Gypsy Blood on Channel 4 examines the violent culture passed from gypsy traveler fathers to their sons
True Stories, which commissions and showcases the best feature-length documentaries, comes to Channel 4. Gypsy Blood examines the violent culture that some gypsy and traveller fathers hand on to their sons. Filmed over two years by award-winning photographer Leo Maguire, Gypsy Blood is an intimate portrait of two gypsy families, their fight for respect and the price they pay in cycles of revenge that can erupt into sudden and terrifying violence.
The Dohertys are Irish Traveller royalty. While Hughie Doherty, 27, becomes embroiled in a fight to defend his family’s name, his seven-year-old son Francie is caught between two worlds, learning to read at primary school while learning to fight with his fists at home. Fred Butcher is Romany but torn between the gypsy fighting tradition and his love as a father. His nine-year-old son, Freddy Cole, is terrified his father will be badly hurt in a fight.
The film follows the story of how Fred nearly dies in a machete attack as a day of drinking and sparring goes terribly wrong. Gypsy Blood is a haunting study of masculinity, violence and the uneasy relationship gypsy and traveller men have with their bare-knuckle traditions, and an insight into people living amongst a wider society but sometimes with values that are a world apart.
Tonight, Channel 4, 10PM
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Is Hare Coursing and Cock Fighting not illegal in the UK??? – is this not a matter for police attention.
This program was obviously destined to be shocking but I personally think that this is a step to far. Children drinking, swearing,showing no empathy for a dead animal by punching the face of a dead deer.
This is sick!!!!
Yes it is rather illegal, but the world would be inundated with cocks and hares if it wasn’t for us. And by letting our children drink from an early age , they will be seasoned drinkers by the time they are 20. It helps when it comes to fighting
Lol uk red necks. The best bit was seeing one of them get f**ked up lol made my day. They need ther kids taking off them and putting in care…. its ok they cant read this lol
And fighting because daddy fights Lol very funny. Gary gliter has a son should he do what daddy did. And as for living of the land that was the first time them kids has seen a rabbit get killed. You can tell from the way they was acting round it all they eat is MacDonalds. And please Remember people sleeping with your sister is not right
First,I would like to say Brilliant documentary. I’m am not from the traveling community but respect the value and customs and traditions they live their lives,they hold praticalskills which should be taught and kept alive,hunting,shooting n preparing the hunt for consumption. I’m not saying I agree with everything,I have three young sons and plan on taking them fishing soon and with the catch(hopefully)preparing the fish to eat.However I would not encourage them to endanger their life’s by fighting.Defending themselves,yes. I’m sure some people will be shocked,I’m more shocked by the’upper classes’ antics of what money can buy(news article:big game hunting for fun! With picture). Don’t be judgemental,people come from all walks of life
The deer coursing was out of season the cwd had a summer coat and was most probably pregnant the hare was a pregnant doe this didnt do much to add to the traveller community they knew what they were doing and it was wrong taking game out of season. The cockeral he killed had a rough life its feathers were missing and it was a sad episode of traveller life there is a lot more to these people than what was shown
Throughout this documentary I felt so sorry for the children, I know they say “it’s the gypsy way” but surely any parent from any back ground should only want the best for there child, is fighting the way forward? I DON’T think so.
Gypsy’s say that there’s nothing more important than family life, well Fred didn’t think so as at the end he said that he would give up his son’s to get revenge on the people that attacked him, well someone give him the father of the year award – ONLY BLOODY JOKING. That was the worst thing I’ve heard a father say, get over what happened to you and start being a better father to your sons & after what you have been through you should be the first to want your sons NOT to take after there dad, how would you feel
Being a man isn’t all about being the best fighter it’s about being a better father to your kids than your father was to you.
This certainly comes under the category of ‘Unsuitable for Transmission’. The animal cruelty and illeagal acts taking place would I hope raise concerns not only from the police but the R.S.P.C.A. I dont turn a blind eye that this goes on but I dont think that arty farty ‘In depth award wining documentary film maker’ type of praise can justify the screening of this horrific stuff. Get a grip ch4.
Upsetting and traumatic viewing is not ‘responsible and informative’ as your aims would have us belive.
Whats next for our delictation a snuff movie or some real paedophile live action, made of course by an award winning documentary maker.?
Yes Carl we can .read!!! Bet you can’t say that to hughie Doherty face?
gypsy girl good job there is such a thing as 3G cause you dont get a landline in a shed on wheels!!!
I’m sick to death of gypo’s we should just kick em out of england.Breaking onto private land poaching cock fighting stealing.Why dont they become doctors fight for there country become teachers have a resepctable career.What do they collect scrap do bodge jobs.I dont think all gypsies are bad but ive never met anyone who likes them either..
Oh and why couldnt any one tell hughie he cant read? He admitted it himself that he couldnt read.So why would he be insulted? oh yeah POTATO