Rose McGowan is currently promoting the film "Fifty Dead Men Walking", a screenplay adaptation based on IRA informer Martin McGartland's autobiography.
Rose McGowan leaves the stage after a press conference for Canadian director Kari Skogland's film 'Fifty Dead Men Walking' at the 33rd annual Toronto International Film Festival, in Toronto, Canada, 10 September 2008. EPA/WARREN TODA
The actress is under fire for making ill-informed comments regarding the "Troubles" of IRA-plagued Northern Ireland in years past.
McGartland is also criticizing filmmakers for distorting his memoir.
According to the BBC News
She (McGowan) told a news conference that her "heart just broke for the cause" ahead of the film's premiere in Canada. Unionist politicians have criticised her comments and Mr McGartland said the actress's comments were naive. Ulster Unionist Mid-Ulster assembly member Billy Armstrong said the comments were "foolish and offensive".
"As an IRA member would Miss McGowan have been happy to participate in the abduction, torture and murder of Jean McConville, a widow and mother of 10," he said.
Ms McGowan said: "Violence is not to be played out daily and provide an answer to problems, but I understand it." Martin McGartland, who still lives in hiding, said the situation in the late 1980s was very different with daily killings in Belfast. "Rose McGowan's comments were insulting to victims of IRA terrorism and she should apologise," he said."
"Fifty" is based on McGartland's story as a teenager recruited to infiltrate the Irish Republican Army for the purpose of collecting information for the British police from 1987 to 1991.
McGowan plays Rosena Brown in the film directed by Kari Skogland, who also wrote the screenplay from McGartland's book. Ben Kingsley plays McGartland in the film, and "The Tudors" star Nick Dunning is also featured. The film was shot on location in various counties of Northern Ireland.
McGartland told the BBC about his issues with the filmmakers' rendition of his story, along with McGowan's "Troubles" comments. "The film is not a true account of my story as it puts me at the scene of torture and murders," he told the BBC. "I insisted on a new voice-over and a disclaimer at the beginning saying it the film was inspired by my book rather than being a true story."
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