I was born on the Twelfth of July in the heart of Derry’s Bogside, a place that would soon become a global symbol of conflict during Northern Ireland’s Troubles. From an early age, I witnessed the rise of civil unrest—the Battle of the Bogside, Bloody Sunday, and the decades of division that followed. These weren’t just events I read about in headlines—they were part of my lived experience.

As a young boy, I found myself not only surviving the chaos but trying to bring help where I could, serving as a first-aid volunteer during riots. I aided the wounded, regardless of their background or beliefs, guided by a simple but powerful conviction: every life matters. But the conflict left scars. I was imprisoned for a terrorism-related offense that brought great shame—but also, eventually, awakening. It was in the darkness of the Maze Prison that a small Christian leaflet changed the course of my life forever.

Today, I write not to relive the past, but to share what it taught me—about fear, forgiveness, faith, and the capacity of the human spirit to change. This memoir is a testimony, not just of what happened, but of how redemption is always possible.