Tom should be battling to rescue film centre

’I felt sick when I saw it," Deputy Tom Barry said in response to The Cork Film Centre’s leaflet highlighting the unwise decision to cut all funding to the centre (Irish Examiner, September 10).

Let me say two things to Mr Barry: Firstly, I work in the area of documentary and have filmed in hostile territories, most recently in Kiev during the troubles there.

I know people who know James Foley, the freelance world of photojournalists/filmmakers in hostile territories is relatively tightly knit.

I know that all of them, including James Foley himself, would be far more concerned at the catastrophic funding cuts to an organisation like the Cork Film Centre than the use of an image that Mr Barry has read wrongly.

Secondly, I myself started out with help from the centre. I know I would not be doing the work I do now without the help I got from them. So, if Mr Barry is genuinely concerned for people like us, I suggest he get his priorities right and support the Cork Film Centre rather than make low blows for whatever he seeks to gain.

Ed Godsell

Main Street

Kilbrittain

Co Cork