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MIKEY (NOT HIS real name) is dressed in a designer tracksuit. His hair is cut close to his head, the sides shaved in an intricate zig-zag pattern, and there is some kind of complex tattoo showing above his collar-line.
He refuses to tell me his age, but a local youth and community worker informs me the lad is 16. Before meeting him, I needed to check that his story was true. According to people in this area, it is. As I sit before him in the lushly decorated sitting room of the house the council rents to his mother, though, he appears closer to 14. But appearances can be deceiving.
Mikey informs me that he wants to set a few things straight. When I ask him what about, precisely, he sits forward, his elbows on his knees, and looks me directly in the eye.
“About the gangs and all,” he says. “I read your stuff. You’ve been saying in your articles that they ruin people’s lives.”
I nod. “It seems to me they do.”
“You’re wrong,” he says, and I can hear the anger and passion in his voice.
“I’m listening,” I tell him.
“The gang saved my life. If it weren’t for them lads, I’d be dead by now.”
“They protected you from people who wanted to hurt you?” I prompt him.
“Sorta,” he agrees, and I can see he is struggling to find the words. “But it’s more than that. They gave me a life. Y’know what I’m trying to say?”
I suggest he starts at the beginning.
Childhood
Mikey’s early childhood could have been written by Charles Dickens. One parent has myriad psychiatric problems and the other is an alcoholic.
“She never knew what to do with me, and he was evil – when he was drunk, which was most of the time, he used me as a punch-bag. When I was little, all I can remember was being afraid. Hungry and afraid.”
He tells me school was an escape – his teachers did their best, but he found learning difficult and was bullied for being small and dirty and never having cool clothes or the right runners.
Teachers can’t be there all the time, and I did get a rough time from some of the other kids. But it was still better than being at home. The school made sure I had a lunch, and it was warm. That was something to look forward to.
All this changed when Mikey made the move to secondary education. Lost in a bigger crowd with a wider social spectrum, he floundered. And the bullying got worse.
“I got the shite beat out of me a couple of times by bigger kids and that was that. I stopped going in. Me parents didn’t care, and I don’t think the school did either. No one came looking for me, anyway.”
Mikey tells me that he had an epiphany on the evening of his 14th birthday.
“I was sitting at home, all alone. Me Da was out getting drunk and I don’t know where me Ma was. I was cold and I was starving. The TV was the only company I had, and it was broken so that everything on it was a funny colour. I suddenly thought: what if this is it?
What if it never gets any better than this? It was the scariest feeling. I actually started bawling. I knew then and there that the only person who was going to help me was me.
‘I just needed a way in’
Mikey didn’t sleep that night. By the time the sun came up, he had a plan.
“There was a lad who lived two roads up from me. He was in one of the gangs – not high up, but everyone knew he was involved. He always had good clothes, he drove a car and people respected him. I went over and hung around outside his house. He came out around lunchtime, and I walked right up and said I wanted a job. I told him I would do anything, didn’t matter what it was. He could ask me to clean his shoes if he wanted, I just needed a way in.”
Mikey pauses, clearly moved by the memory.
“He looked me up and down, and asked me when was the last time I had something to eat. I told him I couldn’t remember. He says to me: ‘Come on – let’s get some lunch and then I’ll give you an interview.’ And I never looked back. My life changed in every way after that.”
Mikey is vague on what jobs exactly he has done and continues to do for this organisation.
“I’m not stupid. I’ll say we operate with a loose interpretation of the laws of the land, and that many of my associates are known to the gardaí. Does that explain it for you?”
I ask him about the levels of violence that seem to be escalating in gangland over recent months – the shootings and murders.
“It’s a fact of life,” Mikey responds. “You want to do this, you have to be prepared that you’ve only got so long before you have to get out. You stay too long, you’re going to wind up dead. I knew that when I was 14. I was happy to take the risk.”
I suggest that it is a heavy toll to pay.
“This house right here,” he says, surveying the room – deep-pile carpets, a wide-screen television, several games consoles, framed posters of rap artists on the walls. “It’s the same one I’ve always lived in, this is the room I was in when the night of me 14th birthday. I bought all this stuff, and these days I pay the rent and I make sure food is on the table. Me Da knows not to come back here. My friends have warned him to keep away. He’s smart enough to know what’s good for him.”
I ask about his mother.
“I had a room decorated for her upstairs. She’s got her own telly. She stays up there, mostly.”
“So this is what you dreamed of?” I ask him. “You’re warm and you’re fed and you’ve got respect?”
He nods.
“And you’re not scared anymore?”
“I’m not scared of anything.”
“Everyone is afraid of something,” I suggest.
He pauses for a moment.
“If you’re asking me do I want to get shot, of course I don’t. But you don’t think about that – there’s no point.”
I put it to him that these individuals earned his loyalty by feeding him and stopping his Dad from hurting him. I see that mist falling behind his eyes again, just for a moment.
“There are people I work with who are tough and maybe even a bit mean,” he admits.
“But none of them freak me out as much as my Da did. Am I scared sometimes? Yeah, I suppose I am. But not nearly as much as I was before I was in the gang. Like I said, the gang gave me my life. That’s what I want you to tell people: if the gang hadn’t have been there, I really believe I’d be dead by now. They made my life better, and that’s all there is to it.”
I ask Mikey how many people’s lives his gang has ruined.
“Life is hard,” he shrugs. “This is the only thing that was there for me. I didn’t make the rules, I just did what I could. No one came crying when I was in a bad place, so I don’t cry for anyone else.”
As I drove away, I wondered how much blame society had to shoulder for the man Mikey had become.
All names have been changed
Shane Dunphy is a child protection expert, author and broadcaster. He is Head of the Social Studies Department at Waterford College of Further Education.
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Remember after this is over who those pubs who stayed open were. Please don’t go back they are nothing more than collaborators with the enemy who made it worse for all of us.
@John Horan: Some pub owners are also politicians and if their pubs were open during this Pandemic they should suffer more than losing their license and seat in the Dáil
@Ossi Fritsche: ah they hardly have their pubs open
@John Horan: name and shame them
@John Horan: I know of one in my home town that has been opening to “regulars” behind closed doors. They will struggle to stay open after this is all over due to the outrage among locals. Plenty of people have vowed to never set foot in it again. Any pub breaching the government request should lose their licence.
@John Horan: Just order a shut down like other nations. Asking nicely is a cop out, shut down and pay wages.
@John Horan: Any workplace not making essentials in this situation should close. It’s not just pubs. Multinationals employing 1000+ working 7 days a week to stock up before closures become inevitable. And employees work beside each other. Maybe 4 ft apart.
@Ger: You’re anonymous. Name the pub!
@John Horan: a lost should be compiled and distributed
@Ger: report them
Corona viruses cannot survive in real world for more than a few days
they can only survive with our bodies
without our bodies – it will die-
stay away from each other – do not spread the virus – instead of us dying – let it die – it has nowhere to go without a human to infect
@GO GREEN: But some outlets saying it can survive on a hard surface for 7 days and maybe even longer. I’m very worried right now about vulnerable people. I hope people will keep up the great work they are doing. We will get out the other side of this. May the force be with you all.
@Dizzy: IPA liquid will kill any virus it touches… same stuff is used in hand sanitiser in diluted form… problem is the price has rocketed because ethanol has become so scarce since the manufacturers who had stocks are all out of it…
@Dizzy: Thanks, yes I did post a good link a few days ago, about how long this virus survives on different surfaces but it was deleted by Journal ie. I thinks it said plastic 3 days and cardboard 1 day. Anyway I hope you and us all get through this and it will be a lot easier if people just stay away from each other.
@Dizzy: it’s detectable in or on aerosols for up to 3 hours, copper for up to 4 hours, cardboard for up to 24 hours, and plastic and stainless steel for up to 2 to 3 days. Glove up! Source: https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/covid-19/asymptomatic-carriers-covid-19-make-it-tough-target
@EdmundOrlando: fun fact, most shampoos and shower gels work as soap, surprised to see shelves empty of soap and plenty of shower gel right nest to the gap
Why could be closed using special powers. Shut them take licence away for ever. Fine the owner take all the stock and taps
@Gerry Gleeson: problem solved instantly precident set…too much logic….it’ll never happen..
@Gerry Gleeson: See RTE: Gardaí do not currently have a legislative basis to enforce pub closures but, under the Intoxicating Liquor Act, one of the conditions for holding a pub licence is that the holder is a responsible person.
@Gerry Gleeson: many workplaces still operating, not just pubs. Multinationals flat out, employing thousands.
Sure what about all the public places that have been packed the last few days?? Glendalough was full of people today queuing for coffee and ice cream. I live in Wexford and the amount of D reg cars down here since the schools closed with people going to caravan parks and holiday homes. It’s ridiculous. These people are putting the lives of people who may have remained safe in small rural communities at risk. All because they want to get out for a break. I have my mother who is 73 yrs old with ovarian cancer receiving chemotherapy to look after and up until the last week our village was relatively quiet enough to venture to the local shop and washing hands, sanitising hands when I came back. Now I’m afraid to go near the village. Selfish people who don’t care about anyone but themselves.
@Irisheyes: they are entitled to go to their holiday homes or anywhere else as long as they follow HSE guidelines regarding social distancing etc.
@Caddyshack: they need to stay at home, didn’t you read that this was one of the main reasons for the catastrophe that Italy are experiencing. The schools closed and they all headed off to the beaches and resorts on holidays which brought the virus even more widespread. Currently Wexford have less than 5 confirmed cases, Dublin have over 300. They are coming down here and other places potentially infecting people who otherwise might have been alright. I don’t care if they have a right to go where they want. They should use some common bloody sense and try to keep it contained as much as possible. It’s not forever.
@Caddyshack: this is part of an rte article about how things got so bad in Italy and it’s going to happen here if people don’t stay in their own home
Did movement not stop when schools were shut?
Professor Della Giusta, who is originally from the Piedmont region in the northwest of the country, said many people did not take self-isolation measures very seriously when schools were first closed in northern regions a few weeks ago.
“When schools got shut in Lombardy a lot of people just took their kids and went off on holiday to their holiday homes in the mountains and at the seaside in the other regions.
“They thought they were making their kids safe by taking them away, but this kind of behaviour is really very damaging
@Irisheyes: I agree with your points particularly about families treating it as a holiday and not as a serious public health crisis – we have all experienced this recently. My point is simply that people are entitled to go to Wexford or wherever else and adhere to social distancing. They need to restrict their movements wherever they are staying
@Caddyshack: they may be entitled to go but they shouldn’t, people could argue they have a right to go to the pub but they shouldn’t. We need people to stay put to prevent this becoming like Italy. They had a right to go away also and look where it got them
@Irisheyes: couldn’t agree more. This isn’t holiday time. What part of “stay at home” don’t they understand. Morons.
@Irisheyes: Yea of course they are D Reg cars because only us dubs break the law.
@Irisheyes: they don’t have a right to go to the pubs as the government has ordered them shut. Simply follow HSE & Government advice. If the rules change and people are not allowed leave one county and go to another then people should conform to that.
@The Exhibition Guy – Stephan Murtagh: yes they are D Reg cars because they are the ones that have most of the mobile homes down here.
@Caddyshack: some people would say they have a right to a pint, it’s a free world, I do this every week. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. People need to stay at home. Use a bit of common sense, have a bit of compassion for vulnerable people they may compromise. They shouldn’t need the HSE or government to tell them what to do. Take responsibility for their own actions and decisions.
@Caddyshack: idiot
@Irisheyes: They,we do not need to stay at home . We do however need to limit our trips.
Yes they have the right to go for a drink but shouldn’t as the Government has advised not to. However the Government as of yet has not advised people they cannot go for a walk. On the contrary they has recognised the need for this. Once social distancing is adhered to. Walking in a wood or beach once not over crowded is more than acceptable according to most health officials. You may pass a person and be within 2 meters for a couple of secs. All advise suggests 15mins needed . Having said that I understand someone could cough etc when in vicinity on another,however the chances are remote of catching anything if just passing by someone
@Caddyshack: that’s the thing – government hasn’t ordered them shut. It has advised for them to shut in conjunction with the LVA and the VFI. 99% have adhered to this and have shut. Some have remained open, as is currently their right, and people still have the right to go to these pubs. It’s still wrong, though. And, it’s because of those pub goers that all pubs, cafes, restaurants etc will be forced to close by government. Likewise, it will be because of these people travelling to the likes of Wexford that we will have a total lockdown. Simply because people can’t listen to the authorities. Stupid, stupid people.
@veronica kenny: have you seen the photos of the wicklow mountains, Glendalough and the beaches?? There are more people out now than there does be during a normal weekend. It’s ridiculous. There isn’t room to swing a cat between people never mind keep 2 meters apart.
@Irisheyes: couldnt agree more. I’m from limerick living in Dublin, I’d love to see my family but we have to be sensible about this. Running about from county to county is moronic at best. We are in the middle of a crisis here. The less we do as in going out the better for everyone. I got kids, I’d love to be in Limerick or even Wexford! I’m climbing the walls here and its only week one of the shut down, but I’d rather be climbing the walls at home,then be in ICU gasping for air. Really cop on people, you might think you’ll be fine, but this time IT’S JUST NOT ABOUT YOU. There are real lives at risk here.
@Irisheyes: I agree with you 100%. Well said
@Irisheyes: Which is why I was saying once not busy. I don’t agree with the people going to packed areas.They actually should increase the price of the car park in Glendalough to discourage people going. However, plenty of places that are not as busy. Many beaches along the Wicklow ,Wexford coastline that go for miles and have wide sandy beaches that means social distancing can be adhered to easily. Just don’t go to the best known places. We have hundreds of walking trails in Ireland if people look and don’t just use the best known ones
@Irisheyes: as I said I agree with most of what you say. We have a difference of opinion on dubs going to Wexford to their second home, they can still practice the same correct social distancing there provided they have no symptoms – as I said different opinion. Lockdown will inevitably come as part of this process
@Irisheyes: there is no danger if following HSE guidelines…
@Irisheyes: playgrounds on mobile sites are closed. I haven’t seen any children on sites and very few adults in part of Wexford I am in.
@Irisheyes: how do you know glendalough was packed ? Are you one of those people who goes out and then moans about other people being out ?
@Delboy79: I seen the photo online, taken by someone who lives there. No I am not going out. I live on a boreen that happens to lead to the beach. We have about 10 houses on our road and we have all agreed designated times to walk our dogs or get a bit of fresh air without meeting one another. My time is between 1pm and 2pm.
@Maria Mcphillips: that’s ok in an area that can handle an influx of hundreds of people safely not small rural villages with caravan parks
@veronica kenny: there are plenty of beaches but they still can’t handle the social distancing if you have crowds converging on them.
@Caddyshack: but that’s the thing. Those Dubs going to Wexford require milk, tea, coffee, bread, etc. This time of year is usually quiet so the shops are geared to that level of volume. This means, in order to cater for those Dubs visiting their second homes, that shops need more deliveries. That means more trucks, more drivers, more surfaces with possible contaminants on them, more footfall into the shops, etc. This all greatly increases the risk to the locals. Sorry, but it’s not just a “shake of the head” situation. Those Dubs are putting local lives at risk and risking the shitting down of the entire country.
@Caddyshack: No theyre not. They are overcrowding a coastal town so social distancing out the window for the people who live there all year round. They are congregating on beaches and walkways. They are probably not adhering to any guidelines, because guidelines are to stay at HOME, not go on holidays. I dont care if they own the caravan or holiday home, they shouldnt go near it until this is all over
@Irisheyes: so hoe do you know when the photo was taken.
Please stop, people like you are part of the problem with your sensationalising and scaremonging
Close your curtains and log off till this is over, thats the best way you can help.
@Bain triail aisti: have a look at the news idiot, Glendalough is closed now with Garda barriers across it so are the slieve bloom mountains. The hell fire club is inundated with cars at the moment as is sally gap. Why don’t you go and bury your head in the sand. It’s not scaremongering these are real issues. Your obviously ignorant to the potential damage that all of this can do to people with underlying health conditions.
Take away the pub licence. Surely that’s a suitable & legally enforceable penalty with the new legislation- time to get tough & firm with people not conforming during this crisis
@Caddyshack: multinationals allowed operate as usual? Employing thousands, plus now working weekends to stockpile in case of closure. Why target pubs and not everywhere?
@Kath Noonan: They were even open on Patrick’s day.
And at the same time still allow flights to land and ferries to Dock with no checks…. No where near good enough
@Paul Cahoon: that will change in next week when 80% of Ryanair flights are been grounded but there are irish people abroad who need to get home some left before it all kicked off and never expected it to kick of so quick my niece went on holidays to viatnam 2+1/2 weeks ago and was supposed to be anther week but hopefully she be home tmw after embassy helped get them flights because the other countries want them out including Spain yet Ireland not asking anyone here to leave
@nelliekel: just flew into Dublin an hour ago from dubai. Not even random checking for high
temperatures. We had this done when connecting through Nairobi in February. If they can do it, why can’t we. Shocking.
@Jeremiah A Craic: We were the same on Thursday but I’d say it’s because it’s here now and they’re advising on how to prevent the spread so if you have it you have it but you’re told to self quarantine for 2 weeks. That’s my guess anyway
@Jeremiah A Craic: Flew home early from Boston through New York, last Wednesday, same thing, HSE had a stand handing out bloody leaflets but not a check to be seen… took it upon myself to self-isolate, called my employer to let them know and find out about any new protocols since I had left, was astounded to be told that if I wasn’t showing any signs of having the virus that I must return to work Monday morning.
Most Multinational companies couldn’t care less about the welfare of their employees. Their shareholders tucked up safely in their homes while they force the working class to keep working through a global pandemic… for nothing other than PROFIT. Putting the lives of 800 employees, their families and everyone associated at risk
@Jeremiah A Craic: Flew home early from Boston through New York, last Wednesday, same thing, HSE had a stand handing out bloody leaflets but not a check to be seen… took it upon myself to self-isolate, called my employer to let them know and find out about any new protocols since I had left, was astounded to be told that if I wasn’t showing any signs of having the virus that I must return to work Monday morning.
Most Multinational companies couldn’t care less about the welfare of their employees. Their shareholders tucked up safely in their homes while they force the working class to keep working through a global pandemic… for nothing other than PROFIT. Putting the lives of 800 employees, their families and everyone associated at risk.
@Richie Corrigan: ah but a lot of people take the piss re work . I’m sure if you are a trusted employee with a good sick record and highly thought of and you felt genuinely at risk or presented a risk to others your company would understand
@Delboy79: I have an exemplary record at work as I would say have 99% of the staff that I work with. Regardless of that you seem to be condoning that a multinational in this country has the right to risk employees health and lives and that of their families on the grounds that some people take the piss regarding work,,,it’s logic like that from people like you that scares me more than anything,,,go read a few books man instead of talking out of your hat here
I want to know is the Healy-reas pubs closed or is it just going on behind closed doors, after all they don’t think drink driving laws apply to them
@nelliekel: they are definitely closed. They wouldn’t do that as they are members of the Dail. Behind closed doors might be a different…..
@nelliekel: ring it and ask to speak to “Nellie Kel”. If they go looking, you know they’re open…
Can anyone explain why coffee shops are still opened. ? My local one was very busy and another cafe nero beside was opened too and a lot of people could socialise inside. Rules should be same for all.
@Georges Dessaint: what rules ?
@Georges Dessaint: two coffee shops at the square in Dundalk are still open. I assume this new legislation is going to force their closures soon. Hopefully. The amount of morons sitting at the window with their friends not a care in the world. That was Friday.
Name and shame
Hey we could do with a hand here in CUH to reposition COVID19 sufferers in their beds. Send in the clowns who are keeping their pubs open and their patrons. We will tog them out and keep them busy. After that you can jail them, fine them and take away their liquor licence
The longer this goes on the less I fear the virus, and the more I fear stupid people.
@Joey Roche: So true, how this all pans out depends on the behaviour of the boards of stupid out there.
@Niallman: *hoards
@Joey Roche: u should fear ur govt. they’re allowing borders open and all multinationals are operating as normal, employing thousands.
Who would someone report them to?
@David O’Rahilly: The Guards?
@Liam McDonald: local gaurds knowing its going on…def wudnt do anything about it.
@David O’Rahilly: probably some of them drinking there after hours
@Liam McDonald: The guards went to a pub in Newbridge last night and couldn’t do anything about it as it’s not illegal to open. Shame on the pub owners and the selfish greedy punters who went there.
@nelliekel: there should be a name and shame but could end up like advertising for the open pubs
@nelliekel: you got proof or just making up stories?
@SFAnkleTapper: are u trying to say that never happens???
I drove by Witherspoons in Carlow and it was open today
Just revoke their license and fine them per person in their premise. Fines go directly to the HSE.
Shut the country down!
These Publicans and clients are the new enemy of the State.
If they want a drink that badly well then go to the off licence
Anyone who is curious why this virus is happening and why future viruses are on the way and how we must act now to stop them,should read this article – its long but well worth a read https://www.thenation.com/article/environment/coronavirus-habitat-loss/
Name and shame its really unfortunately the only way so it can save lives
we can be a model for europe-BUT we must unite together! lets show Europe how a country can unit and deliver!!! The sooner we unite the sooner we get through this and get back to our lives
*if other countries are careless-another wave could be a possibility; but a united front will win again.
@MrJohne: we’re f_cked as there are too many stup_d people in this country, parents can’t even control themselves not to mention their kids
Is it the case that, like restaurants, if they’re ordered to close by the government then they can collect on insurance??
@Maureen O’Mahony: hahahahaha insurance pay out? I doubt it. They’ll cal it an act of god.
Hope the Dail bar remains closed.
Just remove their licence, less talk and more action otherwise why don’t they all just open again. Also would be good to name and shame, we’re either all in or not…
Shut them down now!!!
There was no directive to close the pubs, it was suggested they should close after the eejits in Temple Bar made a holy show of themselves. It is not currently illegal for a pub to be open
Proper order, they’re an absolute disgrace. My husband is a healthcare worker and they’re all exhausted and scared. For people to continue in this selfish manner is so upsetting and disrespectful. Not just to healthcare workers but to all the other heroes working in shops, delivering goods etc. Come on people we can do this!
I got tackled on here for calling for the off licenses to be closed.
Last night in my town, a large group of young men and women took it upon themselves to go camping in the local park, numbers in excess of 10. Doing damage to the park, sleeping on top of each other no doubt. Early hours of the morning our much needed Garda had to go out and deal with this. Not good enough.
If they want to go to ‘black market’ and get “risky” alcohol, let them play with fire. Refuse them free medical care. If we get as bad as Italy, we will not have the privilege of being worried about how safe the drink these people are getting from the back street. Time to priorities now.
Just withdraw their licence simple.
Pubs? What about multinationals that employ 1000+ and are doing overtime to stock up before employees get ill????
Just name and shame them in the name of God
Any pub caught open should be closed instantly. All the stick confiscated. Licence revoked. Licence holder fined €250,000 and given jail time. Any patrons caught on the premises should also be given massive fines and jail time. Set a precedence. This pandemic isn’t a joke. Also, those teenagers hanging around and clearly not giving a damn about it and hanging around causing trouble should also be heavily fined and locked up.
And the people flouting the advice are the very ones who’ll scream *police state* and rant about the unpreparedness of the nation. Bring back the stocks. They’re the ones endangering the others who are self isolating.
Can we please have a government to govern. You have emergency powers….use them. Close all non essential business. Enforce self isolation and allow the spread of this virus to slow down until we have antidote.
What we have now is half a**ed and is prolonging the misery for those in self isolation. Schools and colleges are ordered8 closed, not on holiday, so any students found socialising should be charged. Cafes, restaurants and pubs should be ordered to close with immediate effect. Elderly to self isolate.
No more -”pretty please” from Simon and Leo……… GOVERN
‘We could be closing them’. This warning is ineffective as everyone knows that the Irish state doesn’t do enforcement…except when it comes to misdemeanours, typically by those less well-off. I hope I’m wrong.
Emergency swallows.
It depends on the definition of “open”…our local is open but only as a food takeaway service in the evenings. We’re trying to support them even though we rarely eat out….it’s one thing we can actually do to help our “neighbours” in these really difficult times.
Take their licenses away from them
If the authorities don’t take action quickly someone will…
Why delay then?, do it
Pubs have their own laws. Close when they like when cash is flowing.
Name and shame the pubs? I hope legislation has been brought in to give them these powers – we don’t want the taxpayer sued by businesses, tribunal and more money wasted.
have your say