The Grand hotel bomber Patrick Magee has contributed to a new play about the terrorist attack which will be shown at this year’s Brighton Fringe.

Magee, who was handed eight life sentences for killing five people in the 1984 blast, has been in talks with Brighton writers Julie Everton and Josie Melia about the production called The Bombing of The Grand Hotel.

The piece will focus on his relationship with Jo Berry, the daughter of Sir Anthony Berry, who was killed in the blast at the Conservative Party conference. Since his release from prison in 1999 as part of the Good Friday Agreement he has become friends with Ms Berry in an attempt to promote positive reconciliation around the world.

While many have seen this as a step forward, others have criticised Magee – especially given that he has refused to publicly apologise.

Speaking to The Argus at a special event to mark the 30th anniversary of the bombing last October, he refused to name those behind the attacks.

Speaking to The Argus yesterday, Miss Berry said now was not the time for a public apology.

She said: “He has apologised to me and has said on a number of occasions that he feels for those who lost family and friends. However, a public apology would have to be part of a much bigger truth and reconciliation process from both sides.”

Speaking about the play she said she had been approached by writers a number of years ago.

She said: “They came to visit us at a few of our speaking events and they did one-to-one interviews. I really hope I can make it to Brighton when it is on.

"I have always found the people of Brighton very welcoming and understanding. He [Magee] is very sensitive to the people of Brighton though, so he won’t be coming.”

The play has been funded through a kickstarter campaign with members of the public donating more than £3,000 to see it come to fruition.

Ms Everton, said: “What I found so compelling and inspiring about this story was not just about the events of that night but actually about the story of these two people whose lives collided the night of that bomb.

“Jo Berry, whose dad died in the bomb, an aristocrat, who committed herself to getting something positive out of her father’s death and Pat Macgee who planted the bomb that killed her dad.”

The play will be at The Warren, a pop-up theatre outside St Peter’s Church, on May 6, 7and 9.