© 2018 Jon Halfhide CHAPTER 1 ‘In the past I have defended the right of the IRA to engage in armed struggle. I did so because there was no alternative for those who would not bend the knee, or turn a blind eye to oppression, or for those who wanted a national republic.’ Gerry Adams. Homemade terrorist bombs come in various shapes and sizes. Some are large, some small; some in carrier bags others in holdalls, boxes, crates and even envelopes. Some are very professional, others

On the 25th July 1943 Helmut Shultz went to work as usual at a cheese factory in his hometown of Hamburg. He was a pacifist, although he kept this to himself, and wanted nothing to do with Adolf Hitler or the war which raged around him. He was a hard-working and God-fearing man, happily married to beautiful Emilia for a little over two years and had two small children; smiley and angelic Sophia, the apple of his eye; the epitome daddy’s girl who would turn two the following w

Hanna is based upon my own wonderful mum who has sadly departed this life. So this is my tribute to a very special woman and a little touch of magic I will always harbour in my soul. Without wanting to sound hackneyed, it was a privilege and delight to have known her, albeit for too shorter time, a sweet memory I caress daily. My mother was a curious woman and I never really understood her. She could be quite chaotic yet so very organised, so very funny yet often so secretly