The family of the late Ms Brigid McCole has expressed disquiet at the manner in which it was consulted on the broadcasting of a new RTÉ drama series, starting tonight, on the hepatitis C scandal.
Ms McCole's eldest daughter, Brid, rubbished claims that the family gave the drama the go-ahead, saying they were told it was proceeding irrespective of what they thought about it.
"It's been said that we gave it our blessing. How could we when we haven't seen it?
"This is supposed to be a drama about the hepatitis C scandal, yet it all seems to centre on our mother," she said.
The four-part series, No Tears, has already attracted controversy because it revisits a low point in the career of the Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, namely his handling of the McCole case while serving as minister for health.
A spokeswoman for Fine Gael said yesterday it had not made any representations to RTÉ about the potentially-damaging series.
However, the party has requested a meeting with RTÉ - due to take place this week - to discuss party concerns about balance in the run-up to the general election.
The Fine Gael spokeswoman said this was part of normal election preparations, adding that similar meetings had already been held with other broadcasters.
A spokesman for RTÉ confirmed a letter had been received from Fine Gael last Wednesday.
The letter requested a meeting with the station's director-general, Mr Bob Collins, to discuss "general issues on the horizon in the election year, including balance".
"There was no mention of the No Tears series," he added, although he confirmed that Mr Noonan's adviser, Mr Sean Donlon, had been to a pre-screening of the documentary in recent weeks.
As health minister between 1994 and 1997, Mr Noonan was vilified for supporting an aggressive legal challenge to Ms McCole, who died in October 1996 just days before her High Court action was due to be heard.
Mr Noonan was also forced to make an embarrassing apology in the Dáil for criticising the Donegal woman's legal team.
The McCole family, meanwhile, said it had not seen a preview of the drama, in which the Oscar-winning actress, Brenda Fricker, plays the leading role.
"We are in no position to comment on it as we haven't seen it," said Ms Brid McCole.
"We have to sit tonight and for the next four weeks like everyone and watch this, not knowing what is going to be shown. It'll be a long four weeks."
The only aspect of the series which she was in a position to comment on was the title, which, she said, "isn't even very appropriate".
It refers to a condition associated with hepatitis C of dry eyes and mouth.
But, said Ms McCole, "when our mother was suffering and died there were buckets and buckets of tears."
She noted that the family had been initially approached by RTÉ about the drama and was told by Positive Action, the hepatitis C campaign group, that it would go ahead with or without the family's consent.
She said the family thought it would be more of a documentary than a drama and did not know what to expect.