It was the 15th of June 1984 James O’Brien and his wife Maggie had just collected the keys for their Council house in Clapham London SW12. It had been a long wait on the Council List but they had finally amassed enough points to get a Council House. A good size house with a garden and down the road there was a park. The O’Brien’s and their four children were delighted. James had so many plans of what to do with all that extra space Maggie was working out where the children were going to sleep and in a few years time, they could buy their house off the Council

They could move in on July 1st .The children would soon have to say goodbye to all their old friends and make some new ones at the new school. This was a new beginning for the whole family. James had left school in Dublin with just his Leaving Certificate but at the age of twenty he began studying at nights to take some exams in accountancy, he became a Certified Accounting Technician. This didn’t mean that he was an accountant but this new qualification gave him a chance to work in an office

In Ireland all the best men worked in offices. James applied for and got a job at The Young’s Rams Brewery in Wandsworth he was employed as a book keeper/stock controller/warehouseman. James was going to have to wear many hats for this new job but he was looking forward to the challenge, the wages and the overtime. Maggie got a job at Arding and Hobbs part time assistant manager of the Women’s shoe section

Their lives were going to be grand. They moved in on Sunday the 1st furniture and boxes all delivered or taken by car and van. The front and back gardens were full of all their worldly goods. The children were running up and down the stairs delivering each box to its designated room. Maggie had labeled everything James’s and his mates helped to reassemble the furniture only stopping for the occasional beer and a cigarette. James and Maggie were delighted to receive a house moving gift from their friends, a sack filled with seed of all different kinds and eight bags of fertiliser.

By nightfall all the important things were in place. The kitchen was ready and all the rooms could be occupied. Tomorrow was a big day for the children, it was their first day at the Bishop Thomas Grant School in Streatham Maggie would drop them off for the first two weeks and then the four of them would take the 57 bus almost door to door. The oldest two were use to traveling by bus and they would look after the youngest two, which had always been the Irish way.

The house was livable and everybody was tired. All the other boxes could wait until tomorrow or the days after. Next week the local priest was going to stop by and bless their new home but tonight they were all going to celebrate not a big celebration just some food, beer and a thank you to everyone who helped tomorrow was after all a school day

The beer flowed and the Irish stew went down a treat, the music was playing, not too loud but just enough volume to sing along with; James loved his Tom Jones. At 10 the music had died down and the drink was reduced to a trickle the children were in bed and the friends were on their way out the door. It’s not in a working class mans nature not to leave glass half full so every glass was emptied. There was one poor thirsty man who had been picked as the designated driver his jacket and shoes were already on

There were neighbours to both sides and three houses adjacent. The curtains in all 5 homes twitched throughout the day. To the left of the O’Brien’s there were a middle-aged couple with a trimly molded hedge and a fine beautiful front lawn their back garden was also immaculate. Everybody in this area was blessed to have a front and back garden. These houses were built in the Good old days when South West London land was not at such a high premium.

To the O’Brien’s right there was an, obvious, right to buy, owner with stone cladding, iron railings and a closed gate. The houses over the road were not terribly remarkable but they were well kept and newly painted. The O’Brien’s neighbours however were not happy about having A Paddy Family move next door. These were dangerous times there were IRA terrorist cells popping up all over London. This country was at war or at least on a war footing Mr. On the left and Mr. On the right well remembered the war and the warnings they received about German Fifth Columnists.

This situation was no different, everyone had to be alert. The thought of Irish parties with lots of loud singing and dancing did also cross their minds, not to mention travelers and broken down cars waiting to be repaired and sold on taking up their outside parking places. This would not do!

Early Monday morning Mr. On the left was surprised to hear the trill of his new BT phone filling the kitchen and disturbing his prized tea and toast morning ritual

” Hello”

“Hello it’s me”

“Hello? Why are you ringing me and why now? You only live two doors down.”

“I know but I didn’t want the new Paddy Family to see me come over so soon after they’d moved in they’d be suspicious. What are we going to do about them? Nobody from the council consulted me about our new neighbours. We don’t need their sort around here”

“Why should Lambeth Council bother to consult you about the allocation of housing? And what can we do about it?”

Mr. On the right replied conspiratorially

“We can rid of them I think that having a Paddy family in the areas will affect the values of our homes. There’s the mess they make and the noise. Once one Irish family moves in they will be followed by more Irish families. Those that do work and there are not that many, have low paid manual jobs they are not educated as well as us. Your average Paddy family will never have enough money to buy their own home. We will be home owners trying to sell our homes situated within an Irish run council estate. Is that what you want? I don’t! When I retire I want to sell my house and use the profits to buy a house on Hayling Island. Do you really want to live with these people? Do you think your property will be safe when a bunch of micks move into the area. Call your nephew get the police involved there’s always a chance that they are terrorists.”

“You’re right ”

replied Mr. On the left

“I’ll phone my nephew today”

That evening the newly installed door bell chimed for the first time at The O’Brien’s new home. James opened the door smiling it was the first time he had answered the front door of their new home. Standing outside were two police officers Constable A and Constable B. James still with a smiling face spoke the Constables

” Hello Constables what can I do for you?”

“Can I have your name please sir ?”

Asked Constable A

” It’s Mr. James O’Brien”

He answered tentatively´

” Is there a problem?”

It was now Constable B’s turn to talk

“We’ll ask the questions Jimmy we’ve had a call about you moving in and we just wanted to pop by and check things were ok “

“My name isn’t Jimmy. It’s Mr. O’Brien to you! Check what out? “

Constable B replied caustically

“There’s no need to get shirty Paddy. We’re just doing our job. Now if you’ll just let us in,  we’ll have a quick look around and be on our way”

“No I don’t think I will let you into my home! We’re having our tea. Come back tomorrow with a warrant if you can get one”

Constable A took one step forward and James instinctively raised his arm to prevent him. In this act of defiance he touched Constable A’s shoulder

Constable B looked sternly at James and said without a hint of irony

“I must caution you that you’ve just assaulted a Police officer in pursuit of his normal duties therefore I am arresting you on suspicion of assault and you do not have to say anything; but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Please put your hands behind your back and face the wall, first warning”

James Protested

“But I didn’t do anything”

“Second warning please turn around”

“This is absurd you can’t arrest me for this I only put my arm up”

“Third warning! You have now received and ignored three direct instructions from a serving police officer I am now further charging you with resisting arrest you do not have to say anything; but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence”

When Constable B had finished his caution Constable A forced James to face the wall and hand cuffed him. The whole incident began and was over in less than 90 seconds. Maggie came to the front door to find out what was going on the children stood a little way behind her.

She screamed

“What’s going on? What are you doing to my husband?”

“Calm down love we’ll sort it out at the station just go back into the house and watch the  kids”

Replied Constable B

Part two

By this time Constable A was on his radio talking to the station, Five minutes later there stood a police van with a dog unit outside their home. A dozen officers entered their home and searched every nook and cranny of the house. A box of books was taken away and the eight bags of fertiliser

James sat handcuffed in the back of the car staring helplessly at his distraught wife and his four traumatised children. A police officer climbed into the front of the car and started the engine.

James asked

“Where are we going? I can’t leave my family like this”

“You’ve got no choice Paddy. I’m taking you to the station to get charged. You’re a very naughty boy and we don’t like naughty boys down at the station, we spank them! “

replied smiling the officer

Under The Prevention of Terrorism act the police were allowed to hold James for up to 7 days without trial. There were no visitors allowed just the one phone call, he called Maggie and told her not to worry. It was all a big mistake, he would soon be released. On the fourth day James was up before The Magistrate, the Duty Solicitor told him to plead guilty of all charges and that would be the end of the matter James Protested

“Guilty Of What?”

“Just do as I direct you and you’ll be home for your dinner I’ve got this sorted”

Replied the very young solicitor

James insisted that he wasn’t going to plead guilty to any charges He had his reputation to protect; he could never get a job of any worth with a criminal record. He was going to plead not-guilty

The Magistrates trial began James and his solicitor was not made fully aware of the case being brought against him. The Solicitor was sent the full brief but he hadn’t bothered to read it. The full charges were Assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and conspiracy to terrorism. The Barrister for The CPS laid out the case for the prosecution

” Your Honour Mr. O’Brien is known to the Royal Ulster Constabulary after his arrest in Belfast in 1975 under The Prevention of Terrorism Act. Bomb making chemicals were discovered at the O’Brien residence as well as Irish Republican literature, The Crown therefore asks The Bench to grant us leave to detain the accused Mr. O’Brien for a minimum of three months in order to give The Crown sufficient time to gather more evidence to make a solid viable case against Mr. O’Brien.”

The request was granted and the case was passed on to The Crown Court. The Crown Prosecution Service was given three months to prepare its case. This meant that James would be held on Remand at Wormwood Scrubs for three months Maggie cried and cried out from the Gallery. This wasn’t justice, James was meant to start work at The Brewery in two weeks this meant that he would lose his job. Maggie couldn’t cope with all the bills on just her wages and what was she going to tell the children, they believed as she did that this was all just a mistake, a misunderstanding, Mr. James O’Brien was not a terrorist.

Mr. On the right and Mr. On the left felt vindicated. They were right all along you can’t trust the Irish they didn’t lift a finger during World War two and there was no smoke without fire. Everyone had seen the police car and the van; they had seen items being brought out of the house. Mr. On the right phoned The Mercury and told them his story about an IRA bomb factory being raided. He told the reporter on the phone that he didn’t like the look of his new neighbour and he had been right all along. James O’Brien had been arrested on terrorism charges and was on remand at Wormwood Scrubs. That same evening after a headline in The Evening Standard there was a pack of reporters outside the O’Brien’s home all trying to get in or take a photo. The television companies were going to wait for the trial. There was however one camera but no reporter

The children and Maggie had to fight their way through the dwindling group of reporters the next morning to get to her car. The children couldn’t take the bus because they would never have made it to the bus stop. When they arrived at the school they were greeted by the head master. He considered it to be a prudent to exclude the children until after the trial for their own safety. The head master had spoken to the council and arrangements were being made as they spoke for home tutoring. What was Maggie to do? She couldn’t take four children to work. The oldest were fourteen and fifteen respectively so they could be left alone with the little ones for a few hours while she was t work. Life had to go on they couldn’t just stop everything over a stupid misunderstanding.

Maggie dropped the children back home and phoned the shop to explain what was happening and that she would be soon coming in. Maggie’s instructions to the children were clear

“Don’t answer the phone and don’t answer the door I’ll be back soon”`

After several “No Comments” Maggie got to her car and drove to work. Maggie was greeted on her entry through the staff entrance by the store manager. He handed her an envelope enclosed was a wage slip. Maggie had been given three months wages in lieu of redundancy Maggie was informed that due to a new staff reduction policy her job as assistant manager no longer existed. If another suitable vacancy at the Store became available then they would of course contact her. In the meantime she could come in and clear out her locker. The manager thanked Maggie for offering her services to Arding and Hobbs and wished her good luck in her search for future employment. Maggie thanked the manager and did his biding. She calmly left the store and went to the car park

Once inside her car Maggie broke down and wept. She wept tears of anger, sorrow, pain, frustration and helplessness. The tears kept flowing down her face and every time she thought that there were no more tears left to fall she would cry again After what seemed like an age Maggie managed to compose herself enough to drove home she still had responsibilities she was still a mother and a wife the children and James needed her and they needed her to be strong.

Amnesty International London jumped at the chance to take the case of the wrongfully imprisoned James O’Brien. Their representative in London was more than happy to look into the case however the press coverage and national prominence seemed to interest him more. He contacted Maggie repeatedly not to talk about the case but to arrange television and radio interviews. Maggie didn’t want coverage she wanted her family to get on with their lives in peace. All Maggie wanted was for James to get out of prison and start work. She didn’t care about the plight of the world or injustices in other countries. The O’Brien’s wanted their lives back they were good hard working people and this should not have happened to them. Amnesty International soon lost interest. They carried on with the case but with a lot less vigour

James was on remand,  which meant that he could wear his own clothes he still had some privileges. He was put in A wing because he wasn’t guilty of or had been convicted of any crime. James was detained once before in Northern Ireland, It was been in 1975 he and his brother were in Belfast to see a football match It was a FIFA friendly Northern Ireland verses Ireland

After the match they were both rounded up with several other supporters. They were released after five days once their credentials were verified. This was prison stay was different, this was Wormwood Scrubs. A prison, they had his credentials and they still weren’t going to let him go. After two months there was a case review The CPS decided that there was no case to answer. All the charges were dropped and the two police officers who started this fiasco were disciplined.

There was no apology given to James no story in the news about abuse of process or the intimidation James and his family had suffered  he was simply released and allowed to return home to his fine house in Clapham.

The words “Murdering Irish Bastards” were scrawled in red paint over the facade of the house, windows had been broken and boarded up. The council had sent a notice to quit due to unpaid rent and Maggie was pleased to see him but she like the children scared and traumatized. Every time Maggie left the house to go to the shops she was spat at or insulted. The children wouldn’t leave the house; the local kids would chase them down the road swearing at them calling them names. If they were caught then it was even worse. James contacted the Council and gained more time to find the money to pay the rent. He had to sign on, his job at the brewery was gone and nobody was going to hire a suspected terrorist even if he was innocent. In the eyes of everyone in the area he wasn’t innocent he just wasn’t proved guilty

The children were allowed to go back to school but soon they wanted to leave, they were bullied every day and every nasty incident seemed to go unpunished or unseen by the staff. James got a job in Kilburn with an Irish building firm. He was employed as a part time laborer and part time wages and office clerk. The pay wasn’t good but there was plenty of overtime. A local councilor in Lambeth got in touch with Brent council and the O’Brien’s through the help of this Councilor and the Council managed to arrange a house swop in Kilburn with a Bangladeshi couple who also had four children.

North London was also a good area Mrs. T lived there The Borough of Brent had parks and some good schools Maggie got a job at an Old People’s Home as a cleaner. James did eventually buy his house from the council. It took a bit longer then he has planned but they got there. Maggie and he still live there, the children have all moved out but they come around now and then with the grand children. James has a plan, that one day, they’ll go back to Ireland, to live out the rest of their days.That is when he can afford it

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