Life is full of ups and downs but even in the toughest moments, we summon an inner strength to get ourselves through. That’s resilience, that fight to keep going. The Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO) asked their clients what keeps them ticking over while they are serving their sentence and this is one of the replies they received from Terry.
ICPO was established in 1985 by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference in order to work for Irish prisoners overseas wherever they are. The ICPO has supported prisoners abroad from every county on the island of Ireland, and it makes no distinction in terms of religious faith; the nature of a prison conviction or of a prisoner’s status.
“When I look back on my sentence I do wonder how I have survived. I came into prison in 2005 I was sentenced to life with a tariff of 9 years and 6 months.
“I accepted what I did was wrong and pleaded guilty in the court of law. On my arrival here in prison the first thing I wanted to do was get into work and get what I needed. I could not expect my family to send monies to me. I was lucky to get a letter as I only have one member of my family who can read and write. I got into work and saved up, basically I did not get anything but tobacco a lighter and papers on my first pay of £17.50 for a few months after I continued to save getting nothing except tobacco. Then I got my first radio/cd/player, it cost me £20 from Argos.
“The months went by and I continued to save and got to know a few lads I could call friends. A couple of Irish lads did help me out with a bit of food until I was up on my feet. By this time I had a tidy sum saved and I was happy.
“I had contact with my sister Lucy by telephone, but I could only talk with her every two or three weeks as I needed to put credit onto the phone pins. One of the Irish lads I made friends with got me the details of an organisation known as the ICPO in Ireland. He said if I write they would write back to me. I first wrote to Father Gerry McFlynn in the London office, this was about 2008. I explained I was from Ireland and would be looking to be transferred to Ireland. At this time I did write to the home office asking to be deported but this was refused. Father Gerry put me in contact with the ICPO in Ireland who found me a penfriend – the late Sister Agnes Hunt RIP. I was given support and help in how to apply for repatriation to Ireland, and this is still in progress.
“The help and support I was receiving from the ICPO lifted my spirit and helped me to fight the dark days and believe in myself.
“I went on to be a listener here then I became a representative for the Catholic Church and the Travellers Group. This gave me a challenge to help those around me so with being a representative I wrote to organisations asking for help for those at Mass and in the traveller groups and still receive traveller magazines for the group. Since I learned to cook from my grandmother and mother and have many recipes from them, I was given permission to use the kitchen here. I bake scones and tarts and share them with an older man on the lower landing and I regularly cook dinner for some of the lads here.
“My penfriend kept me busy with letters and I was doing my bit for the chapel and Travellers group. I continue today to work in the same shop upholstery and I have learned a lot from that. I have put myself in a position where I know I can confidently make a living when I am out of prison. I am a mentor in the workshop to help those who arrive to learn the job required in the shop. Again, this gives me a purpose. I was supporting other inmates and learning how to work with people from different backgrounds. This makes me a busy man. I did coursework here to help me lower my risk of offending education courses to support my reading and writing and I achieved certificates in cookery, health and safety as well as engineering. I am now doing more course work with an organisation known as “Criminon” which covers self respect and personal integrity. I intend to carry on as this will keep my mind active and help me to pass on the time and skills to others.
“Yes to this day I do miss my family and my freedom but I accepted I was in the wrong. I accepted my sentence and did something about it. I am into my retirement age now but I feel healthy and I am happy with life so this will keep me going with hope that one day they will let me be free then I can continue to work and help those around me.
“We don’t get by sitting in a cell doing nothing, taking drugs, or fighting the system. We must be strong, so it’s a case of doing something with your life and not expecting others to do it for you. My advise to all is to make the most of a bad situation, you are still a human being, there are still people out there and in here that will look up to you, there are still people willing to help you if you let them so don’t lose faith, get up and do something.
I did something with my life and I can only thank the Lord for those who did help me along the way.”
To learn more about the work of ICPO click here
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