Blue Lights: The police drama hitting home in Northern Ireland
The BBC drama 'Blue Lights' explores the complex relationship between police and communities in Northern Ireland, drawing on the real-life experiences of its cast. The series highlights the ongoing social tensions and the personal challenges faced by officers working in a divided society.
Why it matters
The show serves as a cultural touchstone for understanding the historical and contemporary difficulties of policing in Northern Ireland.
Katherine Devlin's first major role was in Blue Lights as Constable Annie Conlon [Peter Marley / BBC / Two Cities Television] "Whether it's your friends or your family, everybody has their own relationships with, and viewpoints on, the police," says Dearbháile McKinney, star of BBC drama Blue Lights.
The Londonderry actress and her co-star Katherine Devlin, who also grew up in Northern Ireland, say relationships between police and communities there were at the forefront of their minds as they prepared for filming.
The Bafta-winning series follows police officers working at the fictional Blackthorn Station in Belfast.
But, for many watching, the drama feels all too real.
The difficulty police in Northern Ireland still face was thrown into focus this weekend by the long-running dispute over the controversial Garvaghy Road parade route when officers had to prevent a march by Protestant Orangemen through a largely Catholic area.
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