Thread by @nickwallis

Hello and welcome to Day 4 Session 2 of Morrison v BFF. Judge and Panel are here. Here are this morning's tweets.

https://x.com/nickwallis/status/1988922104742334832?s=20

PLEASE BE AWARE EVERYTHING I WRITE IS A SUMMARY AND CHARACTERISATION OF WHAT IS SAID IN COURT. NOTHING IS A DIRECT QUOTE UNLESS IT IS IN "DIRECT QUOTES"

MD - Michele Devlin BFF CEO is giving evidence
Naomi Cunningham (NC) there was a meeting between you, Lisa Barros D'sa and Marie-Therese McGivern but you can't remember anything about it
MD no

[we move on to the documents which MD said she would dig up proving that Pride on the Big Screen (PBS) had been in the planning since Feb 2023]
NC you have provided 145 pages of disclosure this morning
MD yes
NC 37 pages of that are the instruction manual for erecting your Big...

... Screen
MD it may be
[they look at it]
NC that material was never going to give the tribunal the slightest assistance had been in the planning since Feb or was dreamed up on 25 June
MD is that a question
NC I'll run it again [she does]
MD it might help people understand what we do

NC It might help them erect a big screen, but it's not going to help with the issue in hand
MD It might help people understand what we do. We had this screen we were under pressure to use
NC are you really telling the tribunal this will assist them in any task they are trying to perform

MD I don't know, I've never been to a tribunal
NC another 37 pages is an event management plan for something which took place on 15/16 July
MD it's very similar to what we would do for PBS
NC this is a plan for a different event
MD I couldn't find the doc for PBS

MD as I was under oath and couldn't speak to my team
NC so there is an event management plan for PBS somewhere is there
MD absolutely - we had an event management plan for Shellshock Sessions at the Belfast stories site and it would be a question of changing some minor details

[we are in the process of establishing there is no such plan for PBS because...]
MD events overtook and we cancelled it
NC goes to email from Moyra Lock to SM attaching invoices and a couple of emails by return - you're not copied in any of these emails are you - 24 Jan
MD and 16 Jan

NC there's no sign you were copied in any of these emails
MD no
NC if you didn't contact anyone in the BFF - how did you get your hands on them between yesterday and today
MD I must have had them on my laptop

NC how did you get them there
MD I put them there
NC how
MD I have lots of folders on my laptop
SD it's part of the discovery process
NC it's not for SD to give evidence on the part of his client
J what is the q
NC she told you she's not copied to these emails. she has them

NC but can't get the information she wanted
J where did you go to get these emails
MD two laptops - one old and one new
J were these in folders or emails
MD could have been anything
J how did you... get this
MD I was searching both laptops - but without speaking to the administrator I found it very difficult

MD "it was kind of fiddly"
J any more q's NC
NC I think that takes it as far as we need - I am going to take you quickly through this section which doesn't have even arguable relevance
MD I'm sorry it was done very high speed

[NC brings up a discussion note in May 2022 about doing an event at Pride 2022]
MD is giving the tribunal a post-COVID history of BFF's involvement with Pride Belfast (PB)
NC so you're saying in May 2022 it became part of BFF's thinking that there would be an involvement

in Pride each year going forward.
MD yes and I thought the Rainbow Project in 2022 was something Michele was involved with but she wasn't

NC so in May 2022 you discussed...
MD not that event - an ongoing established relationship with PB
NC we go to email of 29 June - so far as documentary record is concerned this is the only evidence of any plans being made for PBS
MD yes
NC and that's the day after the meeting

... you can't remember anything about.
MD if you say so
NC well - if you look at when your 29 June email was sent it's just past midnight - so it's a few hours after your meeting you can't remember anything about [with the incoming co-chairs from memory]

NC how common is it for you to send emails to working partners after midnight
MD very - since the pandemic especially - people send emails at any time
NC lets look at it - it's an invitation to put the Big Screen up at Pride - does it jog your memory about your conversation

... earlier that day.
MD no I'm not trying to be evasive - I just don't remember
NC and you say it's a "tight turnaround" - this has all the hallmarks of something set up in a tearing rush
MD I wouldn't say a tearing rush but it we were heading towards it quite quickly
NC you...

... said this had been months in the planning. Where are the emails from you to SM saying come on we need to hurry this along
MD we are in an open plan office we have lots of conversations
NC the reality is - this doc you disclosed with a load of irrelevant info that C could

is the most compelling evidence [sorry] that the C could wish for that you cooked up this event in order to orchestrate a pile on
MD I don't accept that
NC that was a thoroughly dishonest way to behave wasn't it
MD no
NC you saw how the pile on affected her
MD I supported her...

... for many weeks.
NC and you deliberately put her back into the firing line
MD she told me it had all calmed down
NC you must have known the risk
MD "possibly", but if you look at the email list there are a lot of individuals who are award-winning film-makers

[MD goes into a long explanation as to why using the Big Screen was imperative to their operation and sponsors]
NC in dreaming up that event on 25 June - "it was a deliberate ploy to reignite the storm - it was a reckless risk with Sara's health and wellbeing"
MD no - "this could have been seen as a bridge-building moment, because there were a lot of groups that Sara got on with". She didn't say anything transphobic in the her speech she said it had all calmed down - this could have been a happy moment.
NC you knew she didn't want to send the email
MD that was because of the Alliance in Action
NC you knew she was was frightened
MD no
NC she was rightly frightened "and your action in doing this was cruel, wasn't it?
MD I don't accept that for one minute"

[moves to another doc]
NC on 7 July you get the permission that you need to put PBS event on from council for an event on 30 July.
MD yes
NC and then I think we see it somewhere - you'll agree the pencilled tent booking was made and then you cancelled it - and the reality is...

... you knew it wasn't going to happen - you and SM were both on holiday for two weeks
MD I was on holiday for 1 week, SM was on holiday for 2 weeks
J I think you said 7 - 20 July
MD the holiday dates are irrelevant because once we initiate them they are run by our freelance...

... team with oversight from one staff member.
NC you're not naive about social media
MD nope. I'm not naive about anything
NC you were savvy enough to hide the reply tweet re SM on 18 April
MD after speaking to my marketing manager - she broiught it to my attention
NC you did an efficient job of damping down the aftermath of the LWS event
MD "the reputational damage was unprecedented" I had to look after my team
NC so are you really asking us to believe that when you sent that email on 3 July you didn't know what was going to happen
MD I was shocked [talks about abuse she's had from people supporting SM's crowdfunder and how she's stepped away from social media since then]
NC MC is an important charismatic member of your board. Influential.
MD all our board are
NC on 25 June MC sets the ball rolling, on 28 June in the meeting no one can recall you work out how to set the process in motion and send the first email on 29 June
MD no we needed to use the Big Screen
NC the screen had been used once before in Docs Ireland
NC and then on 3 July you send the email which caused all the fuss
MD no there is no process or plan this is rubbish
NC and that's why there is no paper trail at all about setting up PBS
MD no
NC and you have this meeting with your board members which you say you can't remember, but you can remember it and it's where you cook up the plan

NC quite striking that no one can remember what happened at the meeting on 28 June isn't it?
MD doesn't answer
NC and that's why there's no planning of the event until the small hours of 29 June
MD is that a question?
NC yes
MD no

NC indicates she is going to move on
J are you okay Ms D - do you need a break
MD no I'm dead on

NC so on 4 July mid-morning you email MTM and LBD to tell them you are implementing the plan you came up with
MD I reject your language - there was no plan - I did send an email
NC why report back to them - this was pretty routine
MD no
NC please don't interrupt
MD sorry

NC what was special about this
MD we had just had a complicated period of time in April or whenever it was
NC are you saying it was becuase you knew of the sensitivities aroiund SM's contact with the LGBTQ peopel on that list

... that you were reporting back to them.
MD yeah I thought there might be one or two people who might have reacted. SM told it would be fine. and I thought it would be okay "maybe I'm overly optimistic about human nature"
NC in your email you have an on way of referring to...

... Alliance for Choice.
MD I honestly believe the only thing we would get back is maybe a complaint from AfC
NC you call that email confidential - why
MD somethings are
NC it's confidential 1 - was there any more traffic on that thread
MD I don't know
NC SM said this was another

test. Like asking if she would share a toilet with a transwoman or starting an LBGTQ project with Kabosh.
"it was a deliberate stirring up of trouble for her"
MD n. "all along with those whole process that there were no issues, that everything had passed that she had no problem working with LGBT orgs so I proceeded assuming she would do her job in the same way."

NC we go to Queerspace's response to MD's 3 July email:
"We take the safety of our members seriously and are very concerned by one aspect
of this event. We have trans people in our group, as well as a strong history of trans
inclusion. In your email, you have copied a member of Belfast Film Festival staff who
spoke at the “Posie Parker” rally in Belfast. Her speech is available online and the
content is distressing. She spoke openly against Trans rights."

NC they accuse her of transphobia
MD they say she spoke openly of trans rights
NC same thing
MD no it's not. and language is important in this debate "they say she spoke openly against trans rights.... I took it as a criticism of us"

NC Queerspace are not an organisation mentioned by SM in her speech are they?
MD no
NC and Ruth from Outburst Arts joins in with the condemnation "In April this year, Sara Morrison^ Equality and Inclusion Officer for Belfast Film Festival who you have copied in here,
spoke openly at an anti-trans event in Belfast."

NC so the fact that you have copied her in to your 3 July email is noted
MD I don't think it would have made any difference
NC asks her to read the rest of the email
MD asks for a break
J says we'll have a break then MD can read the email and we'll reconvene in 10 minutes.

Full email is as follows:
"On 4 Jul 2023, at 09:28, Outburst Arts wrote:

Dear Michele,

In April this year, Sara Morrison Equality and Inclusion Officer for Belfast Film Festival who you have copied in here, spoke openly at an anti-trans event in Belfast.
She spoke on the same platform as Jolene Bunting, a Britain First fascist who is proudly anti gay. anti abortion, anti Catholic and anti migrant. Jolene Bunting was. also recently taken to court by local gay drag perform er and regular Outburst contributor Matthew Cavan, who she labelled as a paedophile and harassed repeatedly while encouraging others to do the same.
In addition to legitimising an anti-gay fascist, Sara stood on the same platform and. legitimised anti trans campaigner Posie Parker, who organised the event. Posie Parker is an anti-queer crusader who has been touring her circus around the world and building anti-trans sentiment that has caused and continues to cause massive damage, not only trans people but to LGBT people across the board and especially those living in the most precarious economic and political circumstances.

The anti-trans and anti-LGBT discourse that is perpetuated by events such as the one that Sara lent her voice to, are impacting on the safety and well-being of real people. We have Worked with vulnerable trans and queer people and lesbian women in 27 countries globally who are being battered by this growing right-wing discourse, human beings who are our friends, family, team members, arts network, our support and people we love. At Outburst we see every day the damage that this discourse is responsible for and it is terrifying. I will always champion freedom of expression and freedom of speech, especially in art, and have no interest in silencing intelligent open discourse.
There is however a world of difference between generous, kind and brave space for exchange - a space that we work hard for Outburst to be - and legitimising and adding to dangerous and damaging anti LGBT rhetoric. To receive an email where Sara is included as someone we are invited to organise an LGBT event with on behalf of Belfast Film Festival, feels deeply inappropriate. We unreservedly applaud Pride’s decision this year to centre trans rights. We are in this together or we are lost. Things have become too dangerous and if we are not part of the solution, not part of intelligently building trust, kindness and solidarity instead of firing up division like Sara has done, then we are part of the problem.
Yours sincerely
Ruth McCarthy
Artistic Director, Outburst Arts"

[we're back - looking at the above email]
NC we see RM joining. She monsters Sara - she accuses her of legitimising fascists and the far right
MD I did not read it that way
NC she accuses her of firing up division. Having re-read this in the break - it's fair to say she's labelling a transphobe

MD no there's lots of ways - you can be transphobic or trans critical
NC the gist is that her email is transphobic
MD I am reluctant to paraphrase
NC there is no mention of womens orgs here
MD no - it's a queer arts org
NC not one of the womens orgs named in SM's speech
MD no

NC we see another email saying "I would like to echo Queerspace and Outburst emails." - this means that QS and OB sent their emails as reply alls haven't they?
MD no not nec
NC how did it happen then
MD she may have just cc'd some people - a lot of these people work together

J is it feasible
MD I don't remember
NC we don't see this in the disclosure
MD no
NC you open copied everyone in that initial 3 July you sent
MD in error
NC no it was a tactic to make it easier for recipients to continue the convo
MD I dont' accept that

NC but it had that effect as Katrin Coover [sp?] was able to echo what QS and OB had said
MD it seems so yes
NC and she works for Ardoyne which is a youth group - not a women's group
MD it works across sectors - including womens' groups and LGBT
NC but it's not specifically a

... women's group.
MD it works across sectors
NC but it wasn't mentioned in SM's speech
[we move to another email]

This is from Sarah Williams from Outburst writing in a personal capacity:
"Your email and invitation to connect with colleagues across the LGBT sector of Belfast is of
course wonderful and indeed welcomed. Working collegiately is at the core of everything I do,
and is a value I hold dear. In different circumstances, I would welcome the opportunity to help cocreate
something which would add value to the experience of the Belfast Pride weekend. So in
light of this, I am writing to you as a colleague in the sector.
It is no surprise to you, to know that a member of your team holds, and publicly shares, negative
opinions about Trans people. To invite us to co-create an event for Belfast Pride with this team
member, came as quite a shock. Trans rights is a central theme to the Pride celebrations this
year, and to invite trans inclusive organisations to work with this individual, without addressing the very public and very dangerous opinions she holds while in the position of being your
Inclusion Officer, is not something I can be part of or endorse.
As individuals, we all of course hold our own opinions on all matters and difference of opinion is
never something I shy away from. And sometimes agreeing to disagree with mutual respect is
achievable. But when such opinions quite literally impact the health and well-being of people I
hold dear, I cannot come to the table unless there is a willingness to acknowledge the damage
caused by your Inclusion Officer, not only at the Posie Parker public event, but also the instances
of transphobic comments and behaviour in her capacity as a team member of the Film Festival.
I appreciate that this is a difficult and delicate issue to balance as the leader of your organisation.
Please know that what I am sharing here, is coming from a place of care and respect for the work
you and your team do.
Sarah"

[MD is reading the email through]

MD the third par in that email is the one which most resonates with me -
"As individuals, we all of course hold our own opinions on all matters and difference of opinion is
never something I shy away from. And sometimes agreeing to disagree with mutual respect is
achievable. But when such opinions quite literally impact the health and well-being of people I
hold dear, I cannot come to the table unless there is a willingness to acknowledge the damage
caused by your Inclusion Officer, not only at the Posie Parker public event, but also the instances
of transphobic comments and behaviour in her capacity as a team member of the Film Festival."

NC yes it's different in tone - "more in sorrow than anger" - she accuses SM of being transphobic
MD it's about working together
NC yes but her saying SM holds neg opinions about trans people - is that right
MD I don't know
NC you've heard the speech
MD that's not her whole psyche

SD there is no reference to the speech - it's just what she's said - who knows what else she's said
J we can't really impute what she meant without asking her
NC but I can ask MD what she reads into it
NC she's complaining about SM's opinions, isn't she
"very public and very dangerous opinions" and "when such opinions..." - she's talking about SM's opinions

NC she is specifically complaining about SM's dangerous opinions
MD they could be in any environment - they aren't necessarily about the rally. That could be alluding to anything
NC this is not a complaint you have to take seriously is it
MD of course i do
NC she's complaining about dangerous opinions

NC you can't police peoples' thoughts can you
MD no I wou;dn't want to
NC literally dangerous - "it's obvious nonsense isn't it - it's hysterical"
MD "no its not hysterical - it's her opinion"
[we move on]

NC and you have not come up with any examples beyond a shared board member and some minor work with Alliance for Choice.
MD I was told to keep things to a minimum in my WS - I can give you lots and lots of examples of having worked with many organisations. [she does so]

MD I probably have about 50 or more [examples] - you could just look through the work we've done over the last 25 years, as SM should have done. There's a whole bundle I've got.
NC you are trying to show us that you have done lots of work and all you've got is work you did in...

... 2013
MD I've got loads I can give you
NC you've had your chance
MD [laughs - gives long list of women's groups BFF has worked with in the past]
[we move on]
NC look at 5 July email to board:

"I am sending you a note to flag up an issue which has emerged over the past few days, regarding a member of our
staff speaking at a rally in Belfast in April this year.
I have been liaising with the Chair/s to resolve this matter -1 know some of you are aware from social media and
conversations you have had with your own friends and colleagues. The chair/s and I are drafting a statement which
will go out today. I will run it by you all in advance so would appreciate it if you could cast your eye over it before it
goes public.
Michele"

NC This wasn't something about past few days - this happened yesterday - 4 July.
MD well yesterday and today - that's two days. I just wanted to make sure they knew
NC well it was on 28 June that you got together to work out what to do to "accelerate the process"
MD "no it's just a turn of phrase... the last two days.. the last day or two..."

This is an email on 4 July sent to MTM and LBD to her co-chairs "Hi Marie-Therese and Louise
Yesterday we sent this email to all LGBTQ groups on our database, I worked with Sara to draw up the
list and we jointly wrote this email. Sara was concerned about sending it from her email address,
because of an issue she had with Alliance forChoice-ltoldheritwasherjobasinclusion officer that
it should come from her, but if it would help I would send it from my email address and cc her in.
We have had a few positive emails back. And we have had 2 others which I will forward to you
separately. We have also had some tweets from Queerspace - which I will send to you FYI.
Michele

Dear LGBTQI+ Friends
"We are looking forward to Pride 2023 and are currently planning a PRIDE ON THE BIG SCREEN chillout
day at the new Belfast Stories site - opposite the Sunflower (Union St / Kent St). Following the
success of the Shellshock Sessions event at this exciting new site during our Doc Festival in June (see
below). Unfortunately, in June we were choc-a-block so didn’t get time to submit to the pride
brochure.
We want the film day to be a relaxing affair for those who want to nurse their hangover on one of our
beanbags ... or get out of the house with the kids - we are thinking of starting with x2 family films ...
maybe the Wizard of Oz / Encanto??. And of including some short films made by local LGBTQI+
filmmakers (Conan McIver's brilliant Dam?). Pedro has put his oar in for PRIDE the film. Maybe
nothing with subtitles, coz we all might be feeling a bit delicate on the Sunday. We would love the
opportunity to co-design this day with you, time is tight... we would be happy to meet / chat with you
this week ... it would be great it if you could give us a ring/drop us a note with your thoughts /
ideas. Please share to groups/individuals we may have missed. In Solidarity and with Pride
Michele Devlin
Director
Belfast Film Festival
& Docs Ireland

NC where are the positive emails of support
MD mentions a few off the top of her head
NC they haven't been disclosed
MD that's correct
NC all we know about those emails is that R has chosen not to disclose it
MD I haven't. I just told you
NC all we've seen is a few complaints

... not from women's sector.
MD yes
NC there might be dozens of emails saying well done for not bowing to the mob
MD there are two or three
NC saying that
MD not saying that - just saying how much they support the event
NC but not important enough to put in your WS

MC there's a lot in my WS. [x] pages. "It could put you to sleep"
NC the 3 July email went to two orgs mentioned in SM's speech and they did not complain
MD i didn't get any complaints
NC so there is no evidence whatsoever that SM's crit of womens' orgs in a private capacity has generated complaints and there is no evidence it damaged BFF's reputation at all
MD based on that analysis, no
NC so the decision to investigate SM came from the 3 emails sent from two orgs
MD there was tonnes on SM
NC before 5 July?
MD more after
NC but that's when the investigation was launched
MD there was loads of stuff before - we new we had to investigate fro 16 April
NC so are you saying that the investigation was sparked by what happened on 16 April
MD yes
NC why not get Think People investigation on 4 May board meeting, or 25 May email from MC?
MD I didn't want to disrupt the team
NC what about 25 June when MC wanted to "accelerate the process"
MD I was already in contact with Think People
NC and you knew you didn't have what you need to get rid of SM until it flared up again on 3 July.

sorry should add NC said something about - because of the advice you have taken
MD I could have disciplined SM at any time and I was going to talk to her, but I knew I had to speak to her and I was going to speak to her but we're a small team and it was a busy time
NC you're saying at some point when you got around to it after 16 April and there was nothing about what happened on 3 and 4 July to engage Think People on the 5th.
MD I needed space and time for both SM and me to consider and think about it
NC and is the reason you didn't do anything on 18 April - when you had all the facts
MD I didn't have all the facts
NC so was that not enough
MD another thing that emerged was the convo with the filmmaker
NC is this Caleb
MD yes
NC we'll come back to that tomorrow
NC none of those complaints on 4 and 5 July have anything to do with SM's criticism of women's groups
NC they were about transphobia
MD none of them said anything about transphobia
NC she was guilty of wrongthink
MD what's that
NC having dangerous opinions
MD I've never heard of wrongthink in my life
NC that's why I said dangerous opinions
MD can we stick to what's said in the emails
NC dangerous opinions is in the email
MD I want to get the language in this right. the right language is important in this debate.

[NC wants to move on but J notes the time. Big discussion about tomorrow. It looks like MD is going to be in the chair for 2 hours more. I don't think we're starting until 11.30am tomorrow, so we're going to have MD for most of tomorrow and perhaps one other witness]

Sorry. Rushed out to get some photos. Now closing down the thread with the usual messages. Thanks v much for reading this far. If you…

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I am going back to my spartan lodgings to write tonight’s before we reconvene at 1130 tomorrow.

Adieu. End of 🧵

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