Читать книгу In the Name of the Son - Richard O'Rawe - Страница 9

Acknowledgements

About a year before he died on 21 June 2017, Gerry Conlon and I were having breakfast in a Belfast city centre café. Afterwards, as we casually strolled along Royal Avenue, he asked me to write his biography from the time he was released from the Old Bailey in October 1989: ‘I’ve a great story in me, O’Rawe.’ I believed him; Gerry was one of life’s adventurers. But there was no great hurry, we’d get around to it … little did we know that the clock was ticking.

When Gerry was in hospital he sent for me. It was a week before he tragically passed. He reminded me of our agreement and I reaffirmed my commitment to write his story.

The first person I approached about fulfilling my promise to Gerry was his sister, Ann McKernan. She never hesitated. She gave me interview after interview and handed me four large grip bags containing prison and medical records, as well as personal notes from Gerry. In this book, I called this invaluable source of information, ‘The Gerry Conlon Papers’. To my friend Ann I express my warmest thanks.

Special thanks go to Johnny Depp who, when asked if he would write the foreword, never hesitated, replying that it would be ‘an honour’. Huge thanks also to Stephen Deuters.

Others who helped and who were very generous with their time were Joey Cashman, Gearóid Ó Clei, Finola Geraghty, ‘Minty’, Marion McKeone, Siobhan MacGowan, Fiona Looney, Shane MacGowan, Victoria Mary Clarke, Paddy-Joe Hill, Bridie Brennan, Martin Loughran, Mary-Kate McKernan, David Pallister, Darragh McIntyre, Sandy Boyer (deceased), John McDonagh, Mark Durkan, Margaret Walsh, Barry Walle, John McManus, Peter Ong, Seamus Doherty, Kevin Winters, Brendan Byrne, Henry McDonald, ‘Angie’, Frank Murray (deceased), Noel Doran, Hugh Russell, and the staff in The Irish News, Niall Stannage, ‘Celtic Pat’ McDonnell, Malachi O’Doherty.

I am especially indebted to Conor Graham of Merrion Press and his staff: Fiona Dunne, Myles McCionnaith and Maria McGuinness.

I am much obliged to Peter O’Connell Media for the great job they did in publicising this book.

To my literary agent and teacher, Jonathan Williams, I express my deepest appreciation.

My special thanks go to my daughter Berni, who accompanied me around the UK and Ireland.

As ever, my wife Bernadette gave unconditional support, as did my daughter Steph and son Conchúr.

Now that I wrecked my brain trying to remember everyone who helped me with this book, it strikes me that there is someone out there whom I have forgotten. If that someone is you, please forgive me – and let me know. If you can prove that I missed you, I’ll buy you a pint!