Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Where the X#%$@ is this bank?




HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Here’s how life sometimes works.


Richard O’Rawe is a former IRA operative who was imprisoned first for bank robbery, and later for political activity, in the Long Kesh, Ireland penitentiary during the 1981 hunger strike by prisoners, which resulted in the death of ten prisoners.

O’Rawe was the IRA’s press officer for the prisoners, and years later would write a bestselling book about the grueling experience, BLANKETMEN. He also wrote the biography of Gerry Conlon, IN THE NAME OF THE SON. O’Rawe still lives in Belfast.

Now he has a new book. Fiction. And it is getting raves.


NORTHERN HEIST has been called “Riveting” by Publishers Weekly in its starred review, which deemed it "a heist thriller full of sharp twists and gritty dialogue.” It was also praised by The Wall Street Journal.


The fictional story? James “Ructions” O’Hare puts together a crack team of thieves and money launderers in 2004 to rob the National Bank in Belfast. The take: over 25 million pounds—if Ructions can pull it off. But the Provos—the Provisional IRA—will expect half of the haul if they learn of the heist. And so Ructions decides to simply not tell them... But can it ever be that simple?

The story is based on the actual robbery in 2004 of a Northern Bank in a suburb of Belfast. The thieves got away with 26.5 million pounds. To this day, the case has never been solved.

Want to hear more?

Where the X#%$@ is this bank?

by Rick O’Rawe

In 1976, the British government decided to criminalize the freedom struggle in Ireland by criminalizing the IRA and INLA prisoners. As an IRA volunteer, I had just been sentenced to eight years imprisonment for robbing a Northern Bank on the outskirts of Belfast. It was a risky operation because the bank was twenty miles from our base, which made our run-back very precarious, and escape highly improbable. 

Had I have had the benefit of a dummy-run beforehand, I’d have told my IRA superiors that they were sending us on a suicide mission. Moreover, we must have passed a dozen banks to get to it. In fact, my abiding memories of the trip to the bank was, ‘Where the xxxx is this bank?’, and ‘Why can’t we rob that [closer] bank?’


And so, after I was captured, in 1977 I was sentenced to eight years in Long Kesh/Maze prison. In the end I served six.


I had long been intrigued by the Northern Bank robbery that had taken place in Belfast in December 2004, when £26,500,000 was taken out of its vaults. And the perpetrators got clean away with the dough! Most of it is still unrecovered.


It may not be politic to say this, but at the time, the job struck me, in terms of its professionalism, as, ‘A work of art’. Such was the ingenuity behind the robbery that I believed the only people in Ireland capable of pulling off a job like this was the IRA. Of course, that evaluation has to tempered by the reality that innocent people were traumatized and victimized during this robbery. Meanwhile, the security forces on both sides of the Irish border agreed with my assessment.


So how did I go from believing the IRA had carried out the robbery, to opening up the prospect that an individual like ‘Ructions’ O’Hare —my protagonist in NORTHERN HEIST—could have put it together? 

One evening in early January 2005, I happened to be sitting in a bar in Belfast with my daughter, Berni, and the thought struck me, ‘What if the IRA didn’t do it?’ We discussed a scenario whereby an ordinary decent criminal (ODC), a mastermind, could have put together a special team to pull off the job... and, within an hour, the protagonist for my book, James ‘Ructions’ O’Hare, had drawn breath—although he wouldn’t actually appear in HEIST for another 12 years, due to my nonfiction book writing.


I’ve always believed that the first and last lines of a book are the most important. Unwittingly, Berni gave me the first line when she laughingly recalled telling a nephew that he had ‘lazybonitis’. Thence the first line of the book: ‘They say lazybonitis is in the blood. It’s not in James ‘Ructions’ O’Hare’s blood. Not when it comes to robbing banks’.


But there was very little of my personal experience in the carrying out of the story’s robbery. I did not confer with anyone other than my daughter when researching and writing the book. What I did do was to try to keep the storyline as close to the actual 2004 Northern Bank robbery as possible.



HANK: Well, there’s some interesting research. Questions, anyone?

 

By the way, the Wall Street Journal says; "Full of double and triple-crosses . . . Northern Heist’s deeds and details seem as real as a smashed kneecap, while its stopwatch tension, heightened by present-tense voice, is reminiscent of such classic caper films as 'Rififi' and 'The Asphalt Jungle."

Friend of Jungle Reds Reed Farrel Coleman says: ”As authentic as a jar of Guinness and as real as an exit wound. A fast-paced, uppercut of a novel.”

And a copy of NORTHERN HEIST to one lucky commenter!


Questions, anyone?

66 comments:

  1. Wow! Sounds like a great book. Congrats!

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    1. Thank you so much, Mark. I enjoyed writing it. I hope you enjoy reading it. Ricky.

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  2. This book sounds fascinating and earmarked for great success. Rick, did you find it harder to write fiction after dealing with only facts for so long? Or, maybe you found it creatively freeing?

    As I read your story, I couldn’t help but think of you as a living piece of history, a first-hand resource of facts and emotions who was the authoritative voice of events that shook a country and the world. I have to wonder if it has burdened you, or have you managed to find a peaceful place to keep it.

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    1. What a lovely message, Kathy. I prefer writing fiction, because I can go wherever my imagination takes me. You are so right, writing Northern Heist was very liberating. Some of my writings have been controversial and I have come under severe pressure from former comrades. However, truth is important. Thank you so much Kathy, for your message. Ricky.

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    2. And how has it felt to get the acclaim of reviewers like Kathy? And Publishers Weekly?

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    3. Hi Hank, fabulous! The success of the book in the States has surpassed my wildest expectations. Long may it continue. I'm just so happy people like it. Ricky.

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    4. Hank, you are a gift from the gods.

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  3. Congratulations, Rick . . . this sounds like an amazing story. I'm looking forward to reading it.

    Writing fiction or nonfiction . . . do you have a preference?

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  4. Hi Joan, I prefer fiction because of the freedom it gives me as a writer. However, I really enjoyed writing In The Name Of The Son: The Gerry Conlon Story. It broke my heart writing it because he and I were such good friends and he died so young. But, I really loved writing about Ructions and the guys in Northern Heist. I hope you enjoy it Joan, it's great craic! Ricky.

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    1. What a powerful thought, imagining you writing that. ANd what an inspirational decision to do it.

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  5. I really like heist stories and this one sounds great! We recently watched Sean Connery in "The Great Train Robbery" which was a lot of fun. This one goes on my TBR!

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    1. Oh, I had forgotten about that movie--yes, that was a great one. And written by Michael Crichton!

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    2. Hope you enjoy it, Katharine. It was a labour of love. Rick

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  6. Congratulations, Rick. I love the first line! And you certainly have the knowledge and experience to write this kind of book.

    I saw your answer to Kathy. Years ago, while living in Burkina Faso with my husband and sons, I was on a sabbatical from my day job in the States (this was before I had novels published). I kept busy by writing a memoir, vignettes of my experiences in Ouagadougou and surrounds. One day I saw a call for a short story collection and wrote one. It felt so freeing not to have to stick to the truth except in details of the setting.

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    1. Rick--you could have made so many other choices, you know? That's what's so powerful.

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    2. I know what you're talking about, Edith. Fiction is so liberating. Good luck with all your writings. Rick

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  7. Rick, welcome to JRW and congratulations on your new book and all the buzz surrounding it! Your life experiences put you right in the center of enormous changes and Kathy described it perfectly.

    Your tale of the trip to rob that elusive bank had me giggling. How often, when on an errand, have I passed 20 pharmacies or grocery stores while searching for a specific one. Hah. But on the way to rob it? Still laughing.

    I love the story of how the idea for this book developed, with you and your daughter sitting together talking about who could have pulled off that heist in 2004. The first line is definitely genius. I will love this book and I think my husband will, too. So glad you came to JRW today.

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    1. And picturing rick and his daughter...who'd have thought that would evolve that way?

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    2. Its lovely to hear from you, Judy. I think the first and last line in any book are crucial and I gave both an awful lot of thought. Thanks so much for your support. Rick

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  8. Whoa... talk about writing from experience. We were talking about opening lines just a few days ago - this one belongs in the pantheon.

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    1. Isn't it lucky I don't suffer from lazybonitis, Hallie haha. Thanks for your support. Rick.

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  9. I haven't read too many "heist" books. However, I like the stories on the silver screen. So why not a book. I will look for Northern Heist and put it on my TBR pile. Thanks.

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  10. Congratulations on your fiction debut! I love heist books and yours looks like a winner.

    A few years ago, I visited Belfast and spent a morning at the Peace Walls. We had grown up seeing the area on TV news and now I walked the streets, remembering. We'll read all your books in memory of what was and what could have been, and could still be.

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    1. Unfortunately, Margaret, we still have so-called peace walls. Next time you are in Belfast give me a shout! Rick

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  11. Ooo, I love a good heist story - in print or on the screen. So this sounds right up my alley.

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    1. It does sound perfect for a movie--Rick, any news on that?

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    2. Hi Hank, thanks so much for having me on. There are moves afoot in that direction but it is early days yet. Fingers crossed. Rick

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    3. Oh, I would love to see a movie of this book, too!

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  12. Rick, this sounds like a fabulous book! Can't wait to read it. I love how you and your daughter talked about this together and from "what if" came up with such a good idea. My son and I have been discussing what I think is a great idea, too. Just don't know how to go about making it come together.

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    1. ((don't rob a bank to make it come together, okay,, Judi?) :-) ))

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    2. Judi, if you have got the idea for your book, you are half-way there. Take your time and go through all the various permutations and scenarios. And don't be worrying if you have not got it all beforehand, it will come. Have faith in yourself and your son. Good luck. Rick

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  13. Rick, wow! I'll say it first--it won't surprise me a bit to see Northern Heist show up on the silver screen in the not-too-distant future. If your book is based on the robbery of 2004, which was never solved--will we be seeing Ructions O'Hare again or will he retire into respectability and obscurity with his millions?

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    1. Hi, Flora, there is a sequel to Northern Heist called Goering's Gold which I hope will be out next year. Ructions rides again! Rick.

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    2. That is exciting news, too, Rick!

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    3. HURRAY! I hope you will come back and visit!

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  14. Rick, welcome to Jungle Reds! Very compelling thought. I remember when there was a peace accord in 1996 and I had high hopes for the peace among many different factions. I have friends living in Northern Ireland and I see beautiful photos of Northern Ireland. So green!

    Question: I wonder about someone deciding to pull a prank or play a joke that gets out of hand and turns into a tragedy. Or an individual trying to cause trouble then an organization taking credit for the action of another person?

    Diana

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    1. Hello, Diane, I am not to sure how to answer this because I do not know the premise upon which you base your question. Rick

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  15. Welcome Rick! How impressive and wonderful. I am in awe. This book is a real treasure! Best wishes.

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  16. Congratulations Rick! Heist stories are captivating and intriguing. This story is a unique and amazing story which deserves to be told.

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  17. It is a truth universally acknowledged that EVERYONE loves a heist story and most of the authors and screenwriters who pen them don't have the advantage of actually having given it a go some time in their past.

    But there's a technological world of difference between 1976 and 2004, so I'm wondering what sort of research you did to craft a believable tale?

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    1. Hi, Julia, there was considerable research relating to this book. For a start, it was a tiger kidnapping robbery, whereby the robbers held the families of bank employees hostage in order to carry out the robbery. I spoke to various sources (not the actual robbers) who would have been versed in the methodology of this type of robbery. Rick.

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  18. This sounds like a read. I'm not sure how to ask this question, was it difficult keeping the robbery you participated in out of this book?

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    1. Oh, I'd love to hear that answer, too! Rick will be back soon!

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    2. Not at all, Deana. All robberies have one thing in common: the robbers must control those who are being robbed. The thing about the Northern Bank robbery of 2004 was that it was not even thought of when I robbed a Northern Bank for the IRA. And this is reflected on how much monetary difference between the two: we got £11,000, and the Northern Bank robbers got £26.5 millions! Rick.

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    3. That is fascinating. The psychology of robbing a bank. From the robber's POV.

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  19. Thanks, Rick, for stopping by JRW and telling us how Northerrn Heist came to be written. Having worked with my father for many years, I liked seeing that Berni was a sounding-board for this book - that's a special bond.

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    1. Berni is a very astute woman, who can read me like a book. In terms of writing, I rarely go anywhere unless I run it passed her. She is a good consigliere haha. Rick.

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    2. Oh, can she come over to my house??

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  20. Congratulations, Rick, on your book! I love heist stories on the screen so I'm sure this will be a treat. What an ingenious idea to take a real unsolved robbery and put your own spin on it. Is there more fiction in your future?

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    1. SO many perfect questions! Rick will be back soon..

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    2. Hi Deborah, yes, there is more fiction to come. I am working on a totally separate book from the Ructions series, which I hope to have ready for the end of the year. Thanks for your support, Deborah. Rick

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  21. I've read several excellent reviews of this book. And I love heist stories!

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    1. Hello, Susan, thanks for coming on. Hopefully you'll enjoy Northern Heist. Ricky.

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  22. Oh, this book sounds fascinating. It is definitely going on my TBR list.

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