Restless soul: a chapter in the life of Gerry Conlon

Restless soul: a chapter in the life of Gerry Conlon · Jailed for 15 years as one of the Guildford Four for a crime he didn't commit, Conlon ... Restlesssoul:achapterinthelifeofGerryConlon-Independent.ie Independentie News [1] Opinion [2] Business [3] Sport [4] Life [5] Style [7] Entertainment [8] Travel [9] Search Search MenuSections Restlesssoul:achapterinthelifeofGerryConlon Jailedfor15yearsasoneoftheGuildfordFourforacrimehedidn'tcommit,Conlonbattledhisown­considerable­demonsbeyondtheprisonwalls.Inanextractfromhisnewbiography,IntheNameoftheSon,friendRichardO'Rawerecallshisimpulsive­character,hischarmandachaoticlifestyle Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Ontheoutside:Conlon,seenherein1994,gaveawaymostofthecompensationhereceived,orspentitondrugs.Photo:IanCook/Getty Sorry:GerryConlonoutsidetheHouseofCommonsin2005afterreceiveingapersonalapologyfromTonyBlair FilephotoofGerryConlon(centre),outsidetheOldBaileyinLondonafterbeingreleasedforbeingwronglyconvictedoftheGuilfordpubbombings / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ontheoutside:Conlon,seenherein1994,gaveawaymostofthecompensationhereceived,orspentitondrugs.Photo:IanCook/Getty October08201702:30AM Facebook Twitter Email Inthefollowingextract,O'RawechroniclesaparticularlywildperiodforGerry,ashefritteredawayhiscompensationmoneyonhardcasesandharddrugs: ByFebruary1995,Conlonwasinchronicdisarray.Hehadnodirectioninhislife,nocausetofight,noonetolobby,nofemalefriendtopamperandnoreasontogetoutofbedotherthantoescapefromhisnightmares.ThenhemetAngieinabarinKilburn,London.PerhapsitwasbecauseAngiewasacrackaddict,oritmightbethathesawapartofhimselfinher,buthelikedtheconvivialyoungladywhocalledeveryone'Darlin'andspokeinanearthyDevonaccent.Shewasdown-to-earth,easytotalktoand,impressively,agoodlistener.WhatGerrydidnotknowwasthatAngiehadthefireofQueenBoadiceainherbelly-andatempertomatch:noone,certainlynotGerryConlon,wouldintimidateher. BesideshisflatinBelfast,Conlonalsohadaflataboveabookmaker'spremisesinCamden,andthatwaswherethepairretiredtoafterleavingthepub.Angieremembers:"Gerrytalkednon-stoptome.IthinkitwasbecauseIgotarawdealandhecouldrelatetothat." Duringtheirall-nightconversation,whichinevitablyentailedConlonrehashinghisexperiencesatthehandsoftheBritishEstablishment,Angietoldhimthatshecouldnotlookherselfinthemirror.Conlonwasaghastatthis.Inhisworldlyview-aviewthatwouldeventuallystandhimingoodstead-thehighestinsocietycouldfallbythewaysideandoftendid,butthatdidnotmeanthatpersoncouldnotpickthemselvesupagain.AngiegulpedhardassherecalledConlon'swords:"'Whatdoyoumeanyoucan'tlookyourselfinthemirror?'Thenhetookthemirroroffthewallandhelditinfrontofme.'Lookatyourself'.Icouldn't.Iturnedmyfaceaway.See,Ididn'tlikethepersonwho'dbelookingbackatme.'Isaid,lookatyourself'.Nah,Iwasn'tgoingthere.'Fuckinglookatyourselfwhenyou'retold!'Toshuthimup,Iglancedinthemirror.'Whatdoyousee?'hesaid. "Itoldhimstraight:'Ajunkie.Aworthlessjunkie'. "'Whatelse?' "'Nothingelse.There'snothingelsethere.' "Gerryhadthisstare.Hekindalookedrightintoyoureyeswhenhe'dsomethingimportanttosay:'Hey,weegirl!You'rebetterthanmostpeople.Whatthefuck'sthematterwithya?'ThenhetoldmeIwasn'taworthlessjunkie:Iwasajunkiebutnotaworthlessone.Thatseemedkindafunny.Welaughedourheadsoffatthat. "Hetaughtmealot,hedid.Hetookeveryoneatfacevalue.It'saqualitythatnotmanypeoplehave.Ifhelikedyou,helikedyou,andifhedidn't,hetoldyoutofuckoff.But...hebuiltupmyself-esteem." AndthereinlaypartoftheconundrumthatwasGerryConlon:hehadmetayoungwomanwhoselifewasinturmoil,whowasflounderinginself-pity,andhesteppedinwithchivalrousgallantrytorescueher,tellingherthatshehadworth,thatshehadafuture. DailyDigestNewsletter Getaheadofthedaywiththemorningheadlinesat7.30amandFionnánSheahan'sexclusivetakeontheday'snewseveryafternoon,withourfreedailynewsletter. Enteremailaddress Thisfieldisrequired SignUp Greatsympathy Yetheundeniablywallowedinhisowndespairandself-chastisementoverthearrestanddeathofhisfather.Thismanwaswellread,hisfavouritebookbeingTheRagged-TrouseredPhilanthropistsbyRobertTressell(Dublin-born,Tressell'srealnamewasRobertNoonan.Histimelessclassicisanexposéofthesocialinequalitythatexistedinthetownof'Mugsborough',thefictionalsettingforthenovel.The'Philanthropists'aretheworkers,onwhosebacksthecapitalistsgeneratepersonalwealth).Moreover,ConlonhadreadtheBibleseveraltimesinprisonandcouldquotewholepassagesfromitverbatim.Timeandagain,thosewhoknewhimspokeofConlon'sgreatsympathyforhisfellowhumanbeings.ForthelikesofAngie,hewasaphysicianandahealer.Yethechosetoignorethebiblicalproverb'Physician,healthyself'.Inthetorturechamberofhismind,therewasnoroomforself-healingorself-absolution. Impulsive,giventotryingtorunbeforehehadlearnedtowalk,ConlontookAngietoBelfastthenextday,whereshestayedinhissister'shousefortwoweeks.DuringhertimeinBridie'shouse,Angiemettherestofhisfamily.AnnMcKernanwasimpressedwithAngie'shard-boiledattitude:"ShewentwithGerryforyears.Everyoneofmygirls,mymum:everybodylovedAngie.Sheandhimmurderedoneanother,butAngiegavehimasgoodasshegot." WhenAnnwasspeakingofAngieduringaninterview,therewasasmileonherface;itseemedasifshewasproudofAngieforstandingupforherself,forwomanhood. Throughoutthesetwoweeks,AngievisitedGerry'sOsborneParkflatwhereafewpipesofcrackcocaineweresmoked.Itcouldhavebeenworse. NorthernIrelandhadalwaysbeensparedtheravagesofharddrugsbecauseparamilitarygroups,principallytheIRA,sawthetakingandsupplyingofdrugsasdeviantbehaviourwhichmustbeeradicated-byexecutionifnecessary.Thusitwas,whentheIRAannouncedacessationofmilitaryoperationsonAugust31,1994,thattheorganisationturneditsattentiontodrugdealers,andfrom1995to2001,ninedrugdealerswereshotdeadbyanIRAfrontorganisationcalledDirectActionAgainstDrugs. TherewouldhavebeenfewpeopleinNorthernIrelandtakingcrackcocaine,butGerrywasamongstthem.WhilethatwouldhavebeenfrowneduponbytheIRAleadership,itisdoubtfulifitwouldhaveresultedinGerry'sexecution,givenhislargepublicprofileandthenegativeimplicationshismurderwouldhavehadforthefledglingpeaceprocess. WithcrackcocainealmostimpossibletobuyinNorthernIreland,AngietookontheroleofsupplyingConlon,makingfrequenttripstoBelfastfromEngland.Shealsosentcrackacrossinthepost.Shewasacentralfigureinwhatwasabizarreandsometimesviolentrelationship. "Itwasacrazytime.Weweretakingsomuchcrack.Gerrywasseeingotherwomen;hedidn'thideit.AndIwascoolwiththatatthetime;aslongasIgotcrack.InLondon,heusedtogivememoneytostayaway,andhe'dhavebeenhavingapartyroundthere,loadsofgirls,loadsofsex.Iusedtophonehimupandsaydownthephone:'Runningoutofmoney,darlin!Runningout!'He'dsay,'Don'tyoucomeroundhere!'andI'dsay,'I'monmyway.Getoneofthegirlstoputthekettleon,darlin'.Thenhe'dsay:'Don'tyoufuckin'darecomeroundhere!'Iusedtoterrorisehim,Idid.Iwashisnemesis;Iusedtoterrorisethatpoorman.Hemethismatchwithme.Andeverynowandthen,whenhereallypissedmeoff,Iusedtogoaroundandsmashallhiswindows.Itwasamentalrelationship,butitwasjusthowitwas.Mymumtriedtogetmesectioned'causeIusedtoturnupathishouseandwrecktheplaceandripallhisclothesup." Madnessandanarchy ThemadnessofAngiewasmorethanmatchedbyGerry'sanarchy.Angierecalled:"Icamebackonedayandnoonewasintheflat.SoIfoundoutfromadealerthathewasinamate'shouseandIwentroundthere,andtherehewaswiththisChileancallgirlcalledBeatrice.Youmusthaveheardofher:'Who'snext,Beatrice?'No?Everybodyknowsher.Ididn'tmindhimbeingwithBeatrice,butIdidmindthathetriedtohideitfromme." Conlonwasafamiliarfigureforthecall-girlsofLondon."Sometimesyou'dbesittingintheflatoverthecourseofthedayanditwaslikefuckingPiccadillyCircus,"Angiesaid,"therewasthatmanycallgirlscomingandgoing.Buthewasn'tshaggingthem."Surelythatnegatedthewholepointofsendingforcallgirlsinthefirstplace?Angiereplied:"Gerrydidn'tneedtoshagcallgirls.Hewasacharmer;hecould'veshaggedanygirlhewanted.No.He'dbringthemin,drivethemmadwithhisstories,kickthemout,andthenbringinanotherone.MyGerrylovedtotalk,andwe'dallheardhisstories.Icould'vetoldyouwhathewasgoingtosaybeforehesaidit." By1995,Conlonhadbeenawardedapproximately£300,000incompensation,mostofwhichhehadgivenawayorspentfrivolously.Ontopofthat,therehadbeenthemoneyfromhisbookdealandthe£120,000hehadreceivedforIntheNameoftheFather.Angiesaidofhisspending:"Hewasdoingouncesandouncesofcrackaday...thousandsandthousandsofpounds.IrememberonedayhecamehomelikethePiedPiper,withmaybe20peoplebehindhim,andhesaidtome:'I'mbuyingthemtrainersinthemorning'.AndIsaid:'Fuckingwhat?'Theywerealoadofwaifsandstrays,peoplethatlookedliketheyhadn'tbeenfedinweeks. "Hesaid:'I'mtakingthemalloutshoppingandbuyingthemclothesandtrainersinthemorningandI'mbringingthemintoMcDonald's.Lookatthem;thepoorbastards'.Butthatwasjusthim;thatwashim.Hewantedtogiveeverythingtoeveryone.Fuckinghell,hewasliterallygivinghismoneyaway.Itwaslikehedidn'treallywantit.Heneverpassedabeggarinthestreetwithoutdroppingthematenner-allthebeggarsknewhimbyhisfirstfuckingname!Itwaslikehedidn'treallywantthemoney." WhenaskedhowConloncouldhavespent£10,000aday,Angiereplied:"It'snotthathard,believeme. "Whenyou'reawake24hours-andGerrytriedtostayawakeeveryminuteofeveryday-andyou've15peopleinthehouse,andthisone'ssayingshehasn'tgotenoughmoneyforherphonebill,andthatone'ssayinghecan'tpayhisrentandhe'sgoingtobeevicted...peopleusedtoturnupwiththeirtalesofwoeandtheirbillsandheusedtofallforthestoriesandhandoutmoneyasifhewasRobinHood.Iusedtogomad. "WhenhismoneybegantorunoutinLondon,beforehegotthefinalpaymentofhiscompensation,Isaidtohim:'Whereareyourfriendsnow?We'llseewhoyourfriendsarewhenyourunoutofmoneyandyou'vegotfuckallinyourbankbalance.' "Intheend,whenallthemoneywasgone,therewasonlymeandhim." IntheNameoftheSon:TheGerryConlonStorybyRichardO'RaweispublishedbyMerrionPress GerryConlon1954-2014 Expand Close FilephotoofGerryConlon(centre),outsidetheOldBaileyinLondonafterbeingreleasedforbeingwronglyconvictedoftheGuilfordpubbombings / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp FilephotoofGerryConlon(centre),outsidetheOldBaileyinLondonafterbeingreleasedforbeingwronglyconvictedoftheGuilfordpubbombings   WithPaulHill,PaddyArmstrongandCaroleRichardson,GerryConlonwasoneoftheGuildfordFour,agroupofyoungpeoplewronglyconvictedofthe1974IRAGuildfordpubbombing. ThisiconicimageofhimwascapturedemergingfromtheOldBaileyinLondon15yearslateranddeclaringhisinnocenceafterhisconvictionwasquashed. "IhavebeeninprisonforsomethingIdidnotdo.Iamtotallyinnocent,"hetoldthewaitingcrowds. Thecasewasoneofthebest-knowninstancesofamiscarriageofjusticeinBritishlegalhistory. Atthetimeoftheirsentencing,thetrialjudge,MrJusticeDonaldson,toldtheGuildfordFour:"Ifhangingwerestillanoption,youwouldhavebeenexecuted." MrConlon'sfatherGiuseppe,whowasalsojailedaspartofadiscreditedinvestigationintoasupposedbomb-makingfamily-theMaguireSeven-diedinprison. MrConlonwasplayedbyDanielDay-Lewisinthe1993filmInTheNameoftheFather,whosescreenplaywasadaptedfromGerry'sautobiography. InJune2000,then-primeministerTonyBlairbecamethefirstseniorpoliticiantoapologisetotheGuildfordFour. MrConlondiedathishomeintheFallsRoadareaofBelfastin2014,justthreeweeksafterbeingdiagnosedwithlungcancer.Hewas60. Hisfamilyissuedthefollowingstatementabouthim:"Hebroughtlife,love,intelligence,witandstrengthtoourfamilythroughitsdarkesthours. "Hehelpedustosurvivewhatwewerenotmeanttosurvive.Werecognisethatwhatheachievedbyfightingforjusticeforushadafar,fargreaterimportance-itforcedtheworld'sclosedeyestobeopenedtoinjustice;itforcedunimaginablewickednesstobeacknowledged;webelieveitchangedthecourseofhistory". 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