??/02/08 - BERNARD O' MAHONEY

Anybody who likes a good geezer book will be familiar with Bernard O Mahoney. After getting in touch on My Space I thought I'd chance me arm for an interview. I did wonder if it'd just be one line answers or whether he'd reply at all, but he was prompt, approachable and thorough in his answers.

I take it "So This Is Ecstasy" was your first book? How did it come about and had you done any writing before that?

I have led a pretty nomadic life, leaving home at 16, serving in the Army, being on the run in South Africa, imprisoned in various jails, so writing letters, putting my thoughts down on paper etc....has always been a part of me. When Leah Betts father Paul went on TV and claimed I was responsible for his daughter's death, I sought a right to reply via the press but Betts at that time had been given Saint status and none of them would publish my criticism of him. Somebody suggested that the only way I would get my version of events across would be if I wrote a book, hence, So This Is Ecstasy? was born.

There was a lot of controversy surrounding the cover in particular and it was eventually updated and repackaged as Essex Boys. Tell us about the media hysteria surrounding that do you think their attempts at demonising you actually helped (free publicity!)?

Again it was Paul Betts banging on about me 'cashing in on my crimes.' Nobody ever did happen to mention exactly what those crimes were in relation to Leah. It was a pretty ridiculous statement to make because Essex police made a statement outside the Court where those alleged to have supplied Leah where on trial which included a passage about not one shred of evidence linking me to the supply of drugs that claimed Leah's life had been found. It's also worth remembering I gave evidence for the Crown at this trial so they clearly didn't believe I had any involvement. Paul Betts was out to get publicity for his just say no campaign, simple as that. I am disappointed he isn't so vocal about the victims of paedophiles these days, particularly knowing his own son William was recently imprisoned for sex attacks on young girls in Scotland.

"Hateland" (one of the best books I've ever read!) tells the story of your days in the far right. before denouncing it and helping the News Of The World expose a Klan meeting and even helping to convict nail bomber David Copeland. Have vou had any comebacks / threats etc?

(Laughs) The Grand Kleagle, (apparently he is their boss) threatened me in their ridiculous magazine "BKKK" (British Knights of the Klu Klux Klan) and posted my photograph on the front cover. I rang him at home and mentioned the fact that I may pop around to see him. The next thing I knew he had reported me to the police for threatening him and his family. I was really surprised to be honest, not because a white knight warrior had rang the police, but by the fact such a pathetic excuse for a man had managed to produce a family.

Have you had any 'special attention' from the old bill. and any views on The Proceeds of Crime Act {they told us it was to hammer drug dealers, yet in reality it's used on anybody from, cigarette smugglers to blokes flogging DVDs on boot sales) ?

My relationship with the police remains at best, dire. The 'Proceeds of Crime Act' does not affect me in any way. Everything I own has been earned legitimately, (house in London, house in Lincs, house in Birmingham and that's it) It's a widely believed myth that I was ever a drug dealer. I controlled the club door/security that permitted the sale of drugs in clubs. Tucker, Tate, Rolfe never stood on the door, they imported, sold drugs, that's why Betts blames me for Leah's death. 'If he hadn't have turned a blind eye my daughters friends wouldn't have been able to buy the drugs that killed her. Fair enough to a point I suppose.

However, if the police/magistrates did not issue licences to clubs who produce smiley face flyers promoting rave music, didn't insist on St Johns ambulance staff aren't present in a club, drinking water etc....I wouldn't have had a job. More importantly, if Leah hadn't have chosen to take the pill in her Dads house (which is 20 miles from the club) she would still be alive. It's a crap argument. Would the bar maid be to blame if she had sold Leah 10 pints of lager and she had died drink driving?

Do you fear for civil liberties in general in this country? What do vou think of the plan to remand people without trial for up to 90 days, and so on...?

Blair brought about 2000 new laws during his time in office; the country now resembles Moscow during the cold war. It's a fucking joke. Little wonder we are building more prisons than hospitals.

Do you still listen to any punk or Oi?

I used to love punk. I saw the Pistols play at the Lafayette in Wolverhampton. They were banned from playing at the time and toured under the pseudonym of the SPOTS. (Sex Pistols On Tour) I was about 16-17. They were supposed to play on the Friday night but Rotten cancelled claiming he had throat problems. I think they played on the Monday night. Rotten came on stage and said he had cancelled because he didn't fancy playing to a load of northern wankers lol. At the end of the concert Vicious was at the bar drinking lager. This kid I was at school with named Roy Hallam walked up to him and said 'can you sign this beer mat Sid Vicious looked at him dead pan, said 'fuck off and spat his beer all over Roy before turning back towards the bar. I thought it was really funny. Also saw the Banshees, the Clash, earls Blondie. Undertones, Rezillos, The Jam etc....a great era in music. Better than the shite they manufacture these days. What the fuck is the mockney/cockney Lily Allen shite about lol (and her dad is so talented too - what a waste! - ED)

How did vou hook up with Lew Yates for the new book? Does this mark a change from writing to editing, and are there any authors you would refuse to work with?

Lew's son Billy got in touch with me via e-mail and asked if I would consider writing his Dads story. I met up with Lew and agreed to do it. I would write/work with anybody to be honest. I think most true crime books missed the point totally. Pages and pages of crap about "I'm hard" become monotonous. I think the real interesting part of a story is the man and his emotions. Everyone knows Peter Sutcliffe murdered 13 women, Ian Huntley murdered the girls in Soham and the Krays were gangsters, but no book really gives a true insight into them as people, nobody has bothered to ask them their thoughts, their highs and lows in life. Roy Shaw, Carlton Leach, Lenny McLean (deceased) all had books out that I would like to have written because I think their current biographies are at best shit.

Have you seen "Rise of the Foot Soldier" and if so. what did you think of it?

I cannot believe for one moment that anybody will take Carlton Leach's 'life story as told in Rise of the Footsoldier' serious. He did not feature whatsoever in the Rettendon murder enquiry for the simple fact he knew nothing and had NO INVOLVEMENT WHATSOEVER IN EVENTS THAT LED UP TO IT. His claim to fame is that he sometimes socialised with Tony Tucker. To pretend he was the leader of the Essex Boys firm and he is now 'the last man standing' (as he states) is a joke. Unfortunately, it isn't a humorous joke; on the contrary it's sick. Michael Steele and Jack Whomes, two innocent men serving life sentences are footing Leach's bill because the facts are being distorted and made up to portray Leach in some sort of gangster hero light. John Whomes and I spoke to those making the film and they did say the film would feature three separate endings and in no way would it harm Steele and Whomes' case.

I was asked to go to Epping Forest in the middle of the night to do an interview putting the case of the two convicted men for inclusion on the DVD of the film. John and I were also promised tickets for the premier of the film where we hoped to highlight the innocence of both men. After my visit to Epping Forest I knew how Tucker Tate and Rolfe must have felt when they were lured to a remote area in the middle of the night and were shot by a Judas figure. After turning up in the woods to assist these people, plugging their movie on my website etc...They snubbed John and I and even refused us tickets for the premier. From the reviews I have read, Leach will be hard pushed to pick up his thirty pieces of silver. I am delighted for Steele, Whomes and their families over the Criminal Cases Review decision to look again at the case. Steele's Solicitor Chris Bowen and others representing the men have kept their word that they will continue the fight until they are free. I hope and pray for everyone concerned that they won't have to fight much longer.

You recently visited Italy to talk to an agent who represents all kinds of people including Hoogstraaten etc. Did anything come of that meeting? Any future plans?

He isn't an agent; he is the renowned legal brain/ solicitor Giovanni de Steffano whose client list worldwide is pretty impressive. Mr De Steffano represented Saddam Hussein. Molosovic, Brady, Hindley, Kenneth Noye, Hoogstraaten, John Palmer to name but a few. We have talked about writing a series of books together which would put across the defence of various people. Too often we accept the prosecutions version of events, rarely are they accurate. I think people would find it interesting to read how say, Hindley saw herself and her crimes. We have only talked so far but there is huge interest in the project from more than one publisher.

Here's just a couple of the books Bernard has produced - he's also done 4 touching on the subject of Essex Boys which cover similar ground and all of those are good reads...

BERNARD O'MAHONEY - "HATELAND" (Mainstream)

I reviewed this ages ago, so briefly, a gripping read full of tales from Bernard's days within the far right. Nothing is glossed over or edited out, and despite the dark subject matter there's still plenty of humour - particularly the Nazi on the bus showing off with a knife and stabbing HIMSELF in the process - or the time Bernard's brother was moved out of his flat for two weeks whilst the council refurbished it and hippies squatted the place; Bernard's crew broke in & threw all the hippies' possessions out of the window including the telly - only to later find Bernard's brother hadn't moved his stuff out yet! All kinds of fascinating stuff from security scams in South Africa, KKK infiltrations and gathering evidence against David Copeland. An all time classic.

BERNARD O'MAHONEY with MICK McGOVERN - "SOLDIER OF THE QUEEN" (Brandon)

I've always been baffled why anyone would choose a career that revolved around being shouted at, punched, kicked and psychologically abused by some sadistic toff, and this book confirms that tenfold (although Bernard didn't really choose the career itself) (buy the book). But even cynical old me didn't realise the army transported its soldiers in dark claustrophobic trucks like pieces of meat (or Al Queda suspects!). Even the military hospital does not provide sanctuary as his nads were stabbed & prodded without anaesthetic or explanation, and only after 6 months was he finally told it was cos he had testicular cancer! Only when Bernard finishes his training does the daily intimidation cease, and by then he is (despite being Irish) posted to the frontline in Ireland, sleeping in soaking wet sleeping bags, suffering from the Nobby Stiles, stopping and searching Catholics and searching their houses - bang in the middle of the IRA hunger strikes (and I thought working at Asda was bad!). There's mortar attacks, bombs under bridges ...and each atrocity winds up the loyalist sympathisers that Bernard has to work with even more (remember he's Irish!). There's even a bit light hearted "fun" from the helicopter pilots (hovering low to blow Catholics' washing off their line and capsize their boats in the pond - talk about doing the IRA's recruiting for em!)... And just in case you think there's a happy ending, Bernard loses his bird and record collection at the hands of her Ian Paisley worshipping parents!

LEW YATES & BERNARD O'MAHONEY- Wild Thing (www.mainstreampublishing.com)
ISBN 978-1-84596-269-2.

Lew Yates is a Liverpool boxer whose career fluctuates between that and door work, his temper often getting the better of him. Everything you could want from a geezer book - crafty scams (example ; dodgy scouser supplies Lew with faulty motor, Lew nicks dodgy tax disc from scrap yard, coppers spot it, Lew denies all knowledge, coppers find the scouser has previous, and nick him for it!) and every arsehole on the manor getting a pasting in graphic detail. Bernard O'Mahoney has had plenty of experience writing his own books, and this shows as Lew's tale is told in a humorous no-nonsense way, like the time coppers set dogs onto Lew, unaware he'd kept dogs all his life, so instead of savaging him they ended up playing with him! Lew is a man who quite simply could not give a fuck. Imagine going up to Roy Shaw's table at a restaurant and taunting him about chickening out of a fight, for example. Or, even after being hit over the head from behind with a metal bar, having the composure to grab his assailant, smash his head off the pavement and gouge his eye out. It's not Mills & Boon! Fair enough, you've probably read a dozen books about either boxing or working on the doors, but this is so much more than that. An excellent read with not a dull moment from start to finish.