SCANNAL returns with a new series, looking back at more of the scandals that shocked, outraged, amused and incited the nation. Following the success of the first series, it returns in the same slot: Monday nights at 7.30pm on RTÉ ONE. It promises, once again, to retell the stories as they unfolded at the time – and to be an entertaining and engaging alternative to the soaps.
The first programme in the new series looks back at a scandal that rocked both America and Ireland. In 1969, the Kennedy Family were akin to America’s Royal Family; an Irish-American success story, and a source of huge pride both for Ireland and for Irish America. Many here will remember the excitement that surrounded John F. Kennedy’s visit to New Ross in 1963 and Ted Kennedy’s first visit to Limerick in 1964.
Following the assassinations of the eldest brother, John F. Kennedy, in 1963 and Bobby in 1968, the burden of the Kennedy Presidential aspirations fell on the shoulders of the youngest Kennedy brother, Ted. And his Presidential ambitions might well have been realised – had it not been for Chappaquiddick.
Scannal revisits that fateful night in July 1969 when Senator Edward Kennedy’s car overturned on a remote bridge on an island just off the Cape Cod coast, killing his passenger, Miss Mary Jo Kopechne.
The circumstances surrounding the events of that night have always been the subject of controversy. How did Kennedy manage to survive and not save his passenger? Why did he not get help immediately? And why did it take him over 9 hours to report the incident to the police?
Kennedy made a statement to police at the time and later broadcast his version of events live to the nation, but his story has been consistently – and vehemently – contested by many over the years. We go back through the archives to piece the story together once more and examine the fallout of the incident for all involved.
We visit the scene of the accident with some of those central to the investigation, and look at how the many inconsistencies in Kennedy’s version of events that night have haunted his political career ever since.
Monday 19th September, 7.30pm RTÉ ONE