CHAPTER TEN
NORTHERN IRELAND
The authorities had received urgent reports that an official pre-arranged political march that was on the move along a designated route was becoming a little rowdy.
The Military and Police had the luxury of hindsight, of many earlier marches that had become out of control. Their usual tactic was to try and defuse the situation as soon as possible, while it was still thought to be controllable. Their aim being to show a security presents in the area before it deteriorated further. It was common knowledge that anything religious in that area was usually a recipe for escalation, and could possibly and usually did lead to a disastrous outcome.
With this in mind the Royal Marine duty officer at the military barracks ordered Chris’s section to the western suburbs of the city.
The section consisted of twelve members who were seated in two six man rows facing each other inside of an armour vehicle as it sped across the city heading for the area requesting help. A manoeuvre they had practiced and carried out many times in the past.
While on active service Chris never used first names when he spoke to his men. He had come up with the idea of using numbers. It being the number of the position each member always formed up in, while patrolling with the section. He had even issued a small pin badge with the relevant number to each member. It was then attached to their uniform just above their left hand side breast pocket. In this way it was hoped that the locals did not discover the names of his men. Hoping it would protect their families if retribution were ever planned against them. The section spent all of their time together, so each knew the numbers of their friends off by heart. The pin badge was to help others who might want to identify or talk to them.
Not wanting to unload his section close to the march, the vehicle arrived in a neighbouring street of terraced houses. Its two heavy back doors opened automatically and without warning, as the vehicle slowed down to a slow walking pace. The personnel then alighted from the vehicle in two's, and made their way to the left hand side of the road forming a single file, leaving a gap of around four meters between each Marine.
The same procedure was taking place from the other Armour vehicle that had been following them. Disgorging its cargo to the right hand side of the road. Each section then took up a very slow walking pace after taking up a defensive moving position. With their eyes and riffles looking at a well-drilled arc of vision, that they had been trained to do. Many believing that they had been brain washed to a point where it became second nature and executed by instinct. Both sections had a tail end Charlie whose job it was to cover the backs of their respected sections, keeping a close watch behind them at all times.
There were now two patrols paralleled with each other, both making their way along the road hugging the terraced housing fronts towards the reported troubled march.
As well as their pre-determined arcs of watch and fire, they were also watching above the heads of the other section on the opposite side of the road, especially the up stair bedroom windows. All of them had been well trained in this style of riot duty over a long period of time, meaning that very few questions needed to be asked or answered, as the section slowly made its way along the street.
Their aim was to try and keep the march as peaceful as possible. Although if it became violent their orders where to try and clear the area, by forcing the people from the streets. The good news so far was that nobody had reported weapons being seen in the area. Although it was common knowledge that the military usually expect it, especially if the marches got out of hand and the people would not disperse. Although by now the noise of the crowd could be heard and seemed to be about a couple of streets away. Leaving them to keep their approach as silent as possible. Something Chris always described as searching for the enemy on his terms, while not attracting them towards him unknowingly.
The first obstacle they faced was a crossroad. Knowing that the parade noise was coming from their left, both sections knew they would have to turn to the left. In doing so they executed another manoeuvre that they had been trained for. As the right hand side could now see around the corner from across the road, they took up a kneeling static position pointing their guns across the corner.
Six guys from the left hand side section rounded the corner and took up a static kneeling defensive position, and once secure. The section on the right hand side of the road was given a signal of all clear. Once both section leaders where happy with the new formation they signalled each other and then continued to move up the road towards the noise that by now seemed to be coming from what looked like the next crossroad a few hundred meters further up the road.
Both sections had a wireless operator in its ranks and both sent a message back to base of their change in direction and of the area they were now heading, adding that so far they had not met any resistance or made contact with the march.
The movement of the sections as they advanced up the road was very quiet and unusual. Normally they would be pursued by the local children calling out abuse, and in some incidents throwing stones at them. Suddenly the silence was broken by the sound of breaking glass coming somewhere above and in the middle of the left hand side section.
A gloved hand had been thrust through one of the bedroom windows above. The hand then dropped an object that landed on the fourth man’s left shoulder before falling to the ground. Being directly behind him Chris witnessed what had happened. Without hesitation he automatically shouted out "Grenade" and both sections dropped to the ground trying to lie as flat as possible. The word Grenade did not need further explanation of what they were required to do next, to hopefully protect them from the expected explosion. All they could do was to make their profile as flat as possible on the ground, and to hold their breath. As the suppositious ones might have crossed their fingers and offered a prayer. All had heard the breaking glass and had a little idea as to where the explosion was going to come from.
After taking to the ground, it was only then that Chris realised that number Four who was in front of him had not dropped to the ground like the rest of the section, but had started running up the road in the direction they were heading. Chris could not help thinking that he was going to run into further trouble if he did not stop and take cover, as the area had not been checked and made safe.
Suddenly there was a very loud explosion, and shrapnel could be heard flying through the air. Followed by pavement debris and glass, that by now was landing on members of the section close to the explosion. Nobody in the section was protected by what could be classed as cover. By just lying flat there was a good chance that some of the explosion would have gone upwards. The other reason for staying where you were, meant that you knew the area they had just covered, believing it to be safe. To run further ahead you were moving into unknown territory, where there could be further problems. However, the main reason was the time factor. As with most hand grenades the fuse was only five seconds long. It was best to use those five seconds wisely and to make your body into the flattest profile possible. The only bad and unknown point was how the grenade landed, as the base plate would shoot along the ground in the direction it was pointing. Anybody in its line of fire would more than likely be very unlucky taking a direct hit to whatever side of his body was exposed to the grenade.
Once most of the debris had landed Chris looked up to see that the number Four who had run, disappearing around a corner to his left. Chris’s first thought was that at least he had not been injured, but he had panicked and was now in an unknown, un-cleared, possibly hostile territory, and could be in further danger.
Chris called out to both sections to stay where they were, and asked if there had been any causality's. It was only then that he realised that number Three was moaning and it was obvious that he was in pain. Chris got up and made his way towards him as the other members of the section took up their original defences positions.
The blood on the path around him told its own story, he had definitely taken a hit of some description. Al
though it was amazing that he was the only one that had taken an injury. Most service personnel carry a first field dressing (bandage). Chris’s was taped to his riffle stock near where his head would normally lean against the wooden stock. He wasted no time in removing it, taking it out of its wrapping, to fluff it up and push the wad into the hole he had discover in the left side of number Three's waist area. He was hoping that this action would help stop the bleeding, while they radioed for help and an ambulance to evacuate him as quick as possible.
It was bad luck that he had dropped in a position pointing from the house to the road. While all the others had dropped to the ground pointing the way ahead. In this way they presented a much smaller body area to the grenade. In doing so blast would have only struck their legs or feet, and not the vital organs in their body.
Six, Seven and Eight kicked their way into the front door of the house and under took what's known as house clearing. Although very cautious they realised that the bomber they were looking for would have been long gone. Probable out of the back of the house as the grenade went off. The houses usually had another street running parallel along the backs of the houses small gardens, making it very easy to gain entry to the lane and into any one of fifty other houses in that area.
He doubted that the owners of the house had been involved as they would be the first suspects, and if they had not agreed to let the bomber in, at a later date they would have been on somebody’s hit list for execution. The so-called terrorists rule by fear that had taken place over many years. Most of the locals kept their mouths shut on what was going on around them. However, when it came to the terrorist most had to do as they were told. After all they had to live in the area, as there was nowhere else to go.
For a split second Chris had forgotten about number Four, who by now was long gone and out of sight. He then proceeded to ordered One and Two too stay where they were, guarding their front line and the wounded number Three, then ordered Nine and Ten too follow him, and they made their way up to the corner in which Four had disappeared, leaving Eleven and Twelve too guard the rear end of the section. Not knowing where Four was or of his condition, it was imperative that they found him as quickly as possible, before he found himself in more trouble than he was already in. The news got worse as Chris realised that he was the new guy on the block as they say. He had joined the company straight from receiving his Green Beret at Lympstone only a couple of months earlier.
Which brought to mind of an incident a few weeks earlier when two British Army personnel who were on a spot of leave and wearing civilian cloth’s, had mistakenly drove their car around a corner and found themselves in the middle of a funeral possession. That was slowly making its way to the local church. Even though they tried to apologise loudly through the car windows. They were dragged out of the car and beaten to death by the crowd. Sadly, they had only been in Northern Ireland a few weeks and did not know the area they were driving around. The incident had taught the British many lessons of how to patrol the streets, something they did on a daily basis.
Within a few seconds Chris and his team turned the corner where Four was last seen, to be confronted by him on the ground slumped up against a wall, looking as though he had been knocked out.
They made their way to him as quickly as possible while Ten and Nine took up a protective position, allowing Chris to take a closer look at him. He was dazed and all he could say was that two people had confronted him and then hit him with what looked like a big piece of wood. Which made sense as Chris could see a little blood on the side of his head. Nine and Ten helped him up and kept a hold of each arm assisting him to walk, while Chris kept an eye on what was happening around them. He wanted to get back to his section as quickly as possible, and to carry out his original orders of keeping an eye on the march.
Suddenly and without warning two young men appeared from the backyard of a house carrying pieces of wood in their hands. While another two appeared from another garden, and one had half a house brick in his hand. By now it did not take Chris long to realise that the situation was starting to deteriorate, and that if further locals where to join in, then he and his section would be in deep trouble.
Chris shouted to them to back off and let them get their injured friend to a hospital. However, it had no effect on the situation as the young men continued to inch slowly towards Chris, adding threats of "We are going to kill you bastards, like you kill our people". Chris wasted no time in raising his rifle up to his shoulder and threatened to shoot them if they did not back away. This did not have any effect, as they believed that he would not have the guts to shoot them. Slowly they continued to advance waving their pieces of wood in threatening gestures. Chris responded once again telling them to "Back off".
The situation was starting to go from bad to worse, as the threats from both sides deteriorated with their use of bad language and swearing. The distance between them was becoming closer as they slowly advanced. Within minutes they were only about four or five meters apart. Suddenly, one of the teenagers jerked forward a few inches while thrusting his piece of wood even closer towards Chris who was standing in front of his men. At the very same time one of them who Chris thought to be around 30 years old suddenly produced a small pistol from his jacket pocket.
BANG! The sound of a rifle being discharged rang out and the person with the pistol was blown off his feet backwards a couple of paces, and ended up sprawled on his back on the ground. Within seconds blood could be seen coming through his clothing from his chest area. The remaining two wasted no time in turning around to run as fast as they could, and disappeared into the nearest backyard they could find.
It was a split second decision that Chris had made. He felt justified that it was the correct one, as the life of his section was in imminent danger, especially after the pistol was produced. One second's hesitation and the situation would have had a completely different serious outcome. Although with hindsight it was a decision that he was suddenly realising he might live to regret, as it could come back and haunt him at a later date. However, the bottom line was that he was responsible for his men's lives. It was his job to try and protect them at all times and at all cost.
Once the ambulance arrived, number Three along with the local who had been shot was dispatched to hospital as quickly as possible, although upon its arrival he was pronounced dead. Chris’s section was replaced and withdrawn back to base while crime scenes were set up around the area of the grenade explosion and the shooting. Another section was sent to try and help with the religious parade, in the hope that they were not too late. However, they were, as soon as the shots were heard a full scale riot broke out, and took the authorities a couple of hours to disperse, after having to use a lot of tear gas.
Chris and the remainder of his section were returned to base and stood down while an enquiry was set up to find out what had taken place.
As with all military enquiries it was a long drawn out affair, as the government went into damage control. Trying to only release information that would not tarnish its name. Chris always maintained that all he did was to protect his men, and only had a split second in which to make up his mind. While the newspapers where having a field day trying to paint the military as gun tooting cowboys, who shot first and asked questions later.
It was a long drawn out process that played very heavy on his mind, and he became very depressed as it was spread over several months, while the locals and the press were insisting on him being charged with murder.
At one time his commanding officers Major Taylor took him to one side and asked what he thought his future was. Chris wasted no time in telling him that he did not think he had a future and was thinking of leaving the Corps. That he was fed up and wanted to get away from all the bad publicity. Major Taylor then explained a couple of scenarios, and ended up by asking him not the leave. He was trying to explain that while he was in the Military if he was charged with murder, and a court case was to take place, then they would look after him.
They had legal advisers and because they would pay for all the costs. For him to leave would mean that he would be on your own, with nobody to turn to for help or financial assistance. He also imagined that everybody would wipe their hands of him.
After much soul searching and further discussions with Major Taylor. Chris accepted his advice and all the help he and the Corps could offer. It turned out to be one of the better decisions he ever made.
However, a couple of months later Chris and his legal team were shocked to learn the prosecution had applied to the court to revoke his bail. Adding that he was a danger to the public, and that later they would be showing evidence to prove their point. After two days of debating the judge finally ordered that Chris be held under house arrest at his military barracks, until that day of the trial.
As a member of the military if you are charged by the Police and end up going to court and are found guilty. When you eventually return to the Military, in many cases they will also charge you for breaking military laws. Being found guilty you can end up having to serve two sentences.
It took a further couple of months to bring the case to court and then the first couple of days was a big bore for Chris, as the boundaries of the case were set and discussed. During which time Chris became very fidgety and would spend a lot of time just looking around the courthouse. By this time, he had given up any chance of being found not guilty and released. He had condition himself to expect to spend a few years behind bars inside one of her Majesty’s prisons. Only hoping that he would at least be transferred across the water to an English one. Realising that an English man in an Irish prison, would need to spend his complete duration in solitary confinement, as almost every prisoner would be out to try and beat him up, if not kill him.
The Prosecution argued the point that Chris should have challenged the diseased John Brennen, before he fired and killed him. While the defence argued that the troubles had been going on for generations and in that time the death toll was in the thousands. Proving that anybody carrying a gun would almost certainly use it. That they were not playing cowboys and Indians, this was for real and many people had died. It was then pointed out that it could have been a water pistol, with the deference adding that during all the time the troubles had taken place, not one single person had ever been found to have carried or been charged with having a water pistol while on the streets.
About a week into the case, it came to a standstill as the prosecution announced that they wished to introduce further information that their team had just learnt. The Judge ordered the Prosecution and Defence to join him in his chambers at the back of the courthouse, for a discussion. It really did not make any difference to Chris as he had not been involved too much and was as bored as ever, as he sat twiddling his thumbs thinking that he had been hung out to dry, having been made an example for others to learn by.
After the legal wrangling was over and they took their places in the courthouse, Chris was still not interested. However, that was all about to change as the Judge announced that the Prosecution had some new evidence they wanted to introduce, that would prove that Chris Lawler had indeed murdered Jim Brennen in cold blood. Chris could not believe what he was hearing, wondering what lies were to follow.
The prosecution called their next witness, a Police Officer from Aldershot in England. Suddenly Chris became interested, as he had once lived there.
The Police Officer was asked about a murder that had taken place in his town during 1970. To his shock the questioning went on to describe how Chris’s wife and family had all been killed while shopping. Immediately, Chris had a tear in his eye as the memories of his family came flooding back, only to be soured by the description of how they died. Although wondering why and how it was relevant to the predicament he now found himself in.
The Police Officer went on to inform the court that for several months they had no idea who had carried out the shooting, as the culprit had been masked at the time. However, several months later somebody came forward and told the Police that while drunk in a pub one night. The witness, a criminal himself had befriended a fellow drunken drinker. The conversation included describing something he had done several months earlier, and that he was lucky nobody was able to describe him. He ended by saying that he was getting out while he could. The Police later traced him after he did a runner to Ireland. First heading to Swansea and crossing by ferry to Cork in Southern Ireland. Later to make his way to Northern Ireland and to join a Para Military group, that was opposed to British rule and trying to get them kicked out of the country. Apparently he had weapons and explosives knowledge that was greatly needed, to pass on to others. Once there he dropped out of sight as the IRA protected him, and kept his locations secret from the general public. Even giving him a new identity.
The court was stunned and a hush fell over the room lasting a full minute. Suddenly the case had taken a turn for the worse for Chris. The Prosecution attacked him believing that he had murdered Brennen as retribution for what he had done to his family. Immediately Chris’s Defence jumped to his aid, trying to explain that he did not know who it was, and that anyway he was out of the country for five years. He had in fact joined the French Foreign Legion and served for five years, in France and Africa. Mentioning that he even had a couple of medals to prove it. Knowing that to try and trace his record from the Legion would almost be impossible. As their records were closed to all accept the Legion.
Because of the latest evidence the case was extended as each side tried to persuade the jury, one way or the other. While Chris was left a little traumatised as to the new so called evidence? Wondering if the court would believe his version. It started to bother him that to go to prison is one thing. However, to go to prison for something he did not do, that was going to be hard to accept. It would be a nightmare that he would have to suffer for rest of his life.
One day as he sat in court and took his usual look around the courtroom at all the faces looking glaring down on him from the gallery. His eyes settled on a lady and hesitated for a couple of seconds, but then moved on. However, the image of the lady in his brain got the better of him, and he slowly went back to her. Suddenly realising that he had seen her before, but for the moment he could not place a name to the face. A few minutes passed by and suddenly his brain clicked in to gear and came up with the name of June. Now his brain was working overtime, and to where he thought he might have known her.
Vietnam, yes the evacuation of the children just before Charlie over ran the country. He glanced at her again, wondering if he was right. Not being able to call out to her. Strange, she was also looking around the room and as she glanced at him, there was no emotion and her glance also moved on. For some reason Chris thought he must be mistaken.
While still looking at her, she slowly looked at him again only this time there was a hint of amazement followed by a slight smile.
Whatever was she doing here and how did she know that he was on trial. There were a lot of questions and answers they were both contemplating, although not knowing how they could be asked.
The prosecution still believing they had a strong case, persisted in the jury believing that Chris had planned the killing, therefore it was Murder of the first degree.
During the long afternoons grilling, and of having to answer many questions of his past, he suddenly became aware of why June was in the courthouse.
Her surname was Brennen, with shock he suddenly realised that in some way she was related to Jim Brennen the man he had shot.
That night he told his Defence team that June was in the courthouse and that he had once known he. He was keen to know the relationship with Jim Brennen. As the prosecution continued to talk to Chris, one of the team left the room to see what he could find out.
The news shocked Chris, when he was informed that June was in fact Jims Brennen’s elder sister. While his first thought was that she would not think much of him, let alone want to talk to him.
The case dragged on for a full week a
nd true to their word the Royal Marines stood by Chris helping in any way they could. It was plain to see that as the situation had developed, there was just no way that Chris could have manipulated a situation where he could have carried out the murder. It was never proved who the killer of his wife was. The situation in which he was killed could never have been planned. After all it was Brennen who suddenly appeared brandishing a gun and threatening to kill. Chris was just trying to protect his men, something that would be expected of all service personnel.
When the jury finally returned from deliberation the vote was unanimous with a not guilty decision. Chris was discharged with no black smear recorded against his name. As he left the courtroom some of his legal team stayed by his side, wondering how June had taken the verdict and of what she might do.
Just as he was leaving the courthouse, June came over to Chris, and asked if he was okay. His team realising her tone of voice and the way in which she spoke was friendly, moved ahead leaving them together.
June let it be known that she had never known what her brother Jim had been up to or of where he was living. It was only after reading in a newspaper that he had been killed. That she made a decision to try and attend the court case. Not even knowing that Chris was involved. They spent fifteen minutes talking about the past and what of their futures. The last time they had met both had wanted to take the relationship a little further. However, this incident was to change all what both had dreamt of for a long time. June admitted that if they were to stay together she would always be remembering how Chris killed her Brother every time she saw him. While he let it be known that June would always remind him of who and how his entire family had been killed. Maybe things might be better down the road, but now was not the right time. Both had a lot of mental healing to seek help with.