knew better how to deconstruct each of the cases in order to reconstruct them. It really is all about the team: working on sensitive cases like this presents a challenge and everybody needs to be on the same page – and everybody was, from day one to day last.
“They put in an extraordinary shift every time we came together but, in my opinion, the make-up department deserves to be singled out: their artistry was paramount in bringing these harrowing stories to life in a way that was both respectful to the victims of these heinous crimes but, at the same time, exposed the lengths their perpetrators went to in an effort to cover their tracks.”
In Ireland, nine out of every ten women who are killed are killed by a male known to them. By and large, these Intimate Partner Homicides are usually preceded by physical or mental abuse, controlling behaviour and harassment.
Featuring interviews with the investigative team, court reporters and journalists who covered the cases, the story of each case is pieced together through reconstructions of the main pieces of evidence that were presented in court by the State Prosecution.
In each case examined by ‘Fir, Marú agus Grá’, the audience revisits the often turbulent relationships that preceded these crimes and examine the evidence and testimonies that were crucial in the fight for justice.
Episode one examines the trial of Laois man Robert Corbet for the killing of Aoife Phelan in 2012. 13 days after she was first reported missing by her family, Aoife’s body was discovered in an oil barrel buried 10 feet underground on Corbet’s land.
Fir, Marú agus Grá begins on Thursday, March 23rd on TG4 at 9.30pm for six weeks.
Produced by: Midas Productions for TG4 between 2016 & 2017
Director: Martin Daneels
Producer: Medb Johnstone
Series Executive Producers: Mike Keane & Stephen Smith
Edited by: Bernard Clarke
Camera: Team of Joe Edwards, Eleanor Bowman & Joe Hoey
Makeup Artists: Niamh O'Malley & Ailbhe Fitzpatrick
Post production: Raygun