Richard is a novelist and screenwriter, best known for the feature film THE ABDUCTION CLUB, set in Ireland in the late eighteenth century (Pathe 2002). He has been writing and developing screenplays since 1997, and has worked on scripts for a number of UK and European projects. In 2004 and 2006 he took part in the MOONSTONE INTERNATIONAL Screenwriting Lab as a participant, with the feature scripts MCCARTHY’S WAR (now RETRIBUTION) and THE DIRTY WAR. In 2007 he was the second participant in Moonstone history to be invited back to a Screenwriting Lab as an advisor.

In 2004 he established SCREENWRITERS.INK, a Belfast-based screenwriters group. Under Richard’s guidance the group produced fourteen 10 minute short films over two years, all premiered at special screening events in the Belfast Film Festival in March 2006 and April 2007.

Richard has also provided script development support for the NI Screen/UKFC “Short Steps” and “Digital Shorts” short film programmes, mentoring emerging screenwriters, and has lectured at Queens University Belfast and South Eastern Regional College on screenwriting and creative writing.

Richard recently moved writing television, with a number of TV series optioned and in development.

FILM/TV/RADIO

2018 The Morrigan – Causeway Pictures

Screenplay option renewed

War Tour – Sweetdoh Productions
Film Treatment Commissioned

2017 A Fall of Eagles – Causeway Pictures
Treatment optioned

2016 -2017 The Original – Third Bar Films/NI Screen
Screenplay in development

2014- 2017 Unarmed – Boxty Films/Phix – NI Screen
Screenplay commissioned
In Development

Wolfland – Six Mile Hill Productions
Screenplay treatment commissioned

On The Road Home – Short Film – NI Screen
Director

2013-2017 The Morrigan – Causeway Pictures/N I Screen
Screenplay commissioned and in development

2012 Jogged – Short Film – NI Screen
Writer / Director

2010-2012 Velvet Blade – Plotpoint Media
Historical adventure TV drama series under option

2009-2011 Paddy Mayne – AMC Pictures/Third Bar Films funded by NI Screen
Feature film based on life of Blair Mayne, SAS. Screenplay commissioned

2007-2011 McCarthy’s War – Bandigital Ltd/N I Screen
Original screenplay in development

2008 Le Petit Guerrier – MC 4 Company, France
Screenplay commissioned. Co-writing with Edouard Niermans.

2007 Dorothy Mills – Octagon Films
Rewrite commissioned

Revivees – BBC Radio 3
Play commissioned

2007-2008 Chatakwa Falls – Geronimo Films
A feature horror script commissioned

2006 Project Norma – Screenwriters Ink
Executive Producer on 14 short films

2002 The Abduction Club – Pathe 2002

An original historical adventure set in 18th century Ireland. Co-written (with Bill Britten).

FICTION

The Minstrel Boy – Heinemann Ltd London (hardcover) 1994
Mandarin London (paperback) 1995

Fall When Hit Heinemann Ltd London (hardcover) 1993
Mandarin London (paperback) 1994

Short Stories:

Autumn Rain – Heinemann’s Best Short Stories of 1988