Simon and the IRA.

An Everyday Warrior: a true and disturbing story.

Simon and the IRA. Some of you will know about Simon’s turbulent relationship with his father, Peter, and it largely stemmed from the man’s dishonesty and how he always seemed to put Simon in the firing line.

In the early 2000s, Simon received a phone call that changed how he looked at his father, his life and his training.

Peter had taken £60,000 from members of the notorious IRA and failed to pay it back. In his true fashion, when they looked for a return of their money, he went into hiding, which left Simon to deal with the issues.

Simon was told if he didn’t pay the money his father owed, he would be kidnapped, taken to Ireland, recorded whilst being tortured (to play to his wife and children) and then murdered. His remains were to be scattered in the hills of Dublin where he would never be found.

Once this was done, should the debt remain unpaid, they would do the same to his wife Julie and their children.

They had already provided evidence that they had followed Simon’s family for weeks prior to the call and told him some very sensitive information.

Simon’s children, at the time this happened, were just six and three years of age. Family down to the core, Simon and Julie found the money, and he resolved the issue, but the matter took its toll. Simon’s relationship with his father would be forever fractured.

You can read more about this, and other heart-stopping events in Simon’s book, An Everyday Warrior. It is available in paperback and e-book here