The 'banned' Star Trek episode that promised a united Ireland

The ‘banned’ Star Trek episode was not shown in the UK due to a scene referencing Ireland’s “2024 unification.” This prevented UK viewers from seeing the episode that promised a united Ireland.

A scene discussing Ireland’s “2024 unification” stopped the episode of Star Trek from being shown in the UK.

“We only became aware of it later… and there’s not much you can do about it,” she remarks, speaking to the BBC from her residence in New Mexico. “Writing for television is akin to laying track for a train that’s about 300 feet behind you. You simply don’t have the luxury to halt.”

While the series boasts legions of dedicated followers immersed in its mythology, one specific episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation has endured in infamy.

The controversy centers around a scene in which the android character Data, portrayed by actor Brent Spiner, discusses the “Irish unification of 2024” as an instance of violence achieving a political goal.

Initially aired in the US in 1990, there was significant apprehension surrounding the dialogue, resulting in the episode being withheld from broadcast on the BBC and Irish public broadcaster RTÉ.

During that era, US TV programs often premiered internationally several years after their original airing.

Satellite broadcaster Sky purportedly aired a modified version in 1992, omitting the pivotal scene. However, The High Ground didn’t grace BBC screens until 02:39 GMT, 29 September 2007 – and according to BBC Archives, this is believed to be its sole transmission.

The decision not to broadcast the episode reflects a period when Northern Ireland was engulfed in a violent conflict, with the Provisional IRA playing a significant role in its escalation, aiming to end British rule in the region.

Fast forward to 2024, Sinn Féin, the political arm of the IRA, now holds the largest representation in the Stormont assembly. Michelle O’Neill, the party’s leader in Northern Ireland, recently assumed the role of first minister and anticipates a referendum on Irish unity within the next ten years.

This stands in stark contrast to Sir Keir Starmer, the frontrunner for the UK’s next prime minister, who has dismissed the possibility of such a referendum as being “beyond consideration” at present.

Social media has been abuzz with screenshots of Data’s prediction, drawing parallels to Sinn Féin’s electoral triumph. When Ms. Snodgrass penned the script, she didn’t anticipate any controversy. “Science fiction plays a crucial role in enabling discussions on challenging topics, albeit from a safe distance,” she reflects.

In the episode, Data’s statement is contextualized. “The High Ground” explores the theme of terrorism, as the separatist Ansata group abducts Dr. Beverly Crusher, the Enterprise’s chief medical officer, employing violence to pursue independence.

“I’ve been studying the history of armed rebellion, and it seems terrorism can be effective in driving political change,” Data remarks.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard, portrayed by Patrick Stewart, responds, “It can indeed, but I’ve never endorsed the belief that political power emanates from the barrel of a gun.”

“Nevertheless, there are numerous instances where it proved successful,” Data counters. “Such as the independence of the Mexican state from Spain, the Irish unification of 2024, and the Kenzie rebellion.”

Picard acknowledges, “I’m cognizant of them,” prompting Data’s inquiry: “Can we then conclude that terrorism becomes permissible when all avenues for peaceful resolution have been exhausted?”

“Data, these are inquiries that humanity has grappled with throughout its history. Your perplexity is entirely human.”

The narrative draws parallels with the circumstances in Northern Ireland during that period – a deliberate choice, according to Ms. Snodgrass.

“Before pursuing law, I studied history, and I aimed to delve into that; to explore the notion that one person’s freedom fighter is another person’s terrorist,” she explains.

“These are intricate matters. When do individuals feel so cornered that resorting to violence seems their only recourse? And can such actions ever truly be justified?

“I believe what I wanted to convey was: as long as dialogue prevails over conflict, we stand on firmer ground.”

In 1992, when the episode was scheduled to air in the UK, the IRA ceasefire of 1994 and the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 were distant events. In April of that year, the IRA’s bombing at the Baltic Exchange in London’s financial district resulted in three deaths and over 90 injuries.

During the tense atmosphere of 1988 to 1994, broadcasting restrictions were imposed, barring the voices of individuals associated with certain Northern Irish groups from television and radio. These measures were widely viewed as targeting Sinn Féin.

This led to the peculiar situation where well-known politicians like Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams had their voices replaced by actors. Notably, Gerry Adams was voiced by the acclaimed actor Stephen Rea on occasion.

Reflecting on the Star Trek episode, Professor Robert Savage of Boston College remarks, “It was remarkable that it faced censorship.” In his recent book, titled “Northern Ireland, the BBC, and Censorship in Thatcher’s Britain,” he delves into the period encompassing the episode’s withdrawal.

“The fundamental question posed by the android Data is: Does terrorism achieve its goals? If all other avenues for effecting change have been exhausted, is resorting to terrorism justified?” explains Prof. Savage. “It’s a profoundly human query. However, Jean-Luc Picard refrains from providing a direct answer. Such ambiguity would have unsettled figures like Thatcher,” he adds.

There is some uncertainty surrounding the decision not to air the program during its initial broadcast.

The BBC Archives confirmed the 2007 airing of the episode and were “satisfied” that any subsequent screenings would have been documented.

The BBC press office mentioned that they had reached out to “a number of individuals” to inquire about the reasons behind a potential ban but were unable to obtain information “due to the passage of time.”

A spokesperson from Sky stated they had investigated the matter but couldn’t verify whether an edited version of the episode was broadcast in 1992, nor could they ascertain the rationale behind such a decision.

RTÉ acknowledged that TV guides from the period indicated they had broadcast Star Trek: The Next Generation but had no further details in their records and were unable to locate individuals from that time to discuss it.

Lord John Birt, who served as director-general of the BBC from 1992 to 2000, mentioned that if the episode had been removed, it likely would have been a decision made at the operational level in Network Television.

Looking back over three decades, the situation in Northern Ireland has evolved significantly.

Ms. Snodgrass expressed her delight when the Good Friday Agreement was signed, noting its positive impact on Northern Ireland’s prosperity.

She highlighted the recent filming of “Games of Thrones” in the region as a significant economic boost, mentioning her acquaintance with George RR Martin, the author of the books on which the series is based, with whom she has collaborated.

Reflecting on the passage of time, she remarked, “In hindsight, 2024 seemed distant. I might as well have said 2224! The significance of the future timeline didn’t immediately register with me.”

Back in the ’70s, an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation called ‘The High Ground’ aired, and it had some thought-provoking political undertones. The plot revolved around the topic of terrorism and the struggle for Irish reunification. This controversial storyline sparked a lot of debate, but due to sensitivities at the time, this episode was actually banned in the UK. It’s a compelling and little-known part of Star Trek history that highlights the impact of science fiction on real-world issues. What are your thoughts on this buried treasure of Star Trek lore? Live long and prosper!

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