Borstal Boy - Brendan Behan

7/22/2019 Borstal Boy - Brendan Behan

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BORSAL BOY

Irs plwri, Brndn Bn ( 93 9)s sr wors o is crdi includinRichard Crk Leg e Hsage nd prps

bs nown e Quare Fellw nindicmn of cp punsmn.

BORSAL BOY s n uobiorpclccoun of is rrs in 939 n Lirpoos sixnrold ior for IrsRpublicn Arm boo rcs s

imprisonmn, rl, rmnd o rform scoond nl rs


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AO BY BRENDAN BEHAN

Confessons of n sh Rebel


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BORSTAL BOY

rendan ehan

W


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Aw Bk mited20 Vauxhall Bdge Rad

Lndn SW IV 2SA

imprin f Rdm useUK Ld

Lndn Melbe Sydney AuckldJhnebg and agencie hrught he wrld

First publhed in 1958 by chinn & Co tdArna editin 1990Aw edin 1990

7 9 10 8

Brend Beh 1958

is ok is sd sbject t the cnditin that it shal ntby way f ade r theise, lent reld hed t r

theise ccated wtht the pubishe's prir cnsent in

y f f binding r cver ther than that in which it ispublihed and witht a imi cnditin includng thcndtin being imped n the bequent prcher.

Set in Timesby J Graphics Ltd Reading

Pnted in Great Brita byThe Guesey Press C. td

Guesey Channel ld

SBN 0 970650 4

Pars used by Randm ueUK Limited nararcyclable pc made m wd grwn in sutainable

frsts The mfacturing presses cnf t heenvirnmental regulains f the cntry f rigin.


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Do Mo B


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On cw of oun wmn o posbos o n sou lws sons, s if inbo, n wr s ins n sunkwi blspmis on i lips An ol noblmn fo suc is own n oln cin of ocpocim im wn own no f fom w

Ono soo cllin nnc upon Iisbls wo ci wi is ls b plois il

ORLANDO: Virginia Wlf


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PR ONE


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Frid in nin lndld soud up sirsO God o Jsus o Scrd H Bo rs wonlmn o s ou

I knw b scrcs of r s nlmn wrno cllin o nquir r m l or o know if Id d ood rip I rbbd m suics coninin Po ClorSulp Ac lini donors lcricl nd iniion nd rs of m Sin Fin conjurors ou nd crrid i o window Tn nlmn rrid

A oun on wi blond Hrrnok d nd BBCccn soud I s rb im bsud

Wn I ws sfl rbbd blond on m srlpuncs in fc ou no r dmin ons An

oldr mn in Lncsir spc old im o mlon nd o sop mkin of imslf. . Tr wrnow wo or r ors in room nd is old mn ws srn nd in cr of rid.

H ook som Po Clor nd sur ou of cs pui in mp rplc nd li i wi mc I rord ino

m nd lld room wi smok H noddd o m ndI noddd bckSxond nd nor qui fllow d m rippd b

rmsGo un Pdd? skd srnIf Id d un o wouldn com rou

door so sin s

H lookd m nd sid s if I d sid noin ors if d no rd m

urn im or old qui on.Blondi bn o src m wi iolncNo no ou sid srn VrkrVrkr srcd m qi nd n lon sms

of m is wi cousLi our s up or our d Pu our l up Tnk o

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is lndld ws men nd s en s o He okenwndows would e judement on e fo te cep susesnd mine se poisoned e tle wit, fo se ws onleneous wit tins tt cost little in cs, lockin ll doost nit time nd kneelin down o s te Ros wit te

lode nd e siste wo lws dded tee Hil Msfo ol puit nd te potection of e peson nd modestso tt ou would tink lf te men in Liepool weeunnin e e, pntin fo lick of e i uck teet

e lode ws i tick fom n djcent o Ae tepes fo puit e d one of is own t G would

nt unto im stent nd peseence to stin fom lllcoolic dinks nd to moti te petite, so oss cuseof insult to te most loin e of Jesus, pkin utspinl een of innocent liquid efesments suc s te,lemonde, e ee, ine pop nd coco

e lode d to s tis ee nit, fo e ws meme of te Sced ist, nd went to tei meetins on

Fid nit, diectl e lein te Post Ofce nd puttinis mone in te Sins Bnk But te lndld told us ttit would do us no m to s it wt im

On te ck of te ll doo ws pictue of te ScedHet sin G is ee Stnd

Yes, sid te seent, I souldnt e supised if te

lee tt ouse weck

I ws ouht to te CID edqutes in Lime Steet Inccodnce wi instuctions I esed to nswe questionsI eed to mke sttement wi iew to popnd fote cuse It would look well t ome too I oen ed

speeces fom te dock nd tout te ette of te end dent men tt mde them so f fom fiends o deones

M nme is Bendn Ben I cme oe ee to t fote Iis Wokes nd Smll Fmes Repulic fo llnd fee life, fo m countmen Not nd Sout nd fo

te emo of te nel inuence of Bitish Impeilismfom Iis ffis G se Ielnd

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H wts tis ut smll ms? ts ou sttmnt n ou cn put wt ou loo wll lik in it ut nv sn smll m is o Englis t llloo ig llows wit ulls s on m om tingloo gt s n inking ci

T lwing lmnt in t movmnt woul ligtn t ots t cwtumps coul not s ntingginst m cus ws goo Volunt cptu cring t stuggl to Englns oostp ut t woul opping m t m giving vron t impssion tt t ws Communistic

T Go Sv ln it m m l lik tMncst Ms ng mist t xulting cs o tousn ipl mcnts n cing out wit tilst t

God ave reland cred he heoeGod ave reland cry we all

Wheher on he caold hghOr he ale eld we dieSure wha maer when o reland dea we all.

Bloni took t sttmnt n look t m wit s mucsvg s coul must I look ck t im n

look ck to m sttmnGr around y cuel oeSill heir courage proudly roeA hey hough o hem ha loved hem ar and nearO he million rue and raveOer he ormy ocean wave

And our riend n Holy reland ever dear

An ll t popl t om woul s ing t ppsA su Go lp poo Bnn wsnt onl tlking toim wk go? B Jsus, ws gt l ll t smn onl sixtn

An Sil woul so s i not t m t t nigt w wlk t cnl


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Hr cosn d bn snncd o n rs ndr nssmd nm in Enlnd, nd s ws kin m p o ismor I mi brk nws

Sil, wn I rd r p ns lrp po on cnl bnk sd I sold b smd of mslf, nd I

Volnr, nd spcill im lik M smn ws kn down, nd I snd An skd m qsons wic I rsd o nswr.

I ws b srprisd o r cf nspcor rfr o nold Ror Csmn A om Csmn ws rrdd s Rpbcn sin Ror, m lds bror, ws nmd r

im m Vrkr sid I ws wrd cpnd old m in wispr mslf did compionsn Jhn Ondn Weekly

Wl, Pdd, sd srn wr kin o o DSr lockp now Is no oin o b oo nic r, bwl o n co Mond mornn nd ol mos

lik b sid o Wlon in rnoon Yol propr bd r, w ss. Com lon, son

Dl Sr ws no so ood sion srn ws nnorn css of nml ook m crs nd mcsw from m nd old m opd I wod wnrs.

srn nd Vrkr wd ood n o m from droom nd I c ls limps of m bfor Iws kn lon drk pss nd down sir wr wsoppd osid n opn door

A policmn sid, is do Srn?Ys so bsrd n r op coks drn

in ni

I wn o doorE no so fs. k off m blood sosI o wr oin o b m p nd wnd m

brfoo so I wold b lss wll bl o dfnd mslfCom on off wi mI bn slowl, m bck o wll, nd ndid m cs

Com on look srp Don kp s r ll ni, osopp Iris mick

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Cammell La a you?' He houe o he aageLay ome o a ee you lee' ouyma

ohe oale ame a oo he ooay of heell elely ma h a og h ue l

He houe agh aay By au e o haf

eough of you ug he TouleHe ha a heavy Mue ae h a Eglh oe mxeo Poaly he ha hele o mue eole h heBlak a Ta ug he Toule a a afa o o h o ouy o go ea e ha hm egheu all gh

oo holg my oue a oke u o hm a'o he me of he Toule

H voe eehe o he faleo of hyeal laugheo age Bu go my hae of hem a a fo you youlooy e ko ha ' o h you'

looke u o h glag e fae a houe myefBy au a hey hae you ou ayay . You have'

oe ug ye'Be he lvg Lo eu' he oae amg a lo a me.The Eglh ukey eveeo Lay o' ee he y lle _'E' o oh

a kk he ae-ole'He ue o me e ga Ge o o o ha

ah-houe a ah you lee' ek'Ou of oeao fo he ohe oe uoe heome he aoa je aou h

e o o he ah-houe f o goo humou alea feelg moe alve

Thee ee fou ol all ue vey ol o veyoa-ou ma a elag o ae e h

h youg m a ole-gee u a a look ofu oe a uveyg h geal Thee a aoy a alo' ufom a lle ole ha u lgheul

ook my lae eh hm oely amg he akof h ek

The ukey a he aage gvg oolg ha ohe h oale

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go ugge all o do h hm he ad You ca mokeyou head o hee f you go ay ou o he moey ouy You ca uy coff you eakfa de ad eachocolae Ay pehg hg Excep dk o a ofcumpe uppoe.

They ook my cgaee ad mache aay fom meOh el Pad he ad eouly mgh e dffee foyou Beg ke a o of gh eao Buhe moe cheelly Bu em all cha you ca haeome of me

ued fom he ah-ol poeg

Ye you loody ll. ll ge you hee ou a cad ofmache ad a packe of cheg gum go ack of haAd ae you go ayhg o ead?

o hae.Well ll ge you la eek News f he Wrld He oo

ou of h pocke Thogh maye you a ha oe? ad had ee ha e. had ee ead he News

f he Wrld my lfe a oly foy-egh hou leelad ad had ee aed hee ce a fou yeaold haked hm aga ad ued o h my ah

You had ae e Paddy ll hoe hem you kyocke fo you

gae myelf a al e e oe he ol He pu h

had my oue pockeo ole Paddy ha oe go a ole He ed he ohe de Tha all gh ll hoe he ou

mache ad cheg gum hee ued fom he ol dyg myelfAd ll pu he pape de you h o a ha old

aad of a ga-oppe o umle He pu he Newsf he Wrd ex o my k pug h had oud me Heo umle hee Paddy de you jacke

Thak kd ad .Tha al gh d Ad Paddy my ame ChaleThak ChaleTha all gh kd Ad f ge ay moe u oday ll

ok you a of ou ad chocolae maye omooAd ll ell you ha Paddy he ad eagely o h


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og ll g you oe he e ge ack o he oeyThoe ohe geeze ae gog o cou oday ll exce youad me Well a ll he coe ake hem o cou mo he ladg ove you Youll hea me all gh ll havemy l o he yhole

The doo of he ahhoue a ulocked ad he gukey came Rgh all you hoe Puffed odeedad haved fo h oh?

The oe laughed ad mached ou ehd hm adhe locked u each oe a he came o he cell doo

Bye Pd heed Chale He ed me h h

elo ad e o h cellll u a double lock o you ad he ce. You Lodoloke ae o leey Regula loody lo of Oud dohee

a le o my oo Guy Fake lead o o he dugeo e d he a

Pley of accommodao ee Youve go a ole ue ofoom o youelf.

I ad ohgd e you a aed Tha he h all ove

eve doe cgHe oeed he doo d fold u hem loody lake.

You a leeg h he g o you ko colleced my eah o eak hou ammeg doko f ha o of aue ovded fo he egulaou ha moe o he o a ome eakfa ad f ca ode fom oude m que ue youll have oovde me h omehg

Thee; a doe. looked u a hm d oe head my

fahe ad ucle ay ha h mae of eakg okedode dug he Toule olde olce ad adebeg fo he mo a a goa body of me Bu he ha a a log me ago ad he hole of elad a amaga Eglad ad he mahy of he old ehd he ached h face eadly keeg my axe ou of m

o eye Bu hough he oeed h mouh o oa eeleved ha he a a lle uzzled

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Youll ode ee ay adam fom oude ad eveyou md he egulao ll egulae you ad gve you ahck ea fo you eakfa f ge ay moe of you lpo come he ea-laye ee Ad you g le aadyoull ave epec fo Coae Oulha ad all.

you ad Coale Houlha ad my o mdad o he ukey ad ll compla o he magae aouyou ad laguage o you poxy lookg alock eeha you make of ha

H ae amed age ad he aged he doo ade off heavly up he o a

hough ee o o moke l he e o cou pua of cheg gum my mouh ad alked up ad docheg hyhm h my fooep Thee che a ep advaage of my dugeo a ha hee a o oeudeeah o ojec o my alkg ovehead o ha dhave e upe aou dug hm u d head a fgheg hou fom omeoe aove o omeoe o he uppe

adg Hey you oe aad fo Ch ake kp Hey you up hee ge o you loody ech ad ay heeyou g Thak e o G hee a ohg udeme oly uala ad could ake my mog alk ace ad dgy

head ep o he a ad opped md-oo They

ee comg do o me Jeu maye houd o havead ha aou he eguao o oe l old ha odhoe mel ha a gog o epo hm o he magaefo h ad aguage

They ee he paage They could eay k you ayyou cu up ough had happeed efoe Who oud gvea h aou you ove hee?

home oud a gh f you ee hee o ge heced of Gve u ack he magled cope of ou maym mued p daped o mach Whe u a adof ee yea a feo cap he oe God e you Fakeohe ead co you poudy oe

u he magg ould have o goe hough

The key a he doo o Thy Had commed myp od Jeu eceve my oul The doo opeed The

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The mog s alays a good me Tll ao eleveo'cock he egs o feel s age

as axos ao he avaoy. The sea as a coe, ve of he syhole as' shy cam h heFaa, o he Tech. A aece sg o he o

old cal ove aohe oy o gve hm a gh of a cgaee .O eed o e a old felo ae a gh's oe ad shoo, Oe of yos, hch of yos, some of yos, ay of yos,fo ass' sake, come ove hee, ad sqeeze me head' Bf a mase o ldg ade sco came hey'd sh ovehe doo ad e qe l he le dd' lke he dea of sg

he lavaoy ad ha old oh Bll's asad of a coe ookg a me, so o as he me, hle he as aay aco h he ohes

sa eadg he ae, eady o hde ehd he sea f head fooses o he sas The sea as a ageNo Hemgay o Lam OFlahey, hogh, selgmyself comfo, ad clg my head o codesceso

as eed, No a s Los, ad as a o less eesgha he es of he ae

Hey, Paddy' yo, Chale, sad my o md, m o shed

yeHe shoed aga

A gh, 'l e hee a meThe sea od do cely, oly ads ao os elaoso he ack lled he cha, ad e o he syhoe

Hello, ChaleHello, Paddy, ha yo?'Who, ass' Name, do yo hk cold e?Lke ha sog, Paddy?'mashg, cha' seak lke a ave, Egsh, o

days ad a .O voces echoed hogh he loely BdeelYo sg oe, Paddy. A sh sog' sh?Yes, "Mohe Machee o "Galay Bay'

Mohe Machee' ad Galay Bay. l sg a sog leaed a school elad cyg fo he Boe Pce, o

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ha hm o h old fello o ayoe elogg o hm evedd ayhg fo u u a a good og

A huachail aoihinn auinn6Ba eahan do chro i a dhea do ph6g

. . . eauil lighome aweome oyWide wa your hear and mild wa your eyeMy orrow wihou you or ever rii cry go deghidh a mhurnn nWalk my love, walk urely

Whie a new lime your high and hipYour cluering hair and your wee-ien ipMy la le o rengh woud die well in

heir ki . .

go deghidh r, a mhun nWalk my love wak urely '

Good old Paddy u coud udead Gve u"Kev Bay

ag up loy ad mouly hough he oely codo:

And eoe he aced he hangmanin hi dreary prion celBriih oldier orured BaryJu ecaue e would no ell,The name o hi companionAnd ohe ing hey wihed o know"Tu inormer and we'll ree you

Bu evin poudy anweed "No . Ony a lad o eigheen ummeYe no one can denyA he marched o dea a moingHe poudy eld hi ead on high .

he he poe came ack fom he co head hemhoug o each ohe ome had ee emaded ad ohe

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o mo chages had ee seeced o sho es Theall seemed aous o ge up o he jal efoe de Thefood hee seemed as ee ha ha e go heeesus judge he food ha could e ose

ou o oclock head he Black Maa ack o he

ad ad he ee ake off ad he Bdeell as queagae a he head Chales doo opeed ad shu aga

ad he came do m sas The doo opeed ad heue haded me m de hee d ad halfoepoaoes o a eamel plae o slces of d ead ad amug of ae

looked a he plaeWhas he mae sad he uke off ou gu o

somehg? Youe lood good sodes ad o msake "Uphe Repulc ad Log lve old ead he oue ousde a co Road ooze o auda gh u ou doe log cackg up ae a fe hous he od dgge do

ou? Whall ou feel lke ae e ea? Thas f oueluck ad he do ag ou Tha sco s good eough foou Bee ha ou go a oe ug elad geg ad a o poao

ook he pla ad mug ad he aged he doo ad eo

alked up ad do he cold lgh as aleadegg o fade gel fom he do ooked a heplae o he ech ad ook a dk of he ae mademe colde ad he cold as gaheg ae m ees ado ad am mself o e mself alked up ad doa moe gvg he plae a odd glace o m eujoue fom he all oads he doo as sa do

ad ae he o had aohe che of gum a dk of ae ad a smoke

ad evved apped up he lakes T as mefo alkg ll eveg

Bu hee as a uexpeced of dveso he aeoo he mddle of a ak as ake o a oom upsas

o e phoogaphed as a dffee polcema opeed mdoo ad hs oe sad ohg o me oe a o aohe

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The phoogaphe a a youg ma h a p head ada le mouache He a eag a po coa ad ael could o mage hm laughg o eg exced u a accke mach.

he hope of coveao aked hm he me Bu he

dd ae ad eemed o e pofeoally mpegale h lece

You head h ay. He hug a oode lael oud myeck h he od ad a ume ad my amechalked o uppoed h a lke he pcue oe eeof aed me, ad a eeed , apa fom hg

ha I a aedNo, deaydeay youelf, ad ake a ug ump a youelf

Mgh pu a of lfe o youWhe he a hed h me a ough ack o he

cell ad alked up ad do ad dak ae ad uaedo pa he me.

The ukey ough me a mug of cocoa, ad my heelce of ead, ad, g colegged o he ech, pulled a lake ove my houlde ad had my uppe Thelgh a ched o, ad xed my ed ad go o he hegh of luxuy ad hopg he ukey ould ocome ack l a u ad ead he half of he News f he

Wrld had aoed fo he evegGood gh Paddy, good gh. a cold o ump ou o hoe ag u Chale had go

ou He a adg hee ag, h face o he pyhole h h ad h ae leg a fa a h hgh pk hhe cod

umped ou my h ad pu my lp o he pyholeGood gh Chale Ngh Pad.Lyg ed, could hea he am fa aay he

dace Tug he coe heavly ad gaheg peedfo he hll.

ued o hea hem ack Dul o he Nohde he

a mall, lyg ed, avodg he eye of he acedHea he pcue o he fa all The houe e lved

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Not tat r ot rdd of uda aotr a.T lls of a udrd curcs crasd ad agd o ars al og It as ot so ad t caus I lk tog t ad t da dd ot g to gt gloo tlt gt fadd fro t sk t aoo T t sga aga ad dfclss sr I or t

I coud ot v alk ut sat uddd o t d akts t tars d ad a ad sg could ak up ad d out tat I ad o dragts ad could ak up at o ad sa ll tas ot ould f ou r pcd gad ad ot ada or parads ad drop out of t IRA ad atd orto trad ad go out dacg or sotg ad gt

arr ad f atcg a astr uda parad ad lstg to t cras of drus ad scra of t pps as t fourattalos of t Du Brgad t to t so arc adgav s as t passd t GP t tr rslord ad t crods tr sd of Con trtarg tr ads I flt ood go to scap

I could aas rd slf of t t I drt I ascapurd vrpoo ad rg ood ack to ftDras r o st to a popl aout t trouls

t r lk to rg o tslvs f t ddt atrtr as utsd I ddt tk of suc tgs or f I ddt as o to aug at t ut r t sd vr lktat suc tgs ould ap ad tat t as ttr to

ut ad good ad r g go at ot g aRpulca v Cast tat t loasts at orspctd (vr papr cudg t rish Times ad tependen jod t dad for t ru of sras ad W B ats rot a aout t T Gostof Rogr Cast s kkg o t Door as ausd

ad cad g od Rogr Cast t cf spctoro Frda gt

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Wel I s egg to see te ustce of tt He coulddo tt ere d e coud use te od e Quee toe or te Bck d Ts d ever to t s ocoutr Ad te to coe over ere d plt os tou couldt expect te to love people for tt But o

to ke up d tke te dre for te rg r to getout Jesus eve to e et free d ever to e etoe g Aprt fro tg else ouldt t sve teoe? es tt s of lookg t t Me f Irecogzed te court d pleded gult or sd soeoegve e te stuff to d d I ddt ko t s t

tll I got ck to roo te gt o deport eI erd steps o te strs d te tuke opeed doord rougt e up te lgted pssge M soes dsocks d rces ere tere ld out o te oor

Put te o sd e.I l egod sr tkg ou Me soetg gret

s gog to ppe Me te ere gog ust to sed

e oe d s top out of ere ture d Godkos I ould d tkl

ollo e teres soeoe ts to see ou upstrsI kept up t uc d s so to roo

M serget s tere d Vereker o sled t e Teserget ked d poted to trd A tls el

dressed d t good pperce Te t lps of gls d tt s ll rgt too st t scoutr to ve kd of lps e lked?

Ts s Mr ullv Bred sd te sergetBetter g e clled e Bred d te getle

te good clotes s Irs e fro te t Vcet dePul ocet or soetg to rg e oe. He sled

eve lttle d sd I Irs te se s ouI fro Cork

ullvs Cork e sr sd Io t s sd e ut t kd of e s Be?Its ver Irs e sr Ltrr fl oce proet

out Lester Irs for " Bec fro ec

ee eg oe o keeps ees Aglc Be BeggBeeg Its Sinne Gae ag Ga Tts Irs sr. e


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Names f h rish and he Nn t s gls sM o do't d Is t t gls s o t oppostpg Yo o s t too s'

I do't d Is B o do I spk t A lot of goodt old do f I dd Wt ood s t otsd

Ild?'Wll Nov cot s Cp Bto ts t ollgg t s T pls dl pp Glc.

Tts cotc Glc dfft lgg dfftltogt'

I k t s't. T pcpl dffc sg t ss tt t sd T d sd t t t old't doto ct t koll o to dofc t gtl I spposo' gt s o co to tk of t'

Ho old o B?I' sxt s'I sppos o z o c go to jl fo t st p

of o lf ov ts sss. T lst cod stcd

Lodo got dd s' pl svd t v oft Tt s c T sxt std t t slg d stc of dt Bg Fo codld'

It s o d' sd I off t tp of togIt s o d? Hs lps tgtd g To pt

o codd stt d kll v oct popl?' Hs dgto got t tt of d s voc gtd d s cct cgd Yo lood lttl std sotd d oss d to stk s f coldt st slf gods tt d c fod I'll gv o d'

T sgt std t Vk d ot oft lookd pocll t I lod s d

ovd ck pcM 'llv gtd s t ld Lt go ct

o ' Hs fc s tl to tc t s lgg gfo d s glsss U sd

No o Ispcto sd t sgt to pc All gt gt ll gt sd M llv

s to T took t ds fo d spokto o vl

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ou v to fc t usc ot t No ou o pltout t IRA ogzto l Youv coctt t sc ou coul ou t gt uc ccl ou c of ssstc to us You ot t cus of o g st cus ct

sts Il ut oull lp us stoppg ts usss s I s ll loo ou You oug otv tt t Wl s ou to t Colos C put ou o t ot t o ou poct

H loo t Wll? loo t sotg tol tt s ot

gog to jup t o s g of ttI ct lp ou sYou ou ot Hov ouv log t to go

tll t Asszs T t ov ou up Wlto ou cg ou lt o Ill up tgt

H o to t sgt V t out

to t top of t sts T tu c up Vsl t Goo gt s I

Goo gt P s VGoo gt ou loo oug fool s t sgt

follo t tu o t sts tll c to t clloo

Gt t oots cs off s t tu foou go t.Bfo I t to ut lcs I put t cgt to

out to t of tT tu put up s g t fo

out Wts ll ts sout o tol ou oucoul so? Wo gv ou tt?

T spcto s M ulvI ot c o gv t ou s t tu ug

t fo to t ss gt t oots csoff.

I too off sos cs t to t cll. Mcoco s lg t t s ot too col I

supp l ou fo t so uou sg t of sog t t top of voc

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Ove hill hough hl I y o thy welYou holy elice whie hn hll gile me with eeA home in you emel owe om moning wn il

eenYoul think o me my owe o owe my k Roeen

My own RoleenYoull think o me hough yigh houMy vigin owe my owe o oweMy k Roleen.But the eth hl un e wih eunnce o looAn he eth hl ock eneh hy e

An me wp hil n wooAn gunpe n ogn cy wke mny glen eeneEe you hl e ee you hl ie my k RoeenMy own RoeenThe Jugement Hou mut t e nighEe you hl e ee you hl ieMy k Roeen . . .

Good old Pdd' I rd Crl sot fro oI t to t sp-olWr gttg ot of ts dr t og

Pdd sotd.Rgt Crl ssg t t?'

Bt t og I s rogt o o polc cr I odrd tr t d spcl co fort IRA tll got to or dstto d I s rogt to roo d pt t doz lttl os d grls

Tr s o of ot tl sttg sd

sokg cgrtt c pt y r t t dooropd

Lk s? skdI old sd I r cH took pckt fro s lzr pockt d dd

crpld cgrtt

Tks lot sd I Bt t's ts plc?It's t jl cort t t?' sd

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I s gld T could rdl gv ou ttrs pl stud r ut o t otr d t sd pc for Rpulc Ar to trd

Its for o ud svt sd t o.Wll tt s Cl s go to so otr plc.

H s tr ots oldr t I d coupl of ks ovrsvt

I s rougt for t cou d ld o t ctold poltl oug tt t d o po to t ott crg tr cou d tt tfor I s gst ovr to t gstrts court

At t gstts cou t s uc or potntusssT polc solcto skd f t ould tr t cs

cr d t gstrt skd f I d ojctoI sd I d d tt t s supposd to prcpl of

justc tt t do pulcAp fo tg ls I td popl t o to

ko r I s to sd so pprs or cgtts ndto s tt t lst I s not don n t Wlto PrsoAld tr r stors t o of t rdrs vgctd t covcts to ttck ou fllos o t xrcs rd Door I dd not t to d o t sllukost to o tt ould cr d out But

I dd ot s ts to t gstrt ol t t out justcg pulcH sld t nd so dd ot popl t cou d

sd tt t polc flt tt t ould pr t d gvfoto to c ps f t cs r ot crnd n cr t s I s dd for k n ssurd t procdgs ould s pulc s on oulds

T srgt c oud to ds d I skd f d cgrtt d d o o ut t ckto t polc solctor o gv tn Cpst for dI stuck o go for I got rgtl out of t coud told for Csts sk to t tll I got nto t clls

o dd I t to v t l sckd d gt vro troul s ll s sf?

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Thr ns nn td nn tmrr nd nn th dr

Th thrs lhd Mr Hlms th inr b ndChrli lin rm m All cpt Dnh stillbrdin n th ll

Undrstnd tht Bhn?M c bd nd srchd m chin hd r m

ic.Ansr Mr Whitbrd BhnYs sir Ys Mr WhitbrdDnt rt it

Mr Whitbrd, n, sirH std rm m nd s ll his ttntinpintin t ch n cbicl

G in thr nd t ll r clthsEch s nt int cbicl nd h sinlld prisnr

in r clths h sht h drst s tin plc nt th si drs cn ith

nthin bt dn shl t sit n, t smll t strtch mls in. hpd in Christ this s nt plc th pt ppln lnth tim, nd strippd

Th dr th sphl lid nd n pprd. ptm hnds r m crtch nd st shirin.

Gt r clths ? h prisnr in r pnd th

dr, nd thr m tl nd b H s shrttbb mn smilin, h ld m ll r hil h cllctdm clths Yll nl b hr cpl hrs hrrnt mn rcptins td

A rdr shtd bb ind, smild, sht th drnd nt

h b s lm unch r th tntis Mn th drins hd t d ith rlnd nd rishmn drn ithcs li rills shtin Blc nd Tns h r ll lith pictrs Hrr Whn d s in th schl stris,sll in th bc nd it intrstin, nd thr s st hrs pictrs nd rdin i t it crll

Chrl in th nt cbicl, sl tppd n th ll. A

bit timid thht tppd bc, lil nd h nsrdith mr cndnt, rssrd rll his ncls

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I hm t tu n th c tr r m t nh th H I mut b hn m, thr th

I thuht th c tub th hmr n Enhntmn, I

hr hn r t h nt t n n

pI mnut cht n hm ht

pYu t n, br u t Brt Sp t,

h tmrrH uh hm nt bc nt r th I t t

t hm nthr qutnh pc h t m tht I u t tnt rBrt r Wu I n t thr t I nuh r mn prn?

Cur u nt t tnt r Dnt thhn btr h cnt u n. Yur tun Cnt nthn but n u t Brt r thr

r, n u nt tht u p ur n cnI n u t hn nutu, I u, n urhn I mt th u. I ur brn tt W m ur b r

I hm h th r. Mt thm r rthrnr, rm Bt r Drr but n Dubnr c

Jrr G n I n hm I trn th hmn n ct th I h tn r t Kn, nrBr Sh ctt, n ut r th Irh SSh tht n mn r th m r n t tn r unt Yu cu n tht thr r tt I n mn b hm tht r nt th mr n t, n m thm hun r ht r n m,

r thr unb t t th rnc

Jrr G cr n Gunn brr, n huntr t ct n Enn r th pr hnnu ummr h A t hp r via th MS, tm bmb pnt n r r n ncnr pc n

c rhu, n bc t th c H nc h ,Mr G? Sm, tt u n Y, qut nc, M

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n t tht ct, bt I m m c t r Shin't n nw tht rr w in th mmnt t

M-m-mmr G-i ' I bn Y r n -j-jrrw-ww'

In th mnnr mt prtin t tmrr h pr

c t hp m tAh r G hp r tim n M nrr w?'

H-h-h-h-h ww'H w b th bt h? Ah r c

pct tht thi tim th r I'm t th crw th

wr b in th I MnH-h-h w-wic pc t n nic c pp b ccnt

Irh n m thm Mr nr I c hh th ct n't h n t'

H w -nn'G nw th mt b th qr-in bt Sti

rn t thir nc th n i whn h ith '

I cht hr b th bchnH-h-h w-w-w -ntG hp n ch nic b t Mb t' b

G' H Wi tht rw t t Sr 'r nt

nh rwin tH-h-h w-w ntnc'Sntnc?'I t it t with rh. w r nr -n r

in Lirp tttSwt Mthr cm m thi niht' i Mr

Gi n cp in wn

Dnt bin nthin cppr t ' bb It thr bin pttn th wn p whn thin't bin wt t Li hin prn th rY t Brt n ip-n tim with tb cnc wimmin Mb ' b nt t Prtn

whr I w Dr O I w n G Dr hh wit Y miht n b nt t n th pn

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ht nd wnt ff wth th cn nd th bd I dd ntbrd t t hm H w fnd f chp, n tm.

I t m cth, n dwn t mf M w wn fm th bth, nd m h w cn nd

t bt mp, n zn n ht w cmn bc ntm ctch th c wt, nd n whn I bnt fwth w n m thn cn n m b , t tb th tb thn t t ft, I thht P t w thtfttnd pp n m wn fm, nd t w b hthn nt t dn prt wth y th cnt mn n

mb tnd n pp wth bc t th cnt,n mb t f th tm w n j n Ennd Sttht d w d bt fm t bt thnk Gd wth d f d I ppd nt Ch nd h ppd bc, , wth mth f h nuc

h pn th n w w nd p td thdct

Y th YP tnd tth, d th cw t m ndCh n Gn. W hd tth n htIt td

Dnh t wth m th mn pn, n th bntd nd twt bnn t n n th w I

thht n fm th mth ntn f Ch, nGn n m, tht Gd w h t t d fnHmf f ntncn tht w n nht t tht

I w mch bf th ct n td t ttntnbf hm bt I c, n m b ft n hn pm ht

H t n cn cthn bhnd d, d wn t fm n p t m H w mn nt d n h n n Enh w tht t t b nd nd mmb f mt c tht w bn bc mn pt pnnt wmn t th d f th d n thntt f tn dt. Ln t hm, I thuht f th w

nd hp thm n th Grmn w p t tWht th, M Pn? h d th mc

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tw pn fr brn bt tht t w nt rycn ny tpty n nywy f h wnt prnctr h h t n th Frc

Whn I t wy frm th ctr I w nt t th rcptn

crw t b wh n h my hht tn I h t tmy ht ff fr th n thn I w rch I h t my rm b my h wh th crw m rH pt h hn thrh my hr n fr crttthh my hr w t mp frm th bth n tym m bn r wh h h pn my bc p wth

h nr n p thr wth pnc trch I hhr f th prn rch n Fnn tm n b bym Cr whn h t n yr fr th bmbncmpn f th ht bt I nt nw bfr wht tmnt It w nrm p f prn rtn n th crw t wth th pprnc f Brth c tchmnt I ntc tht h ny rch Chr n Gnr n

m th n nt bthr wth Dnh th brrr th thr t prnr

hn w pt r cth n n t t wr ry fr thw t r c I nt nw wht thy w b Myb I hp thy w b th c y n thpctr wth tw r thr bn I wnt h mn

bn wth Chr n Gnr n br p th whry c t n th fw n th thr fth c bc

W w thrh rn n r wr ncn c r n w t n h hh h myt my n f hy m f wwhtn It w wn wy frm th wr n bcnt th tm f Chr Dcn w thnn bt thn h nt hr th crw t t ht t h htY by whr y thn yr n?' I tpp nh n mr bt m tn n th crc t th nf th wn

Chr n Gnr n I wr t tthr n Dnh

n th thr t prnr wr mrch ff I'm hppyt y I c hr thr ft chn n th rn tr n

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Mn w w wn t n lpp t thwnth cntnt th chmbpt nt th bct bht nb th pn ppnt t th ptn h w cmpttn th jb bc th m mn bht n thbt n mht nc bt bch hml I nlt c ln t t bt th cw ht b Cmn ln t n l hp n h w cnt cw hmht vn I'v t t t m bt t nw

hn w wnt wn t th c wth n nml j nt wt whn h w nl n lvt n chlnn n t w mpbl t t n n t wthnth th t llw qn wt whn n nn n th bttm th chmbpt

t t t wht h nt n nt th b lp bct Sm th l t n th lvt th hmpt th lp bct n whl th wt n thbt t cm p m th tchn n t w cn t thn bc t v th cll chnc hnntl lttl n bttm wth n mpt pt

h bt cnt tn p wth n nc nc b n tn pt mnO tw lnn cw whm w w n th th

t thn n th mnn w Jhntn n Mn hw n ch th Yn Pn bc th hpc qlctn n YP tnn Jhntn h bntwlv n th Sct G n Mn h bn

ml-wht chmpn In.Jhntn w c In th G th m t

w th ht v th h It m thm p thh ct Bc th nt th wnt wh th n H w v t tll n n

Mn w cht bl mn H v P v

mn n Lnch ccnt H w Cthlc RC'th cl t Cthc w w th wt Ih

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Cthc wrt h hw thr t t th Knn Emr b htn t m n bn m bt mrthn th thr. h nt wrt wr th Sctch n Wh.h Ccn wrr wr r rr n th t c .

On wrr wh r n wth r ch n h rh rth Enn ccnt t m nwhr U th Rbc whnr h w n th cnr ncn th r Onc r twc h m n trc br. H h n Enh nm n I hr th thrw tht h cm rm Drhm bt mb h mthr

w Irh r h w r mb h w jt cnt mntht nt G cr. Y n n nrwhr.

A th tm t w c n bc. In th mrnn th tr w rzn c n r th wh h wn w c m rn n b r rrrt tr

It m t m th Enh wr r trn n whn

n c bt nt mch n r n cnn L thwtbb n chn th crw cr nn bt w rc n rr.

Whn brt w tn I h t cn th c r wht Er mrnn th bbr n tb n chr h tb crbb n th bc t r rbb wth t

m t bcr t. W wr wth tw b br w It w th n thn w wr nt hr nwhn th mrnn cnn w r th bnt nht t r nctn n th bbr n t nm t n c w n th nw crbb tbthr w hn n th c rntr n th bc tnnnw r n h m hmn crmnt r

h c tht w m rct th trn h nth t thn n th t n hhr z Enhmn n thr t.

Whn w r r nctn c h thmrnn bw mmnt t br Bn brr

Un t w Ch Inctn In tht c wh t wt c hr n n c thr

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tgt Wen te Cef psse troug, wc ws moreseom, te soute even louer n got even tgter, nwen te Governor cme troug te wng, te soute, llKrrect, sr', so loul n tgtene up so muc tll epsse on, tt wonere wt ws le for rson

Commssoner f e psse troug te' ve roppee from tgtenng ter guts to ttenton n forcng tnner but more concentrte ll Krrect, sr, from betweenter tn lps

On m rst mornng, ws brougt own to te en ofte wng to see te Governor e n ofce n ec wng

on te len se, lookng towrs te en, were te Ostoo n looke out from s kiosk s wng ofce of teGovernor ws so of vceregl prtment n ec of tells of te prson . s rel ofce ws somewere n te mnllw of te prson, but onl ver mportnt people wereever llowe or brougt tere lke murerer comng bcker beng sentence to et, wo woul be llowe to sgn

for s propert n tt tere, nste of gong troug terecepton were te oter prsoners comng bck from tecourt woul see m As regrs s bt, te woul gvem bt urng te tme e ws wtng to be toppe, llon s own, wt screw to turn off te wter n turn onte wter, mbe lte t ngt, wen nobo else woul be

gong tere

e mornng er cme n got up n fole m blnkets,n out m cell, n te m brekfst, n use tecmberpot n sloppe out wt te rest, but ws notopene up wt te oters wen te went own to work tougt t ws sometng to o wt beng rs n tt, n

n w ws not splese but ltle bt frgtene tlle cme to m cell n opene te oor n tol me toput on m te, for ws for te Governor

went own n stoo wt Crle n some oter fellowsoutse te ofce e oter fellows were werng sos nwere Ys te se s us, but e looke very ol to me

ere were tree of tem n ll of em looke s f tesve t lest ree tmes week ws opng to Go

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Ctholic I i not kno my numbe but the ce tningbeie the ek houte it fo me

Be-hn Benn thee ve oh one ixteen ye Yemn RC hen he i i to ho he h nihe

he Goveno eicctelooking ol mn in tee

clothe n eing cp bette hi nk of Englihmn n looking if he oul ie hoe if he h one Hepoke ith ome effot n if you i not he ht he ying you hve thought fom hi tone n the ympthetic loving n oing look of the ce O nChief tht he tting ome ne philoophicl tuth to

ve the uffeing o fom eo.Youeeemneetill FiyeI eeeSeeetht you behve youelfehee n give noetouble to my ocee. At thi point the ofcelooke tenly n lmot epochlly t me n ointene thei gtel look to the feeble ol fce ofthe Goveno tht I lmot expecte them to ie n exultnt

hout of Viva i Paa If you giveeu toubleeell ine ell in ll the time. he oce fceet in etemintion ith him We cnemke iteveyeb fo youe itell the meeto uneit upeto you hteveey youent it

I mche out n tol to it outie We ee toee ou clegymn n I looking fo to meeting thepiet Mybe he oul be n Iihmn n it oul be likete in the eet to he fienly Iih voice gin

But the ce put me bck in my cell hile the othe entto ee the otetnt chplin he piet oul not be in tillMony

I ippointe but thought tht it oul mke bekin Mony moning n thi Fiy o e tomooI oul hve M to look fo to on Suny moningn e the viit to the piet I oul be ell into the eektill I ent on to the cout on Fiy n tht oul betht eek ove

Ae little hile I opene up gin fom my celln bought on to the hll of the ing hee e t on

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our cr n lent row bout xt o u ewng mlbge cl ntructor te clle te crew wo went rounowng te proner ow to o te bg n exmnetem or complne bout te b work wen t w moreor le tn our ttce to te nc. t eeme to be te

mpotnt tng n mot necer or lvtone cme over to me n t own on cr bee men owe me ow to wx te tre n put t troug tecnv wt te plm wc w leter bn wt tmble n te mle to ve te kn o te plm tougometme even te mot expet to ove te neeletroug te cnv wt ter orenger n tumb wcn mot o te proner were crre lke te n or rmo rug ct wt te neele mrk ou woul re bout

On Stur ernoon we were locke up rom twelvet e crew gve u lour exerce rom twelveo'clock n remrke tt t w ner tn tkng u outor exerce ter nner t got te wole lot ne erl

e n we coul be le n our cell tll mornng Well noe our e n quckl n greement wt mt eeme te rgt tng to wnt to be locke up n our cellover te week-en n even elt m own e nongwen te crew tt t w better to get te exerce overwt o tt we woul not ve to be opene up gn ter

nnerSo locke up we were n Crle n n Gnger mlet ec oter o tt te oter woul not know tt we werenot ue to beng locke n cell rom l pt twelve onStur mornng tll lopout t even Sun mornng nn we went. e nner w ol pottoe col n lceo bull bee n pece o bre w lw te

Stur nner n er crew ng tt t w lkett to gve te cook cnce to get o n ter ll ewnte ret too n wen e tt we ll noe oure n were gl te crew w no nce n cvl to t to u

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oul be s ell plese it im i e s in stte ogrce s He be it St Stnislus Kostk te bo rinceo oln n rce or ntionlit i not enter into temtter eiter one or noter

We sng te Beneiction mns n te elos in

m set n bein me lookng t me e scre looke tme rom ere e knelt t te en o te set 'm goosinger but ou oulnt kno eter te scre s vexeor plese b m voice rising over te rest But rise it in g te begrugers:

'. et antiqum documenum, novo ce dat rituiSalus honor virtu quo que it et Benedictio

Rtce sung te turible it ill till tere s clou o incense ou coul ie oursel n go sleep inn en it ie on bit te priest begn te Divinerises:

Blesse be Go Blesse be His Hol me Blesse beesus Crist true Go n true Mn besse te meo esus Blesse be te me o Mr Besse beHer Hol n mculte Conception Blesse beGo in His Angels in His Sints

s bit isppointe to notice tt te priest nEnglis ccent o te H olbo tpe but mbe e to spek like tt to mke msel unerstoo n nsn't it Englis people e s ministering to

An no mter t ccent e snt tere et noterplesnt surprise in store or us en te Beneiction

nisee priest ent in o te ltr crring te Monstrnce n

tene b Rtce but even ten te int bring us bckto te cells

e scres put te igts on so tt it ooke rel cosin te cpel n everone looke roun tem bit n te

scres never si nting but just gent rebuke n o onett sn't stise but to strt ispering too An ten

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te priest cme out on te ltr wering onl is sutne nbirett csull on te bck o is poll n Sunnewspper uner is rm

Everones ce lit up n e begn to re te ootbllresults n mke n o joke bout tem bout Burnle n

Everton n Liverpool n te prisoners tittere n tolug lou sometimes t is jokes n even te screwscoulnt repress grin temselves muc less ve none upor luging.

An er tt e went in smiling imsel t us n wemrce bck pp n still smiling t some o te tings

e si n clttere up te stirs in te rk to our cellswere te ligts were on in ec open oor welcoming usn te orerlies cme roun wit te supper te coco tebre te mrgrine n te cube o ceese n settleown contente over m steming mug on te tble witingor te bell t eigt oclock wen woul mke own m ben go sleep

ere ws blck k rost outsie n te coco wssmsing n wrm t ws now our oclock n te biggestp o te weeken punce in tnks be to Go

On Mon morning we woke n it ws lmost merrnoise er te long weeken toug us RCs rigt to

be tnkl or our two services on Sun coul er te oors opening n sutting n comingnerer n nerer n stoo wit m pot re till it woulbe m turn n coul get ri o it.

Everone trie to get couple o sits in te time nuring te time te were sewing bgs n onl use te potor pissing in but it s not so es wen we onl got outo te cell or lour between Stur noon nMon morning so most ellows to use teir pots oreverting n te smell tis Mon morning ws so oultt elt msel getting sick wen te oor ws openetoug suppose m own cel e its quot to te generstenc emptie m pot into te brimming bucket n joine

te queue t te recess to rinse it clen t te tp. metCrlie tere n wile we wite we bit o ct

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Eveyone seeme to nt to it on eveyone else so sthey coul hisper bit longer

We get smoke this moing, y, n ll,' Chrliehispere We l out, geeer tol me, ith the otherremns, n exercise smoking, going roun the ring'

Come out o tht recess, come on, 'urry up, get movingthere, the scre shoute.ee you lter, ,' hispere Chrlie, ving his ree

hn n running up the lning ith his potWhen cme bck to my cell there s bucket o ter,

irty blck mt or kneeling on, scrubber n br o

sopke tht in,' si the scre, pssing my oor, n scbyour rniture n oor, n sop your oor hen you'verie it nt tht rniture s hite s sno, n th oors blck s soot got tht'

Yes, sir,' n venture smile in honour o the poetryo the soot n the sno, but the scre ment it s serious

iso, n only noe.ke it in, then, n get crkin'.'he brekst ce roun beore I h ste n te

it, n then, Go o r, i nt crp I squtte onnyy, n use the pot here s li thing or it nhen nishe put it on, n strte to scrub the rniture

bebors, tble, chir, n sh-hn stn, n thenste on the slte oor, to sh it rst, n ry, n then got on my knees n sope it, n h to move thechmber-pot out o my y, like some covere ish oisgust

When h nishe, the cel h the smell o shit nsop the rst smel s conscious o, hen cme into

the reception, the smell o British ji nishe my shing n e up the be, putting the

bebor on its sie ginst the ll, the mttress lying ithit, n the beclothes rpe over it, blnket, sheet, blnket,sheet, blnket, the cover lying the ength o the top o themttress n bor n the pillo on top he tble t the

sie, ith my plte n mug nke by my knie, the tin toyone e use except hen e h met or our inner like

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Suny n go rel knie n ork iue o u or heurion o he mel li my poon he oher ie o heple n mug, n i i o, myel, i looke rel ne

When he crew opene he oor looke i nohme o i

He looke roun him or minue n hen me. wMooney he hor, chey Cholic one

Wh he blooy ell o you hink h i eh he nrle me Come on l come on why n your po li ouwih he cover o eh

m m er uing r

Youre her uing e he poke in mock rih ccenJohnon he long kinny Birkenhe br ppere inhe oorwy Wh o o now Mr Mooney

hi eller ere w o clen ou hi cell n leve i reyor inpecion n e n even go po clen n li ou"m her uing e e y uppoe cn ell h ohe Chie n ll when e come roun " E her uing

i irSick i blooy e in i i Johnon, n inignnly

on n here you iry rih pig, he rore mei wine ike you urn goo ocer wicke Ow cn ebe l ecen wih br like you rying o ge everyonein he hi Come on. He go me by he neck n hook me

Come on ge blooy well own o he rece n clen ouh blooy po o your ge on wih i! He nerly ungme cro he cell ghere he po n cover n wenown o he rece wih i empie i n clene i unerhe p

Coming bck long he lning coul ee he gn o neye rom behin n o pyhole hey hve been lookingou wonering wh he row w n hnkl h i wnhem w involve

Mooney locke me n he cell gin n li he po ini proper plce he ble w he righ ie o he cell you looke in. On i w my ple nke, i bymy in knie n my poon n wih my l cellr he

bck o my mug On he le e ning gin he wllw my mre n lying gin i my bebor wih he

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priest so you on't be going don to ork nyy butbeore te Cie comes by Crist i you ven't got tt lotstrigtened out e reced over nd cugt me by teir get on it it you bstrd don't stnd tere lookingt it!'

s rigtened nd mbled round it te bedclotesnoter bit till got opeless nd didn't kno t sdoing.

Crist' sid te scre nd relly tougt s or itexpecting blo. stood tere it te bedclotes in mynd e ent out on te lnding nd souted to someone

siged to mysel nd itedGods elp is never er rom te door or te next tings Crlie s in te cell it me nd te scre s soing im Your cell is not extr good but its better tn tisris pigs pigsty nd you kno o to mke your bed upWell so 'im nd try nd get some spe on tis bloodylot beore 'e goes don or te RC priest. You're reception

ren't you And youre or te doctor ren't you'Crlie begn elping me it te blnkets nd lying

tem outAnd bd time s turned into grnd one or e le

Crlie tere nd ent oWe looked t ec oter nd smiled.

is is bit o ll rigt d n't it sid Crliendy enoug' sid t's n l ore's melt ttscre Crlie.'

e is nd ll cin tere's noting te mtter it yourcell rniture te y it's lid out ts just like it sys onte crd tere but te bedclotes could do it bit ostrigtening out But te scres ust nd ult it

everyone. t's like in te Glss'ouse tey give geeer tootbrus nd n eggcupl o sopy ter nd tell im toscrub te ln its ust to be bstrds tts ll en edont like rismen tt scre According to t e ssying' e loered is voice d tey got te dedneedle or you d te scres nd d some' e spoke

s i embrrssed t ving to mention someting smel some o te blokes don't ncy you neiter.' e spoke in

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When e you going to giv up this business?' His to eyesgle t me fom behin is glsses n his ccent s thtof someone ho got bette chnce in life s they' cllit thn tei pents t s the ccent of OSulivn teetectiveinspecto fom Cok te is pesnt's son

tying to imitte the Lncshie l's son hose 's me bit o' bss

shivee n hn't been expecting tis but no ithppene tht this piest too s pt of Wlton ison sn't supise. om Clke s D Gllge in otlnith his lips mess of met steming bloo ee he

h gone m n stte to che glssHe tol the piest n te piest tol him to min his onbusiness. he piest h b nme mongst isRepublicn pisones even te most pious of tem

Hvent you ny mnnes Behn?'Anse Fthe Lne Ben si te sce o h sut

the oo n s stning besie me.

on't kno ht business youe tlking bout Fthesi .

You kno l ight you membeship of this muegng the RA'

he RA is not mue gng Fte' si Gip tigtn hol on si om Clke ' o my best Cke hel

on fo een yes n live to ght te bsts on moeeul tems in Este WeekDont nse Fthe Lne bck you' With ifculty the

sce el bck the lo expletive in efeence to the mnof Go he sce took step lftos me but the piestput up is n

ts ll ight M Millbun' he sighe n they noe to

ech othe symptheticlly Cinl Hinsley n theHiechy of Engln hve issue pstols enouncing the n hile youe hee cnnot let you come to the ltunless you tel me once n fo l tht you'e giving uphving nything to o it this gng'

His sml eyes ooke up t me n his mouth cose tight

in uthoityWhy shoul the Bishops of Engln be suppose to hve


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the rght to ctte bout poltc to n rhmn Fther ke tely coul

Mr Mllburn looke ngry n ngnnt tor me butthe pret he up h ptent hn The Bhop o relnhve enounce the RA Behn tme n tme gn even

erly th yer The Church h ly been reln' bten n reln here n Engln n l over the orl mut norm you tht your on clergy n Herrchy hveexcommuncte the RA ou re utomtcly excommuncte tll you repent o your n n beng member ot n prome Go n coneon to ever ll connecton tht Surely you cnt et yourel up gnt the Bhop ngnornt gnt eucte men ho hve pent theretme tuyng thee mtter'

n't pen letme tuyng theoogy but kno thtthe Church ly gnt ren n or the BrthEmpre'

Mr Mllburn gn looke ngry but the pret ooke e

n tolernt n ncte tht mght contnueWth no repect to you Fther A yno o rh

bhop hel t Drumcett n 1 12 ece tht ny rhmntht ree to cknoege the Kng o Engln h ruler excommuncte Tht only three yer er theon ne n hel only bt o country not the e

o the County Louth the mlet o the Thrty-to CounteThe O'ell n ter even er the Reormton h tothreten to the Pope tht they oul burn the Cthoc Archbhop o Armgh Rchr Cregh out o the Cther he nt tke Queen Elbeth' oer out o t n'netyeght erent the rebel excommuncte n n'tFther ohn Murphy tht burne lve by the yeomen

excommuncte Dn't Archbhop Troy ue ptorconemnng the 'netyeght men n nt he hve pryeroere up n thnkgvng hen poor Robet Emmet cpture'

Look here you' the cre Mr Mlbu n FtherLne looke ngry through h ttle eye but bt urpre

But nt cre no Me bloo up n me country nme knucke

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Didn e condemn e men of Foreig and el epeople o give up ei cops and die of e unger in edices a ome i e gassjuice unnng geen fom edead mou of a moe clucing a live infan!

Hee ou began e pies in a gaeing oa bu

mig as el o e amme ae e aceWeen e Fenians excommunicaed and didn e

Caolic caplains in orland and Caam join i e esof e ades in diving D Gallage mad i oue ene Fenians ee doing ei solia connemen in omClakes ime

M Millbun glaed a me in amaed ange e piessalloed is empe and ied o speak bu age go ebee of im and e could onl signal o e sce o akeme ou. Bu be Cs asn' done e Befoe Millbuneaced fo me said o e pies ig ino is seeing lileees: And excommunicaion is noing ne o e RADidn' ous excommunicae De Valea and en ousand

oes in 19 Didn Bisop Coalan of Cok excommunicae e RA and suppo e Black and ans befoea Wasn Millbun gabbed me bu nised a ado sa ees blaing and m ea in m eas o ell iou ou fa basad o ell i England and o ell iRome up e Republic lu im es no elaion e geas

fa basad ing o so imself a Lime gen i e esof e sces Wasn m on fae excommunicaed andim in Kilmainam son in en-o

Ge ou ou sine said M Millbun and e me ouof e piess ofce Bu as quie no ad said a aned o sa and ould go peaceabl o m cell f asle Bu asn.

Mise Moone said M Millbun o M Moone ouied up e ing fom ee e es of e Youngisones ee siing in os seing ei mailbags nindignaion is is sine insuling e piesM Moone nodded socked and i me a blo in e faceiou aking is aenion fom M Millbun and Mise

onson came up as e soved me oads e saiseading up o e landing and e old im Mise Millbun


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n Mse Moone s s nsule pesbloo bs no e pes me n Mse Jonsonoug no Colc bu oesn n wouln bloowell sn o ll e sme nsulng n clegmn npes even n especll Fe Lne ecen mn beove

b ll n spenng s me wokng o e psones Yugng s-ouse we'l ec ou 'ow o be've ou s gpg n gn n pus ell couple o meson e on seps on e w up o e lnng. W ll wege ou up ee n e cell now b Cs well geeup ee ou bs ou s!

e ook me o e cell n be me n e ce sps buno punces e punces e gve me n e bs n eknes n once o wce e me coss e ce w bunc o kes bu concene mosl on e gus n ew kcks n m se wen e sen me spwlng cosse oom n soue ll e me bou kllg me n

nsulng e pes n me lsve s bs ne gve me n e cel ws n soe w ebebos n becloes scee ll ove e plce nen e soue me o cle bloo mess up n ge lo sgene ou n wen o bngng e oolocke n le me one Jesus n sll beng

oug evl n geng bck no beng pcce mble oun e cel s bes cou le e ugll o we n e cel n e mong n ook e lbeo bng m ce w e col we n look ne mo wen ws nse M ce ws no oo bnong noceble oug m p ws cu on e nse wee go e blow om e bunc o kes n coul eel e

bloo gong own m o n sckenng me ws sonow beng sckene n co clmm swe ws comngou on m ns n on m oee now n ele cono e g n' me o ve wen e wee ggng me up e ss n belng me n e cell. wpe eswe o oo n en go kn o sck bous ece

n wne o ve s n so n quck me one po n wpe msel n e cove on n ws up


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oyce o one of hoe fello in hich ce l he bee he old one id hen he old h hee no ebu only poe

n ny even hould hve ed nd ed evey eeknd kind of py-dy o look fod o hen hey chnged

he book; nd hinking hee hough hd he cellbeeen bedclohe nd ll lid ou nd idied up nd gveyelf nohe ub ih he cold feh e nd hd look yelf in he io nd looked ll igh excep youh bi bloody ih hin ed line ound he edgeof i bu iped h off oo nd hen le yelf hve look he book

uee old God kno bu he be e hve o begoing on ih

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One of e book wa nder he Greenwood Tree b omaHar an e oer wa e life of General Boo, efouner of e Salvaion A looke a em a goo bi,over an over bu i no open em excep o look a e-leave. wa aning on one leg eaning on e able anooking a em wiou uing up a muc a a page of eier

one in' noice ime ill ear em coming roun wie inner. A grea mell i a oo coming nearer annearer, ill e came o m oor an opene i e ame ae i everone ele an I ook e inner in an in eaeoon wa opene up wi e re an go own anempie an cleane e camber-po an wen ou an ewemaibag wi e re ill four oclock wen e locke u

up for e nig, an gave u our upper ill e nig wain an e a over an ivil a muc e maer wi meevering al rig ank be o Go an Hi BeeMoer on for m mou being ill a bi raw wen ippe m mug of cocoa bu in min a lookingforwar o geing ino m be being warm, unarme an

wi a book o rea wa feeling m inie lip wi m ongue, an beingcarel no o ea on i, wen e pole cover wa ie,an a voice ai A a a cuckoo, Pa la

i wa a Young Prioner calle Brown He wa a niceecen lie roun bal of a fellow abou eigeen, an wenroun wi e coff an wa an orerl Everone like im,

an cale im Brown, an e mie al e ime goingabou i work an even e crew in eem o min Hecame from ome ol bog roa pa of Lancaire, an inke like im a a bi of Ol Englan (for e Engli arever naionaliic e mile wen Brown poke in inn ialec o em, an ome of em even anwere im

in e ae wa aking im off in a frien faion He waa bi of a pe wi everone an ink e crew looke

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upon is lingo in somet te sme s in Ieln telook upon te Iis o l om te Geltct in tenesmiling ppoving so o

He s goo little ello n n I el m mugo coco up o im to see n smile in te iection o

is ee n si Ive m coco tnks Bone ee inke n si: ts goo l Allsee tee tomo gneet l.

Goo nigt Bon si I n e scpee o onte lning

e bells out in te cit nge ue to ve n I stit te be n ceese n coco ot insie me till veoclock en I stte m cell tsk

I to sie tee milbgs n it s es enoug to ono tt I one e s t it not tt I s ntulsee) n I s looking o o nde he GeenwdTree en I oul be one so I s il uick n ente bgs ee nise I sove m ci bck om te oo

bit n tue into te tble stuck m legs in te milbgpulle it tigt up bout me n en I opene te book onte tble I put m ns on une te bg n s mll ove toug te o te inte nigt s blck coln blunt s metl

e l going ome n te lte Cistms Eve n singing

te b o song o imselWih he oe and he lly and he daodown dily,The lad and he laie a heepheang go.

I tie not to e n moe tn m tion ee eeto une pges in te book tt s bout tit

nigt e lie n times o Genel Wilim Boot oulntbe muc use I e bit bout im in enguin bSt Jon Evine o o Ieln mn o s mngeo te Abbe ete en m uncle s pope mntee He s in vou o te Slvtion Am but e sitei enemes ccuse tem o goping o Jesus in te k

is book toug int look it oul ve nting likett in it Still it oul o o ving o look t it t te

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enjoying myself, nd Dic, the d tht s singing the songt the eginning is tying to get off his m ith the neschool-teche nice little mot of seventeen o eighteen ndjust my on eight if it en to tht nd eveyone is dining nd singing, till they come to the p hee theye going

to dnce nd I hd to ed on thee too pomising myselftht I ould ed only een pges tomoo night ndme it up ith een of the Booth oo, hich moe thnliely ould not e so uicy ed nd the nte got thefe up to fce him, in the dnce

euen, sys she s lys such hot mn nd sheno y shmed of it nd mye she ought t put me inmind of my mothe nd fthe nd he getting he up to tethe oo in Hste to the Wedding, nd the to of themsinging

was byond a Macrddn, a Own Doy's Wddn,Th ads go h par of us ou fo a lSays I Boys xcus us' says hy Don rs usl play nc and asy ' says Lary O'Nl I ookd a m woman h song sh was hummnWas oud as h hls so gav hr a 'Twas k our ould coun haf-sous hafspotn,Whn Molly was young and hoops wr n vogu

Says hslf o mslf Wr as good as h s,'Says hrsf o mslf, Sur wr br nor godSays hrsf o mslf, ou'r as wld as h s of

hmKahy' says sur w'r m nough old

The next moing I s ought efoe he Goveo nd toldtht could use the money tht hd een found on me to uyfood, cigettes nd ppes

But ne no one in Livepoo to get me the food, ndhe St did not nt to help me to get food (they thought

hey ee teting me ell enough in leting me uy cgetes nd ppes, nd ccoding to the Goveo they ee

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no eue even o o ha o fech an cay fo mehe sa)

was gla o be le have a pape an pu own fo heDaily Held aske fo Reynlds News fo Sunay anhe Goveno sa coul no have Reynlds News whch

was no an appove pape bu mgh have he News f heWrld whch was.

Yeas an yeas ago when was a chl my fahe useo ge he News f he Wrld an sa was fo he sheemsc on he back he bough . I use o wone why helaughe an why my mohe sa halflaughng n spe of

heself ha he was a eble man because was bannea home befoe I coul ea an only saw once o wcen he ech when some fellow sneake ou of hs housewhee ha been pose fom Englan an on bulng jobsI saw an o me

I was a vey neesng pape mosly abou ha an Iha enjoye Chales copy n he Bewel an was look

ng fowa o seeng evey Sunay wh ha an he DailyHerald an a smoke evey ay my sana of lvng wasgong up wh a bang

ha ay I sae he lfe of elly as you mgh say wen o wok as sual n he wng on he boom oo

sng on my cha n lne wh he ohe psones hen he

scew calle o emans an awang als fo smokngan fell n behn Chale an he ohe emans an wewen ou o he ya

We fell n n fon of a cabne an when he scewunlocke hee was a awe n wh a numbe coesponng o each cell n he YP wng hee was a awewh C.226 on an n wee kep my cgaees

he scew suck a mach an we each wen up n uno ge a lgh hen he wane us no o y bngng a buno he wng an ha f we we ge umbe One nno alkng he shoue now ge spea o.

We walke oun he ng n sngle le smokng lke losbasas ll he fosy a ha a gea smell of smoke n

an a kn of an ose smell.Fo een mnes o so we walke aoun an hen a

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oely ce o he gae fom nse he pson cayng aucke The sce opene he gae an he came ou an lehe ucke on he seps an soo ese

The sce hen calle us up, an n u e oppe ouog-ens no he ucke We mache ack agan o ou seas

n he hall an ook up ou seng agan, hle he sceen off on h he oely cayng he ucke o heecess, hee oul e hon on he laaoy an hechan pulle ou by he sce.

Tele oclock as no ong comng oun an ha mypape o ea When go up o my cel hee as ang

fo me on he ale as gea o see such a hng, alhough as a loney hng n a ay o e eang ony abou hngsan places nehe kne no cae aou Bu assomehng o ea, an seconly sae he GeenwdTee an coun e ene ha as a gea an noale hng o e ble o s hee h he ays papespea ou hle len oe my nne coul see myself

geng hough all hs een hough a ong senence, ansll comng ou ae an kckng, een hough a he eyleas oul e oe eny yeas of age Sll, hee eeYoung Psones hee ha ee eny-hee, fo seen on he cell cas, an hey ooke

Thee ee hee of hem ha ee faly o o of hem

ee Lcence Reokes, felos ho ha een n Bosal, anelease on lcence an ough back o he nck Dae nJames Dale as a bg, Spansh-lookng felo an he olme one ay, an sng nea hm, ha he as Leoosh an ha hs mohe as fom Wespo, ouny Mayo.He as a a asa fo al ha, an ol me n a huy hahe n lke sh people, ha he as an Englshmanhmself, an ha shmen cme oe o Lepoo o okfo sca ages

e o hspe o hm n an ugen samme ha ha asong, ha he ages of a Dubln ulng oke, pane,plume capene ckaye ee he hghes n Euope,as hey ee fo ankes an pnes an mos ohe aes

an ha he ages n Leoo n he panng ae eeso lo ha a fouh-yea appence n Duln o ok o

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Belfas o ey o Lmeck oul ge a gge ae pehou

He n lsen u ue on me an, as f ha onesomehng on hm an he as only esanng hmself fomgvng me a el, he sa, half alou Jus shag off, you

Kllaney asa, o ll youThe sce looke on an sa angly, Whas o-o

on hee?s hs sh asa, s sa ale, e keeps alking all

he me jus ol m e ge me n oule looke up a he sce an as yng o ell ha ale

ha spoken o me s ellng me ha hs mohe as fomWespo, Couny Mayo, an ha n cae hee she asfom, no as askng any of hese asas o e sh, u couln, an anyay he sce looke on a me anshoue n a even moe venomous ay han he ha efoe

m jus aou one off h you, you gay shasa Move ove you cha hee an ge on h .

shan a you agan shan. ve ane you efoe anhs s he las me

move ove my cha, an kep my hea on so as heohes lookng a me couln see my e face, u lookeup agan hen ha my face se gh an en on senghe canvas, sang sagh ahea coul see fom he cone

of my eyes fellos n he os n fon of me, leng on oeach fo he ax o he scssos on he goun esehem so as hey coul gve a uck glance a me fom unehe am jus sae ahea an hae, xng my eyes onhe Bsh coa of as on a e-exngushe on he allehn he sce.

n fo he es of ha monng an ohe mongsfollong, sa y myself on he ege of he o an kepmy hea on an as eay hen he me as up o gemy cha an go up o my cell hou havng anyhng oo h anyone.

Bu ale as pomoe, hen anohe fello gosenence, o go on he ale James en h hm

On he ale hey collece he o fo he sce hen as nshe an hey coul call hm o ejec he ok f

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hey n le On sng he seams of he canvas hchas ha as a he sches ee fou o an nch asno a vey goo see u ae a ee as ale o o popely an Go nos hee as lile enough o i uevey me en o he ae o gve up nshe o hey

cale he sce an he gave ac o me an calle mea sup sh asa Dale laughe a hs a lo an so James

hen soppe ngng up my nshe o an ep esie me ang fo he ay he nsuco oul comeoun an collec u hen hen en up fo anohecanvas Dale sa couln have anohe one ll oughup some nishe o

en ac o my cha an sa on Dale an Jamesee jeeng a me an callng me names n a lo one ofvoce ha only he ohe fellos a he ac os coul heaan hey ee loong a me an laughing oo

Jesus f hey only le me s hee an se aay coul

e loong on a he canvas an achng my sches anseeng hem fou o an nch an passng he me myself yhining aou elan an fogeng even hee as anJesus asn ha lle enough o as? Wha ham oul e oing hem? f any of hem as n Mounjoy say an as hee h a co of Dulin fellos ouln mess

hem aou hones o Jesus Chs ouln no mae hahey ee n fo. n ha ames ha as a pope helvee hoes mel

He ha heycoloue ha an a shap lle nose anhough he as aou eny an maye a lle gge hanmyself as no afa of hm couln say ha as noafa of Dale ecause as He as a g ell-se-up man

an James ony ale ae hm le a ulys laoue Buy Jesus fo ha agan f as afa of he engneive as no afai of he ol-ag o e Jesus an sehe palm oun n my han. ll James you you foxy-faceippngs of a canee you poxy asaing hoes mel pu i o myself an hough oh o hi hm a el

u hen al is sai an one as u sxeen an he asa gon man an ha come hough Bosa insuons

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mostly oul say by sucking up to bulying big bollixes thelikes of Dale not by etting his backstaps on he as toougly fo that but maybe soe of these bastas oul get a bitof a op as no county Pay fom the mile of the Bogof llen to be fightene to eath by a ot of Livepool selom

fe bastas no as one of you ap-thegeen-ag-oune junio ivil Sevants that came into the fom theGaelic League an ell eay to ie fo thei county any ayof the eek puity in thei heas tth on thei lips fo thegloy of Go an the honou of elan o be Jesus asfom ussell Steet oh icula oa Dubin fom the

ohsie hee be Jesus the likes of Dae oulnt make ainne fo them hee the hole of this pack of Limeys oulbe scff-houns oul be et bet an the up again etithout salt ll James you you basta

hen the smile ha to fae an the joke as ejecte anthe gentleness ese neve a bette no my on seet selfan it asnt off the stones licke he ol fello oul

beat the best of them oun ou ay an him only my heightno though ly gon a hell of a long time James beJesus pepae to eet thy Jesus n just stoo up helup a bag an sai Finishe ok an the sce noethough hant sai si becase hant time

ake up to the table an stoo thee till Jaes stoo

up hat as as el it oul neve have one if it ha beenDae that stoo up t as James an he out the bag tohim

Finishe ok sai Oh is it? He put on his snee too thick to notice any

iffeence in me He ooke at it in geat annoyance no essbut gla as sa by his ips settling fo moe sneeing to

have anothe bit of ivesion at my expense he moe foolyou you basta sai in my on min He looke at mean took up the bag Whats to o ith you? You ishbasta thats one of them you avent one ight Ee takeit back an o it again cop

He ung the bag in y face an Dale aughe an so i

the felos tuning oun in thei seats peasuaby as henthe cutain ises on a play.

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I took the ag an la t on the tale an looke soowlly at James msealy lke Olve wst to meekly anhopeessly enue Please oh please I nothng to yo.Why ae you so cuel to me?

I le wth my ght an came up wth my le t my open

palm wth the metal thmle ght p nto James face Hewent own an te to hol hs face own an I caught hmy the ha wth my ght han an hel ack hs face whleI amme hm n the face wth my palm the metal one Imean an hs loo was poung ove my han an thescew came ushng own t I was moe afa of Dalewho got up fom hs seat an I pulle James stll y the hafahe own the tale so as the scew wol get me efoeDale co get ove the tale an gve me a few elts feegats an fo nothng sayng he was stoppng Yong PsoneBehan fom takng the lfe of James Young Psone

n ea apate Jasus was I gong well at t tll thescew caught me an pule me off James an he went

lne an moanng an holng hs han to hs face an thepoung loo

He went oun n a ccle of loo an t ppng fomhm holng hs hans to hs face an moanng wos anmusc.

he scew came own an I thought he was gong to stat

atteng me thee an then t he nt Johnston the longsknny exGuasman t was an he looke at me fom hscon face an sa uetly Stan thee a mnute you thenhe tne an shoute own the wng to a scew who wasgong oun seachng the cels Hee a moment Mstehoe wll you s?

he scew hoe came unnng when he saw the cut of

JamesBeen a t of othe ee Mste Johnston?Johnston noe an sa Wl you take James ove to the

hosptal whle I take Behan p to hs cell?ght come on, la sa hoe to James an take yo

an fom you eyes f you ont want to tp ove yoself

an o youself some moe amage You ae a pope looymess as t s

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I sood and aied fo Johnson o ing e up o y cell .He as aiing fo a fe oe sces o coe up and givee a aeing and fo he PO o coe up and supevise iI supposed, u I didn cae. I had a look ih gea saisfacion a he ohe asads siing in hei seas and looking

ound a e hee as no laughing o ginning o jeeingo jiing ih he no he shoe of shis.I caugh Chaie looking don a e and he gave e a kind

of a good-ye look, sad and fiendly. ha cheeed e upa i and I looked ack a hi as uch o say: Ill e OKkid Ill e seeing you again, on e oh euned fo ial

o he ssizes ill he end of Januay, and has sill nealyo onhs aay heyd neve give e ha uch ueOne.

I supposed ong aou he aeing oo. Johnson jusook e o y cell and said I suppose you kno youll efo he Goveno in he oning, Behan?

Yes, si, said I.

He nodded and shu he doo and I head hi aking ycell cad ou of he holde ouside o ake he epo henhe en ack don he sais

I as delighed, hinking of Jaes and hi going ounda aking adveiseen o he ohe asads o leave ealone

I ook y ook and saed celeaing ih a i of a eadexa I igh as ell ead as uch as I could ecause heydoe no likely ake i aay fo e in he oning anyay.

Bejasus, and no one could say ha Dick Dey asn geing evey chance of a unning leap a Fancy Day. He ingsove he niue up o he ne house hee shes o se upas he vilage schooleache and hee he as siing on hishunkes ying o ge he e going il shed ake he scup of ea in he house u y he ay hey ee Yes MDeying and Do you hink so Miss Daying? heyd e heeill he Lod ould call he efoe hed ge don oinoducing Fagan nd a ed and all in he house I headel he ed as a gi fa and ide in fon of he sandy-up

jo Boy Hamil, on ou coe go aied o GoiaCaody hen he as only sixeen and he said hee as

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no compson ws soy o h Th gd ndf h judg ws o g up h sszs nd sy, You sllyyoung dg, you no gong o g chnc of chsng mo now ll you' no long youh, nd you cn pull youw now ll w l you ou,' nd s y wll-nown

socologcl clss of phnomnon h long numof ys n h nck mn comng ou no l o donyhng ls God wn us nd l hm

h u Dc wsn s gn s h ws cgloongDc, Dc, kss m nd l go nsny hs somodycomng s m, Bndn Bhn, 3501 HM Pson,

pool, Vo Bndn Bhn, 2nd Blon, DulnBgd, sh pulcn my Bu ddn, only sdhinng ou my coco nd chs ongh, my h lsml d fo wh, nd mn ndd ll hs snghn h ms h w n o o hnng of hngs

n h monng ws l locd up whn h ohs wndown o wo nd un hy wn ou o xcs.

Thn h scws shoud Bhn nd ushd up o my doond opnd nd sd, Quc you, pu on you , hough ldy hd on, nd w ushd down h ss o hoom oo nd up o h Gonos oc, w h Chf

lookd ou us, h PO ung opn h doo nd shoud,Snd o h m, nd s you nm, num, g,lgon, nd snnc

wn n nd sood o h m nd sd, Bhn Bndn,s, h oh on, g sxn, omn Choc, wng.

Th old Gono sn c n hs ch nd ddn looup, u d sh of pp n fon of hm

Johnson sood, cld hs ho nd lood h PO,nd h PO lood h Cf, nd h Chf lood hGono, nd hs m h noddd hs old hd, nd Johnsond off pp ou my ssulng Jms nd whn hPO noddd o h Chf nd h Chf noddd ck o h

PO h PO lood h Goo who lookd up slowlynd sd

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You e hed h e Behn? h chge hhe oce hs jus ed?

did si sid ih y hnds he ses of youses nd looing nly diin y ful o his iedold consul ey fo his lous ongs he lesse eeds

diniseing he Kings jusice eul nd fily o ild ishnd uulen Phn eching fi ply o he ily nd sense of sposnship o he sooh Concin n yllocs sid in y on ind you Geogelisshededghpi dull scuf old ceepin Jesus one ps he BenglLnce c no c o hee you sed lie go-up

genlen ih his Cuh cp Bejsus ny decen hoseould dop ded fo he she if he ned o e up onis c. did si

He sceed up his een eyes hch youd no hd eenused o gzin oe ide open sces fo he e o hehn-house nd sid hee s no need o cll he ohepisone ould n you h fo hs offence could he

you chged in he ises cou nd us e hisoppouniy of nin you h if his ssu hd eencied ou on one of y ofces he Chief PO ndJohnson he sce gheed heseles up off he snds ofhe dese nd looed hi poud nd el nd looed e o een lesse so of ioence offeed he you

ould os ceinly he een oed looed hi nd eey nodded o sho y coiseion h hi fo he oule e hi in elingMsh u lso y hoo he houghs of doing nyhinso l s siin o offeing o sie one of his oces hd no sh o coi suicide nd secondy I sn fedfo i

he od ide Hd hed of hi shoo nd he sid senence you o Wh he icious old cu ould hesenenced e o ll nee no fo he Chief lened fod o ell hi h s oing o cou he dy eooo. he Goeo nodded nd sid nd eeehis is only nin o you

nodded y hed nd looed hi s enesly s could.ll o sih Go se e pin if don

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o one days celula connemen, one days depvaonof maess, and one days ume One de

Wel, good old udyad, wha an escape, d e ou andaou n hee days me looed a hm and moved mydams apple o whee should have een, o han ha

good old man fo ugge al Bu he Chef oaed and hePO opened he doo, and he scew shoued o me o aouun, and was mached off a a hel of a lc up he sasand ac along he landng o my cel.

ow sad Johnson, go nsde and ae ou you celue, you ale, cha, washsand, wash-owl, ug,

nfe, spoon, plae, mug, maess, edoad, eveyhngexcep you chamepo, and leave hem on he landng ousde you cell Come on oy, loo shap

ough hem ou, one ae anohe Johnson was nohosle, and even helped me dag ou he maess and edoads My wo oos wee on he shelf, and had a geahope he woud no as fo hem He ddn, u when had

eveyhng else ou of he cell he sad ow ae off yousocngs you shoes, you e, you e and you ace,and pu hem ousde hee You can ae ac you slppesand wea hem

han you, s, sad .Johnson sad nohng; ony nodded

wen no he ce and he anged he doo, pu anohecad ove my odnay cad, pulled down he cove of hespy-hole whch had le open on pupose o have a wndowon he wold and a vew of he wo doos whn my angeon he landng oppose and wen off down he sas.

hen seled down o my ume One and solay.ume One new, was egh ounces of ead and a pn

of wae, and wondeed when would ge Would heygve o me a dnneme, fo he es of he day, o wouldhey leave ll suppe-me? he nex day new was offhe de, u sll on he depvaon of maess, u he dayae would no gve a Gods cuse, ecause he solaywould e he ony hng and ha would no mean a o

ecause was gong down o he cou, and would have mymaess ac ha ngh

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nd I sll hd Under he Greenwd Tree no o nd hoo ou h old Slon y swdus poc

I wld up nd down n y slpps nd ws no n dhuou, u whslng oly o yslf h songs h nyn Ishn hd whsd o whspd o hslf n hos

ps nd Id h sung ou nd no gn Gods cusfo no on, only hy gh h , nd ws o dn n u so of wy hs sposn would sous n f c o cng h sh ou of you dsp hng fo h Gns o h ussns o hFuzz-Wuzzs o do s uch o on of hs, nd c

gns huny u f dffn hng lood o ho do h s o soon ls nd you couldn lh Eyon hs h own wy of loong hngs ndyou couldn l h fo ng foul w of hown cng onc hy w cng you n h couny ndno hy ng cd y soon s n soon lss Busll ll whsl ws n od, onc I p low

In boyhood's bloom and manhoods pd,Fodoomd by aln aws,Som on h scafod poudy ddFo Holy Ilands caus;And bohs say Shal w, oday,

Unmovd by cowads sandl aos sham and fos dfamh Flons of ou Land

By Jsus, I could h h los ng chd n,dsssd, nd hn sn huyng up h ss, nd lnglong h lndngs, nd h doos ng ngd ou, on

noh nd I could sll h dnnWould hy g y d nd w, now? o,

h ods wn ps I could h h so noh of h whsl ws ndcd, o p y h up

h cho you, you show of sds

Som o h conv's day c,Hav found a lvng omb,

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And som unsn unndd flWhn h dungons glmBu wha car w alhough bTrod by a rufan bandGod blss h clay whr rs oday

Th Flons of our nd. . .

The nnes en ps me coul smell Wsn he gepy h he fello h s ong he suffeng couln ehee he sngng s o ge he ene of Mohe ofChs sn hee housn plces eeen Belfs nBny By hee fello oul e suffe h gu noo mn ose n poe f he coul only e hee n hee he sme me? Bu suppose h oul e lke yngo ge nk you on nel Mke y hee you hhe fce n le n he mn hs ong l fo eln nsueng hunge n use le hm up o he hee hcome up once he pulcn oul sy h kn of men

e you ll? Hve you no ecency of sp ou you houln mke y fo one of he Felons of ou n? Comeon son ll heself gves you hs ple of con n cgen he lessngs of Jsus on you n on eveyone lke yous my on nne m gvng you fo you ee no expecen you mongs h pcel of he-lvee hn-lppe

ppe-vng key-lng hngmen n come on; eyou nne hees pn o sh on ye n glssof ml f you fncy Gve us up song hee Yous hveenough of songs ou of yous ou he oys h fce heSxon foe u ejsus hen hees one of hem hee mongyou he el lly ly he el gos genollckes yous eslen s he om Sng up yous hoes ges

Sid by sid for h caus whn our forfahrs bald,Whn our hlls nvr chod h rad of h slav,On many a grn ld whr h ladn hal raldThrough h rd gap of glo hy marchd o h gravBu w who inhr hir nam and hir spr

March na h bannr of liy hnGiv hm back blow for blow

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Pay hm bak wo or wo.Ou and mak way o h Bod Fnan Mn.

Ello ee, Pay . ue on my heel o he spyhole as Bny

ll ave you cob an you ae up sholy, Pay smle n he econ of he spy-hole Goo man,

Bny, hansWhen all he nnes ha been ven ou an all he oos

ee locke, my oo as opene, an Bny came n,h my bea an ae as he usual o-ee

alumnum e can h sols n he op shallo can, anlus n he boom lon can n hs case a cob of beaan a pn of ae

Ee you ae Pay, la, sa Bny n hs so voces no much, bu ll keep you us oehe ll ea-me.

o e moe hen? aske Couse you o, sa Bny hees eh ounces of

bea n ha, an you e a sxounce cob onh, an a fouounce n he monn fo you beakfas. hen you umbeOne s up

Only fo he maess an he solay!Hell ve you you maess all h onh, an youe

ou hen a nne-me omoo an alls ell aan

houh as hee ays one ays umbe One, onehou he maess, an one n solayay, you slly felle, sa Bny, s al one ay Pa,

ea sce comn back ll slp alon lann lae hsaeoon an ave a b of cha o chee yup lke, f canmake . ea m comn He ave hs so smle nnke, an en off on he lann

Johnson came up an looke n oun he cell Goeveyhn? he aske

Yes, s, sa , holn my can an my cob of bea.He noe, bane ou he oo an en off on he

ann ha nohn o s on bu my ma, so sa hee an boke

he cus of my cob of bea as a ne one, an asheon h he cup of ae, asn lon nshn as

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gea o hnk, hough, ha ould e geng moe eada suppe-me, and ha he hole hng as ove omoo had only o moe meals of ead and ae efoe enack on odnay de as el oh , o gve ha Jamesasad a mmng, hough fo ha agan hoped he ouldn

e needled enough o have gus enough o go fo me ove Bu hen kne ha as no lkely o oy me much,fo couldn las long The sces ould see o ha Theonly hng o e afad of as hm comng a me all of asudden, lke dd a hm nd d look ou fo ha Ge mycha n agans he all, hen e ee a laou, and keepa good eye ound he execse yad as e alked ound heng

go up and dd no pe he cums off me, u gaheedhem and en fo a of a alk up and don he cll nmy slppes, hnkng aou eland and he suffeng fo heand all he savaon n pacula of Teence MacSney ,seveny-egh days h no scoff a all, and my on fahe

on hunge ske h en housand ohes n he nemencamps dung he Cv Wa, u ha as a dffeen hng,h en housand ohes MacSney had he eyes of heold on hm, and kne ha mus e dvng hese asadsmad fom he pulcy as geng They ee up andoffeng hm evey concevae delcacy, chcken, ham,

ukey, oas pok, seak, oh fo he love of Jesus , gve ove,me mouh s aengf Johnson came up and sad, Hee you ae, sng o lnes

of God Save he Kng and ll gve you hs pece of oundseak, ould ake ? Would ha? Jesus, May andJoseph, hed e a ucky man ha ddn ake he hand andall off hm

nd sng a Hgh Mass, neve mnd a couple of nes ofGod Save he Kng, fo , aye o fo he half of

e sopped fo a mnue o o and alloed myself a of a ead a Unde he Geenwd Tee and had a ooka he eay on hee hey have a Chsmas caol, saed o pu an a o Thas a hng ee al vey ell

ale o do n my famly On my mohes sde, my uncle asone of he es song-es n he couny, and one of he

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es knon an ohes of hem ee n he vaey usinessso ouln' ake me long lookng a a poem o a song opu an a o

So pu he a of he Famne Song' o hs caol, my suaon eng moe lke Famne han lke Chsmas:

Remember Adams fal, hou Man:

Remember Adams falfrom Heaven to hel

Remember Adam's faHow he hah condemned all,

In hell perpeuahere for o dwell. .

So as alkng up an on he cell hummng hs caolof Thomas Hays an neve fel he me gong ll heahe cell oos eng opene an he cans eng le ou

oo open, clng can, oo open clang can, an hen a of alkng up an on o an fom he ecess h hepos an he ae hey ha ashe he plaes an knfe anspoon h an he sce shoung, San o you oos,'an hey geng eay o go on o ok fo he aeoonan ha my hummng ove y hs me an my face seous

agan ecause oes no lok he hng no o look unhappyn he nck, especally an hey gong o he oule of pungyou on ume One

he sce hen opene my oo, an Bny came n fomy conanes.

'O goes , Pa?' he smle Youll e geng a nneomoo goo one an al, eans an acon'

looke sa a he ae 'll nsh ha ae, Bny,n case ge hsy lae'

Bny laughe You can ave all he ae you an,Pay Wa ll ell sce!' He spoke o he sce, hocame up an looke n He as a g ol Cockney He asn'small an y he ay hey ae suppose o e u he asn'

a a ol asa fo all haYou can ave all he leen' ae ha's n he ap Go

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ahn, Bony, an fech ' up ha e can ll' He uee n he oo Wae No one's epvn you, af'

Pay he s, s,' sa Bony, fo elanWell, Pay o af o ock s all leen one o e

Go on an ge h he een ae

Bony cae ack an le e he e can, he longoo pa, ll of ae, an sa, hank you, Bony ,an, hank you, s, o he sce

He jus sa, Don ank e, hank he Lo,' an gavea of a laugh an ange ou he oo

ank a sup of he ae hen hea he gone offon e sas I as gong o have a alk up an onagan ll as e o have a pss, an n ha ay akea eak n he e l hey coe oun h y ea-eea an ae. ha nong o s on, only he a, an as col, h no jacke on, ony y sh shos, sockngs an sppes as ak an leak an he of sky coul see as a y gey an ha nealy ak, h a ea

col alke up an on, an en ack o pung an a o

he hole caol an geng he ohe veses off y hea. , oo

Rmmb Gods goodnss

hou ManRmmbr Gods goodnssHs proms mad

Rmmbr Gods goodnssH sn Hs Son snlssOu as for o dss;

B no afad!

ha a fe nks of ae an psse hee es analke up an on, an hough he col as shap, ' haveeen cole f no kep alkng up an on e lghas yng, u no he ay oe as he py he collack, hungy ay seche foa, an as only fou

o'clock hen he ngh cae on an he cell as n pchakness

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hen hea he chas eng shove ack an he fellowscomng up he sas fom execse A leas sge wasa goo hng aou geng anohe of ea a ea-meBu Jesus was col an ak an my mn even was gonenum fom he col an couln nk myself away any

moe fo hs eceme ay Bu anohe un an walkup he oo o keep ngs gong some way

Pay!ee was a whspe a he spyhole an I use ove o .Chale a he cove up an s mouh o he glassHello Cale whspee ow ae you?

o a k an youself?All gh ave woke some scoff fo you u couln ge nea

when Bown was ngng you ea an wae know ha k ll ake e wll fo he ee.Ol James an alf cave up hose asas wl e ea

f of you hey won ake no lees when you come ou

James go seven schesha was a py a py he n ge seveny looy

schesChales lps pae n a smle a he spy-hole glass Youe

a la Pay you ae See you omoow k Bye Chale

He wspee so agans he glass of he spy-hole s lpsclose o , Bye Pay hen pu hs eye o wnke anslppe own he lanng owas s own cell

So I walke up an own agan wh moe spng n myeel an when Bwny came wh my fou-ounce co hescew le me go own o e ecess wee use helavaoy empe my po an elle my e can wh wae

fo he ngh Whc mean ha woul no have o sh nhe cell a hng o e feae eween half pas fou n heaeoon an seven he nex monng

he scew swche my lg on an walke up an ownfeelng ee whle I ae my ea an ook a nk of hewae.

A eg oclock e scew came an opene my oo anJesus e pase ol me o ake n my e

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go n he oas an maess an lanke, an he angeou he oo

When ha he e mae on an go no , asn as goo as anyone, e fom he akng an am aehe col, an my ays chokey ove me only fo he eakfas,

u, sue, ouln appecae he eans an acon all hemoe? celeae h a ea of he ook as el on o he

en of no, u ece as oh eng eckless foonce an ea on, am an happy, hee hey ae all a heeng an poo homas Leaf an aman, comes up anasks o e e n o he hooley. ashe an pu on a clanesh, says Leaf, pleang ke, no o kep ou of heveson.

Le he poo asa n, says he ne, hes a sllylookng u neve hea he as n jal Sue, f he asself, hee as as goo as eve he as n

Bu hey le hm anyay, an he ells a soy, aou a man

ha go a poun an hen he go anohe poun an anoheone an anohe ll, efoe Jesus he ha a housan pounan such a half-ase cass of a soy neve hea, u suehe as ong hs es o olge he company, an fell asleep

n he mong I ae my fou-ounce co an ank some

ae, an ae ll nne-me fo he en of my senence alke up an on he cell an as hnkng of my eansan acon hen, a eleven oclock o so, he sce came,opene my oo an ol me o ng n my ue anpu on my clohes He aske me f ane o slop ou an en on an empe he po an ha a sh n he ecess ,as as hee, an go a asn of ae

he sce ange ou he oo an ha a ash ae ha pu ack my ue. as only hen ha pu ouhe nue ha noce ho esolae he cell as hou

nneme hea hem machng n an caeng uphe on sas an he nex hng as he sce comng oun

h my Daily Held an n a mnue o o I smel henne an hea he oos eng opene agan

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s me my oo as opene ke anyone eses anBony ane me a o e can, a gan sme off

ee you ae, Pay, a. He sme ke you nk as msef as geng . e sce ange ou e ooan pu on e ae, an spea my Daily Held ack

of my pae aong e a an go no my eans an acone eans an acon ee n e oom ong can of ee cans an ee as a co of ea n e op sao pa ae e, an as say an ck, an ank moeae ae

oug of gong on o ok ae my nne n e

a e oes no nk ames ou a

Documents

Borstal Boy - Brendan Behan