PLANS for a new documentary investigating the murders of Barry man Robert Mochrie – who killed his entire family before taking his own life seventeen years ago – have been met with resistance by the local community.

Award-winning South Wales based studio, Monster Films, announced last week that they were due to start filming for the documentary, entitled 'Murder by the Sea', in early 2018. The film will examine the circumstances and motivation behind Mochrie's now infamous killings of his wife, Catherine, and their four children James, 18, Sian, 16, Luke, 14 and Bethan, 10, at their home in Highlight Park in July 2000.

The incident and subsequent inquest into the family's deaths were covered extensively in the national media at the time. Much reporting focused on Mochrie's financial difficulties and struggles with mental health in the lead up to the crime.

A Channel 4 documentary about the Mochrie case, titled 'Behind Closed Doors', aired in 2003. Film company Wellpark Productions were forced to defend the programme due to concerns about sensationalising the murders.

And news of Monster Films' intentions has faced a similar backlash, with social media users calling the proposals "shocking," "disrespectful" and "disgusting."

A spokesman for Monster Films said that their intention was to see what lessons could be learned to prevent familicides – or 'family annihilations' – from happening in the future.

"Our intention is not at any time to offend. We’re very conscious of the need to approach issues like this sensitively," he said.

"We're going to have some of the leading experts in criminology and psychiatric medicine examine the background to the story to get a better understanding of why this happened and see if there's anything that can be learned to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

"We want local people to feel involved in what we’re doing, so that they can be voices for the film to make sure it's balanced and accurate.

"Sometimes when you place things on public forums, you get reactions. Different people react in different ways. Our fundamental concern is to take into account these reactions, particularly those who have a personal connection with the story."

Cllr Tony Hampton, Conservative Barry town councillor for the Illtyd ward, said that while the programme's findings could prove interesting, he urged the filmmakers to be respectful of the subject's sensitivity.

"From a historical point of view, it's something unfortunate that did happen in Barry," said Cllr Hampton.

"We shouldn’t be afraid to remember sad events as well as happy ones in the town. But I do appreciate people’s views who don’t support a documentary because it would bring back very, very sad memories for them.

"We don’t know at this stage what would be uncovered during the course of filming, but on the other hand we can’t ignore history.

"If they do a reasonable, informative documentary, I’m sure people would respect that."

But Vale of Glamorgan Council's Labour councillor, Neil Moore, said he was firmly against the documentary needlessly "reopening old scars."

"I don’t see what you're going to get from digging it up," said Cllr Moore.

"I think it's inappropriate to bring up something which is very personal to people in Barry who still bear the scars, who knew those families very well.

"I wouldn’t co-operate with it personally. I didn’t know the family, I know people who did and I don’t think there’s going to be anything positive that would come out of it. Its just going to reopen old scars for no particular purpose.

"What are they looking to have as an outcome? Can you learn lessons? Possibly, but given that it was so personal anyway I don’t think that you could. I think it should be left well alone."

Filming on the project is set to begin next Spring.