Irish Roulette
F X Priestmann
The Irish Courts rarely declare a miscarriage of justice
but that does not mean that miscarriages are rare.
Excerpt.
For the purposes of this story, we will just call him George. George was his actual first name, although people always knew him by his middle name, Bernard. That is the name by which he was known all his life. There was a time when it was a good name, but that good name was taken from him. It was taken from him when twelve people decided he was guilty of sexually assaulting an eleven-year-old boy. That boy was almost fourteen years of age when he first met George, but the three-year-gap held no importance to a jury of twelve that was judging a former priest accused of sexually assaulting a boy in a school.
In the words of the detective who oversaw the case, George had played a dangerous game of Russian roulette. He refused to admit guilt to crimes he had never committed. Why should he? Instead, he played the Irish version of Russian roulette, which is different from the original. In the Russian version, there is only one bullet in the chambers, but in the Irish version you have five bullets to contend with. It was a risk, but what other choice did he have? He either had to confess to things he had not done or face the one-in-twenty chance of an acquittal in an Irish criminal court. He took that chance and failed. A live round shattered his world and he found himself sentenced to four years for crimes he had never committed. He had never even heard of his accuser before he was accused.
This book is not an attempt to prove his innocence. A charge like that can never be disproved for everybody. His family and all his wide circle of friends stood by him and still do. These are his world, and the people in that world believe his innocence. That is all that really matters. But his story is far more complicated than that. What happened to him raised a lot of questions, and here is the full and frank revelation of how those questions arose. What follows is a story without any heroes, but it is a story that must be told.
*****
Irish Roulette is a full and frank account of George’s story – this book cannot reverse what happened to him but it will hopefully encourage potential jurors to make verdicts based on proper evidence. This book hopes to prevent others from sharing his fate.
(Paperback: 258pp)
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Suzanne Wilson –
I recently received a copy of Irish Roulette by F.X. Priestmann. The book presents the true account of a man who was falsely accused of a criminal offence and examines the profound impact the accusation had on his life and those around him.
Biographies and non-fiction works are not typically my preferred genre. However, having been asked to read this book and provide my opinion, I approached it with an open mind. In doing so, I discovered that it challenged my usual reading preferences—and ultimately broadened them.
The book centres on a former member of the clergy in Ireland during the latter decades of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first. After leaving the Church, he settled into a quiet life in rural Ireland. Many years later, however, he was contacted by An Garda Síochána and questioned in relation to allegations of abuse made by a younger man.
The author guides the reader carefully through each stage of the process, from the initial inquiries to the more formal interviews that followed. As is standard practice in such cases, the complainant’s allegations were taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. The book also raises important questions about how legal processes can be vulnerable to error when potentially exculpatory evidence is overlooked or insufficiently considered.
It is sobering and essential reading for anyone trying to understand the flaws in our legal system and yet appreciate the unbreakable power of the human spirit to survive and fight the system. It becomes clear how poor legal representation can affect your case and the now normal bias against the clergy within this country than can so easily railroad an innocent person.
The author was ultimately brought to trial and convicted on the evidence presented. However, he argues that significant evidence which may have supported his innocence was disregarded. The result is a compelling and thought-provoking account that highlights the potential shortcomings of the justice system while also demonstrating the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
What emerges is not a story driven by bitterness or resentment. Rather, the author recounts his experiences with remarkable clarity and restraint, describing both the devastation of the allegations and his determination to persevere. His eventual success in overturning his conviction on appeal forms a powerful part of the narrative, but equally compelling is his ability to forgive, rebuild his life, and move forward with dignity.
In the end, the book is surprisingly uplifting. It is a testament to the capacity for forgiveness, personal resilience, and the determination to find meaning after profound hardship. While this would not ordinarily be my preferred genre, I found parts of the book challenging to read—not because of the writing itself, but because it presents the full human story behind events that might otherwise be reduced to a brief news headline and quickly forgotten.
The book left me with mixed emotions: sadness for all those affected by the allegations and the consequences that followed, but also hope. Above all, it serves as a reminder of the remarkable ability of individuals to endure, recover, and continue with their lives despite extraordinary adversity.
Dr. Andrew Hynes –
I found this book brilliant, extremely well written, informative and shocking to believe. Priestmann’s experience is a real stain on our country, and the injustice and indecency he was subjected to is a travesty in itself and remains a lesson for us all that live in this Republic.
This book would excellent for secondary school students in particular as it is educational and thought provoking in a number of domains including the court system and jurisprudence, religion, morality and the penal system. Highly highly recommended.
Barry Courtney –
I received a pre-publication copy of this book and I found it a harrowing and at times upsetting read. Priestmann gives a thoughtful and positive insight into what he considers to be the reasons why so many people do not trust the law in Ireland. The story is wel told and I suppose the term “a real page turner” came to mind as I read it. Sadly, the final section (about 8 pages) is in Irish and I did not understand it.