The father of Belfast actor James Martin, who starred in Oscar-winning short film An Irish Goodbye, said his son becoming the first star with Down’s Syndrome to win at the Academy Awards is an “amazing feat”.
Ivan Martin said: “It’s an amazing feat. It’s something that nobody can ever take away from him. When you’re the first to do anything, it’s there for life and that’s how it is with him.”
Mr Martin said when his son was born, he was told he may never speak.
Read more: Watch: Oscars A-listers sing Happy Birthday to James Martin after big win
“So here we are – James not only speaks, once he started speaking he hasn’t shut up since,” he told BBC Radio Ulster.
Mr Martin said his son attended the Elton John after-party following the ceremony.
“All I ever wanted for James was that he’d be happy and, I tell you what, he’s happy now,” he added.
Ivan Martin said it is “unbelievable” that his son, James Martin, has starred in a Oscar-winning film.
“It’s been a journey,” he told BBC Radio Ulster.
“You get to the Oscars and everybody keeps saying the prize is getting there but, truth to tell, you want to win.
“And I had my doubts about it because one of the opposition films was a Disney film and they had in the last week… they had really been ramping up the promotion for it.
“But calm heads won it in the end and An Irish Goodbye (is) a film we can all be proud of.”
He added: “It’s just crazy. But there were a few tears shed but what an achievement, just delighted.”
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