  |
This article's content is marked as Mature The page contains mature content that may include coarse language, sexual references, and/or graphic violent images which may be disturbing to some. Mature pages are recommended for those who are 18 years of age and older. If you are 18 years or older or are comfortable with graphic material, you are free to view this page. Otherwise, you should close this page and view another page. |
| “ | Listen to me Marty, it's a mistake to stick your thumbs in the eyes of the most powerful people in the city. | „ |
| ~ Shaughnessy subtly threatening Martin Vail. |
John Shaughnessy is the secondary antagonist of the 1993 thriller novel Primal Fear and it's 1996 film adaptation of the same name.
He was portrayed by the late John Mahoney, who also played the Management in Burn Notice and Robert Terwilliger Sr. in The Simpsons.
Biography[]
John Shaughnessy is the District Attorney of the Illinois State. He has many connections with powerful men. He is first seen assisting at a chorale organized by his friend the Archbishop Richard Rushman. He and his entourage are joined by Martin Vail. The latter is convoked in Shaughnessy's office the next day in the morning.
At the office, he, Martin and another guy are discussing about a client named Pinero. Shaughnessy says he wants to give Martin $1,500,000 for Pinero leaving the state.
Later, the Archbishop Rushman is violently killed and a young man named Aaron Stampler is arrested. To his request, Janet Venable, the best attorney of his another friend Bud Yancy, is presented to Shaughnessy. John entrusts her with the mission of trying the case but with one absolute condition : that the death penalty be applicated to Stampler.
During his investigation into the case, Vail discovers that Shaughnessy was an investor in a project called "South River Development Corporation" under Rushman's charity, Rushman Foundation. The project consisted of taking all the buildings around the church, tearing them down and turning them into high-rent condos. However, a local citizen went to talk with the Archbishop and convinces him to renounce on the project. Shaughnessy lost millions because of this. Vail and Shaughessy meet in a restaurant and the corrupt attorney makes a speech about how he keeps the city in peace. He then asks about Pinero. Vail answers he is a grownup. Shaughnessy then questions him about his assistant who looks in the financial affairs of the archbishop. Because of this, Vail confronts him by asking how much he lost when the religious man withdrew from the project. This earns him a threat from Shaughnessy.
Vail has a tape dropped off at Venable. It shows the sexual abuse that Rushman inflicted on his altar boys. Shaughnessy realizes this and confronts Venable about it. He strongly suggests that she destroy this tape and find evidence to convict Stampler otherwise she will have no future in her career as a lawyer.
The next day, he is convoked by surprise as a witness on the trialby Martin Vail. He reveals he is a honorary member of the board of the Archbishop foundation. He also reveals that he invested $60 millions in the project. However, he claims that the project ended because of different opinions about the costs. He also lies by telling he has never heard about the sexual deeds committed by the archbishop. But Vail quickly dismisses this by showing a document about a police officer reporting at his supervisor revealing that Shaughnessy knew about this and decided to cover it up to continue his affairs without trouble.
After this, he calls the Judge Miriam Shoat to inform her there will be no mistrial. This is his last move in the movie and he is not seen, heard or mentioned afterwards. However, since he has committed perjury, his reputation is tarnished after the trail.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Despite his supporting role, he plays a crucial role in the plot because his cover of the sexual crimes of the archbishop is the indirect cause of Stampler's crime.