Did you know this Bradford Police officer was responsible for killing over 130 people including 5 women??   In 1884 he resigned and became a public executioner with responsibility for hanging convicted persons throughout the UK.  Find out also about the man he failed to execute despite 3 attempts - the man they couldn't hang.  All this and more at the Bradford City Police museum, City Hall, Bradford.
WELL WORTH A VISIT.   See web site for openings etc.

The Irish Detective in Yorkshire by Gerry O'Shea.    Real Life - True Crime by a real cop.

Imagine for a moment, you are going about your normal daily business, maybe shopping or going to work.   You hear some noise and a commotion ahead of you.  You see figures running away from the commotion and others running towards it.  People are screaming and shouting.  Some are crying and others in shocked silence.   As you get to the scene you now see a man who is obviously dead with a vicious knife wound to his throat.  A woman lying on the ground nearby is screaming in pain having also suffered a violent attack.

Ok back to reality now......you were only imagining this horrendous event.  If it had been a reality no doubt it would have greatly disturbed you and preyed on your mind for a long time - even causing you sleepless nights.  

But what about someone who has to deal with such serious crime on a regular basis.  What's it like, how do they cope, what are their thoughts.

This book gives a unique insight into the life and work of Irishman Gerry O'Shea - a real top detective as he deals with real life serious crime and chronicles his way through a 32 year police career from the 70's to the present day.

5 star review - "A great book, I couldn't put it down."

Available from Amazon Books at only £9.99 through this link  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Irish-Detective-Yorkshire-Gerry-OShea/dp/1910097187/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415555408&sr=1-1&keywords=gerry+o%27shea







 

My First Curry

'The Irish Detective in Yorkshire' book launch takes place at the Bradford City Library, Centenary Square, Bradford at 5.30 pm Thursday 16 October.  Each copy of the book sold at £9.99 will result in a £1 donation to the police charity 'COPS' - caring for police survivors.
The book is also available from Amazon Books.

The book deals with Real Life - Real Crime and is a true account of my life in rural Ireland, emigration to the UK and my 30 year career as a senior detective in Yorkshire.

The following is a taster from the book of how I started to settle into my new environment in my adopted city of Bradford.

My first encounter with eating curry came soon after I had arrived in the city.  I went up Leeds Road where there was an abundance of public houses and restaurants.  After a few drinks I felt hungry.  My meal of choice after a drink was always chicken and chips, so I set off to find some.

I tried several restaurants but they were all curry houses and did not serve my meal.  Eventually, now very hungry and somewhat frustrated I ended up at the now closed, Evergreen Restaurant.
Again I asked for chicken and chips but the waiter said No.  I asked what he did sell and in his broken English accent he said "chicken and chapattis".   I thought - the man doesn't speak the Queens English (like me!!) and it's just a breakdown in communication.  He really means chicken and chips.

So I ordered and paid and took a seat.  The waiters were by now regarding me with some suspicion and kept looking down at me and whispering.  My meal arrived - something in a dish with some wraps.  I waited patiently for a knife and fork but none was forthcoming.  
I looked around and saw other customers were eating with their hands, using the chappati wrap to scoop from the dish.

I copied them.  The chicken was covered in hot spicy curry sauce and it burnt my mouth. I was not used to spicy food. My only previous experience had been when my mother put pepper on my dinner! I was aware of the waiters interest in me so I tried again.  Aaagh, again it burnt my mouth, made my eyes water and reduced me to a gasping fit of coughing.  I pretended to eat the curry by chewing on a piece of wrap with no curry until the waiters got fed up of looking at me.  When their attention was diverted I took the opportunity of exiting the place in a flash.

My first experience did not put me off and I now consider myself as a bit of a 'curry gourmet'.  

'Irish Detective in Yorkshire' book update.

Well, after 4 summer months in the Emerald Isle myself and my wife Marion are back in Yorkshire.
We've had a great time in Ireland and have been really busy.  I've sold my holiday home in Tramore, County Waterford and I've bought my old family home where I was reared at Deerpark, County Kilkenny.   What a strange feeling going back to the home of my youth.  Everything seems so much smaller or I seem much bigger - probably the latter unfortunately!
Tending to the gardens and furnishing it has kept me busy.  If I ever win the lottery I will never purchase flat-pack furniture again!

The publication and book launch of my first book has been very enjoyable but hard work too.  As a self publisher I am responsible for everything to do with the book.  This brings great responsibility but great satisfaction as well.  The media - in particular KCLR radio, Irish TV, the Kilkenny People (Sean Keane / Maurice Shortall) and the Kilkenny Reporter (Jimmy Rhatigan  / Chubby Brennan) have been very supportive and provided me with lots of exposure.

Many thanks to retail outlets such as Holohans, O'Rourkes, Post Office and the Book Shop all in Castlecomer and to Liz at Stone House Books and Yvonne at the Book Centre in Kilkenny also for their valuable support.

The book launch at Castlecomer Library was a great success and surpassed all our expectations.  Many thanks to Mary Morrissey and her staff.

I have received tremendous feed-back from my readers.  This gives me the enthusiasm to now repeat the whole process here in the UK.  I have learnt from the Irish launch and the experience will help me here.  I am planning to launch 'The Irish Detective in Yorkshire' in Bradford towards the end of October.  I am currently arranging a suitable venue and looking for retailers to sell the book.
This is more problematic than in Ireland as most of the retailers are national chain outlets and I have to deal with faceless people at head office - never as good as the personal touch.

Watch this space for more details to follow regarding my book launch.  Just a reminder that my book is currently available to purchase on-line from Amazon Books.

Best wishes to all for now from The Irish Detective - Gerry O'Shea.

The frail 75 year old woman lay in the intensive care unit.  She had been brutally attacked in her own home by a crazed knife wielding intruder.  The doctors said she was unlikely to pull through and would prove fatal in the next few hours.   As the detective leading the case to find her attacker, I suspected she knew the identity of her attacker.
I sat on her bed and gently coaxed her to tell me who had done it.  She tried to lift her head and said....."It's, It's---." before going back to sleep.   I coaxed her again eager to find the identity of the attacker.............."Come on Mary you can tell me".
Again she said "It's - It's - It's my bloody leg - your sitting on it!!"
By the way Mary survived the attack.  I arrested her attacked who received a long prison sentence.  

This is one of the more lighthearted stories from my book - 'The Irish Detective in Yorkshire' which is available from Amazon Books on  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Irish-Detective-Yorkshire-Gerry-OShea/dp/1910097187/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416089910&sr=1-1&keywords=gerry+o%27shea

The Irish Detective in Yorkshire

Getting giddy now as the date of the book launch of my new book approaches.  Date and venue is 7pm on Tuesday 19 August at Castlecomer Library.  Pre launch sales have been very good and feedback on the book is excellent.   Good exposure this week on the Kilkenny People newspaper +kkpeople12  and more exposure this week on the Kilkenny Reporter @kkreporter and KCLR +KCLR 96FM on Saturday morning.  

Update on 'The Irish Detective in Yorkshire' new book.

Since collecting my sparkling newly printed books from Lettertec Printers, Cork last week it has been a hectic time.  The print work and the quality of the book is excellent - no wonder they are award winning printers.   With just limited publicity from social media sites sales of the book have been great.  At the moment I am concentrating mainly on the launch of the book in Ireland.  I will work to market the book in the UK when I return there in September.
The book is available to buy from Holohans Newsagents and O'Rourkes Newsagents - both in Castecomer.
It is also available from Stone House Books at St Kiernans Street, Kikenny City.
The book is also also available on the internet from www. Amazon. Click here.

I am preparing for a formal Book Launch at Castlecomer Library at 7pm on Tuesday 19 August.  I will give a short overview of the book and tell some anecdotes from its content.  I hope to see as many people as possible there.  To help raise awareness I am embarking on a media campaign with interviews with the 2 local newspapers The Kilkenny People and The Kilkenny Reporter and KCLR radio