"Those ungrateful drones who would,
drink your sweat and suck your blood".
- Percy Byshe Shelley.
Whilst I've been doling out my Tea and Sympathy to Lou Santangeli (quite rightly I might say ) over the ingratitude shown to him after his tremendous feat in clearing the names of Kelly and Connolly, I had a blind spot about my own efforts in that direction.
Well, that is until I met an old old friend in town the other night and after a good few drinks, he reminded me of some of them.
"Remember", he said, "when you were home on leave from Ruskin, and represented Mick so-and-so- who was a neighbour, and you won his DSS Appeal against having his Dole stopped?"
Yes, I remembered all right. I didn't expect nor did I get anything off him because he was out of work and had young kids. But I regretted it afterwards when I was told he was an enforcer for a Loan Shark on a Huyton estate.
Then there was the Halewood pensioner, a former market trader
my family had known for years from the city centre. He was only on a pension, topped up with Income Support. And theChild Support Agency was taking pounds off him every week because he'd been foolish enough to marry a much younger woman and have two kids to her.
I took his case to a DSS Tribunal and won him all his money back.
Again I didn't expect any reward, and I didn't get any. Afterwards, outside the Tribunal in Dale Street, he promised me a bottle of single malt 14 year-old Scotch.
I'm still waiting for that whisky, which must now be at least 30 years-old!
Then there was the case of the 36 year-old foreman on a Work Experience gardening project in Kirkby, who was unfairly made redundant.
Kenny was a nice lad and a hard worker. Being skint he couldn't get a lawyer to take his case (you couldn't get legal aid for tribunals) so he literally begged me to represent him at an Industrial Tribunal - which I did.
The case took weeks of hard preparation. But I took great delight in defeating the Government's barrister by winning the case for Kenny and getting him £3,000 compensation.
I got no fees or costs of my own but got great satisfaction from putting one over on the Government and rubbing the snobbish barrister's nose in it!
When I handed the three grand in notes to Kenny and suggested celebrating by going out for a meal and a drink, his girlfriend - who was counting the money - advised him not to. Instead he offered me some of his own home-made "Tea-Wine" and ten Russian ciggies!! Needless to say, I made my apologies and quickly left!!
But I didnt learn any lessons from these episodes.
The next Vampire hovering above for more blood (they must have all known I was a Night Owl myself) was a West Derby guy who contacted me after reading my book about injustice -The Cameo Conspiracy.
But his was a different kind of injustice: his son had been the victim of an horrendous stabbing by two thugs who had been let off because they were also police informers.
Well. after about 8 years of continual advice, telephone calls and numerous letters and reports on his behalf, he didn't get in touch for a few months. When he finally did so it was to tell me he'd written a book about his son's case and would I look at it.
I readily obliged and corrected all of the grammar, syntax, punctuation etc. I also gave him some literary advice, suggested an eye-catching title and actually wrote a Foreword for him.
A few more months went by then he got in touch again, handing me a copy of the book which he had published himself.
He had not used my suggested title or my Foreword. And for my years of hard work dvice and support there was no acknowledgement worth speaking of.
Like my pensioner friend, he told me that as a gesture of thanks for my nine years work, he had intended buying me a bottle of Scotch.. He didn't so because - as he told me with a straight face -he didn't know what brand I drank!!
Haven't seen or heard of him since.
I believe his book sold 50 copies.
But the most recent case of serious abuse of my good nature has determined me, Never again! No more Mr Nice Guy!
This was a working-class guy from the slums of Toxteth who made a fortune in the rag trade through his own industriousness and hard work but he lost it all in 1992 on Black Wednesday. But I admired his grit and still admire grafters like that.
So when he wrote a book about his life of rags to riches it was obvious that, like most people who are very good with figures, he was hopeless with words. In other words, he was no writer.But I felt he had a great story to tell so I decided to help him.
Over several weeks I went through the book with him - which was overlong and repetitive - proof-reading, painstakingly correcting and editing it until the whole 450 pages were knocked into shape and fit for publication.
At the time he was so effusively "grateful" he promised me a percentage if it became a best-seller, promised to praise me in the acknowledgements, and that once he had a publisher he would open doors for me for the book I was writing.
Well, as with all the other vampires, I heard nothing more for several months until he contacted me to tell me he had acquired a literary agent and a national publisher for his book who had given him a £5,000 advance.
His re-titled book is out now. I don't get a mention in the acknowledgements. And I'm still waiting for my percentage and my introduction to his publisher!!
No, I told my old friend, I hadn't forgotten all of these vampires. But, let's face it, such mean, ignoble and ungrateful parasites quite simply are not worth remembering, are they?
Thursday, 20 January 2011
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
THE CAMEO CASE REVISITED
I am of course grateful to the two "anonymous" correspondents who favourably commented on my Cameo Appeal piece.
But can I just say that although I did indeed reveal the crucial appeal-winning statement in 1998 in my book, it was Lou Santangeli, who also discovered it and successfully pursued the case through the legal channels.
He ploughed his own furrow at his own expense for years, only for the lawyers and the Kelly Family to wrongly be given all the praise.
I do not wish to castigate the Kelly family. I simply believe that the man responsible for such a monumental victory, which vindicated their uncle and removed the decades-old stain from their family name, deserved a simple Thank You.
As for the comment about Kelly's brothers being blinded by their brothers fate. Firstly his brothers are long dead. Nobody, certainly not me, is criticising them. But there is no justification for the remaining members of his family not expressing gratitude to Mr Santangeli.
I myself have not been given any recognition for my efforts nor do I expect any. On the contrary I have been criticised as someone who has exploited the case and the Kelly family's grief for mercenary gain. But I can assure you this feeling is not shared by the Connolly family. And I can say with the utmost authority that the supposed financial gain is no more than an ill-informed figment of these critics imagination.
My motivation like Mr Santangeli's - even though we were working seperately at the time - was simply to expose a terrible miscarriage of justice. And despite the lack of recognition and thanks, I think Mr Santangeli, like myself, will be quite content that we both succeeded in our different ways.
But can I just say that although I did indeed reveal the crucial appeal-winning statement in 1998 in my book, it was Lou Santangeli, who also discovered it and successfully pursued the case through the legal channels.
He ploughed his own furrow at his own expense for years, only for the lawyers and the Kelly Family to wrongly be given all the praise.
I do not wish to castigate the Kelly family. I simply believe that the man responsible for such a monumental victory, which vindicated their uncle and removed the decades-old stain from their family name, deserved a simple Thank You.
As for the comment about Kelly's brothers being blinded by their brothers fate. Firstly his brothers are long dead. Nobody, certainly not me, is criticising them. But there is no justification for the remaining members of his family not expressing gratitude to Mr Santangeli.
I myself have not been given any recognition for my efforts nor do I expect any. On the contrary I have been criticised as someone who has exploited the case and the Kelly family's grief for mercenary gain. But I can assure you this feeling is not shared by the Connolly family. And I can say with the utmost authority that the supposed financial gain is no more than an ill-informed figment of these critics imagination.
My motivation like Mr Santangeli's - even though we were working seperately at the time - was simply to expose a terrible miscarriage of justice. And despite the lack of recognition and thanks, I think Mr Santangeli, like myself, will be quite content that we both succeeded in our different ways.
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
WIKILEAKS - AND THE GANGSTERS WHO RULE THE WORLD.
If ever there was clear evidence that there is a fascist clique of Wall street, the international media, global corporations and international bankers (and their stooges the politicians) who are the real rulers of the world, the current WikiLeaks saga is most definitely it.
Australian, Julian Assange, the greatest whistlblower of all time, is tonight in Wandsworth prison.
He is there because he willingly attended a London police station.
HE was NOT arrested, as the complicit media allege.
The trumped-up sexual charges against him were dropped months ago by Sweden's Chief prosecutor.
Yesterday he voluntarily handed in his passport as a sign of good faith that he would not abscond.
He was NOT charged with any offence. That is why he was totally justified in refusing to have his fingerprints or photograph taken (as if the latter was necessary!)
Despite £180,00 bail being offered by genuine supporters of Free Speech, and NOT being charged with any offence, a jobsworth lackey of a magistrate has incarcerated him in London's top security prison where he is denied any access to his lawyer for the next 5 days.
Now I've heard of imprisonment without trial. But without even a charge?!
Just think about all that for a moment. Alll the above has just occurred in this country, your country, the country for which millions of men and women died in two world wars. The country which is supposed to be a "liberal democracy" where the world renowned "British Justice" is supposed to prevail.
So how can this happen, you ask?
Well I mentioned multi-national corporations and global banks as part of the fascist One-World conspiracy. So is it any coincidence that multi-nationals like Amazon, Pay Pal and Visa, among many others, have cut off the feet from under WikiLeaks?
And is it any coincidence that the proven liar, the Bilderberger and member of the Illuminati, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, is the one who has been hysterically screaming the loudest for Assange's blood, under the guise of concern for America's security?.
And whilst this Global smokescreen is in full flow, is it any coincidence that her Department has quietly crept out the news that the US has dropped its insistence on Israel stopping it's illegal and expanding settlement programme on occupied Palestinian land?
America, as the centrepiece and bully boy of the embryonic WORLD GOVERNMENT, like all arrogant bullies, has a massive ego and poor Mr Assange's crime is that he has really offended it. Even worse he is telling the people of the world the TRUTH by daily exposing America's lies, hypocrisy, venality and double-dealing (think Guantamomo, Water Boarding and Extraordinary Rendition ).
He has - and commendably WikiLeaks is continuing to do so- exposed the international bureacratic duping of the ordinary people that goes on in secret every day of the week. But the people are beginning to wake up - witness the mass protests in Greece, Ireland, Spain and Italy.
Dangerous!
So Mr Assanges has to be made an example of. And you can bet your life that the International Elite, who really run the world, will not be satisified until they destroy him.
And if you think this is just another fanciful "conspiracy theory", well all I can say in all modesty is that I was right about the last Conspiracy I wrote about!
Australian, Julian Assange, the greatest whistlblower of all time, is tonight in Wandsworth prison.
He is there because he willingly attended a London police station.
HE was NOT arrested, as the complicit media allege.
The trumped-up sexual charges against him were dropped months ago by Sweden's Chief prosecutor.
Yesterday he voluntarily handed in his passport as a sign of good faith that he would not abscond.
He was NOT charged with any offence. That is why he was totally justified in refusing to have his fingerprints or photograph taken (as if the latter was necessary!)
Despite £180,00 bail being offered by genuine supporters of Free Speech, and NOT being charged with any offence, a jobsworth lackey of a magistrate has incarcerated him in London's top security prison where he is denied any access to his lawyer for the next 5 days.
Now I've heard of imprisonment without trial. But without even a charge?!
Just think about all that for a moment. Alll the above has just occurred in this country, your country, the country for which millions of men and women died in two world wars. The country which is supposed to be a "liberal democracy" where the world renowned "British Justice" is supposed to prevail.
So how can this happen, you ask?
Well I mentioned multi-national corporations and global banks as part of the fascist One-World conspiracy. So is it any coincidence that multi-nationals like Amazon, Pay Pal and Visa, among many others, have cut off the feet from under WikiLeaks?
And is it any coincidence that the proven liar, the Bilderberger and member of the Illuminati, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, is the one who has been hysterically screaming the loudest for Assange's blood, under the guise of concern for America's security?.
And whilst this Global smokescreen is in full flow, is it any coincidence that her Department has quietly crept out the news that the US has dropped its insistence on Israel stopping it's illegal and expanding settlement programme on occupied Palestinian land?
America, as the centrepiece and bully boy of the embryonic WORLD GOVERNMENT, like all arrogant bullies, has a massive ego and poor Mr Assange's crime is that he has really offended it. Even worse he is telling the people of the world the TRUTH by daily exposing America's lies, hypocrisy, venality and double-dealing (think Guantamomo, Water Boarding and Extraordinary Rendition ).
He has - and commendably WikiLeaks is continuing to do so- exposed the international bureacratic duping of the ordinary people that goes on in secret every day of the week. But the people are beginning to wake up - witness the mass protests in Greece, Ireland, Spain and Italy.
Dangerous!
So Mr Assanges has to be made an example of. And you can bet your life that the International Elite, who really run the world, will not be satisified until they destroy him.
And if you think this is just another fanciful "conspiracy theory", well all I can say in all modesty is that I was right about the last Conspiracy I wrote about!
Sunday, 5 December 2010
WHO WON THE CAMEO APPEALS? - The TRUTH!
I feel it's about time some people were put straight about the successful posthumous appeals in 2003 of George Kelly and Charles Connolly.
There are numerous websites which repeatedly praise various people as being responsible for correcting this appalling miscarriage of justice. These include solicitor Rex Makin, the late Vincent Burke, Tom Slemen, the purveyor of fictional ghost stories, and members of Kelly's family.
Well let me finally put people straight. Contrary to press and internet reports, neither the Kelly family, nor Rex Makin nor Vincent Burke "campaigned for years", to clear either Kelly's or Connolly's name.
At the time of the trials, Kelly was represented by Harry Livermore, Makin's rival. It is true Frankie and Joey Kelly asked Makin for help after their brother was found guilty - but they got none.
It is also true that Kelly's brother-in-law, the late Tucker Gill, in the 1960s contacted Bessie Braddock, his MP and Sydney Silverman MP over the case. But he sadly got nowhere.
As for the late crime historian, Vincent Burke and the ghost writer, Slemen, their opinion, right up to the appeals, was that Kelly was guilty!
No, The person who was responsible for righting this terrible wrong, after 10 years hard work diligently researching case, was an ordinary citizen named Mr Lou Santangeli.
This fair-minded man's motive wasn't fame or the filthy lucre.
It was simply that he hated , and still hates, injustice. And he rightly believed Connolly when he told him he was innocent. Indeed, he not only believed him but proved him to be innocent!
It was Mr Santangeli - not the lawyers and everyone else who have lined their pockets - who toiled all those years at his own personal expense, who should be given the credit - and the only one who should be given the credit.
Without his voluminous dossiers of new evidence the lawyers would not have had a dog's chance of getting the case re-opened after 53 years! It was this quiet, reserved and dignified man who handed them a winning case on a plate. They hardly had to lift a finger.
Yet - although he has never expected any praise -he has not received one scrap of recognition or credit from either the lawyers or the media or the Kelly family.
Indeed, at the appeal he was sitting next to a close member of the Kelly family when the decision was announced to quash the convictions. But she never even had the good grace to turn to him and say, "Thank you"!
So, I sincerely hope, in the interests of justice and fairness, the record has now been put straight.
There are numerous websites which repeatedly praise various people as being responsible for correcting this appalling miscarriage of justice. These include solicitor Rex Makin, the late Vincent Burke, Tom Slemen, the purveyor of fictional ghost stories, and members of Kelly's family.
Well let me finally put people straight. Contrary to press and internet reports, neither the Kelly family, nor Rex Makin nor Vincent Burke "campaigned for years", to clear either Kelly's or Connolly's name.
At the time of the trials, Kelly was represented by Harry Livermore, Makin's rival. It is true Frankie and Joey Kelly asked Makin for help after their brother was found guilty - but they got none.
It is also true that Kelly's brother-in-law, the late Tucker Gill, in the 1960s contacted Bessie Braddock, his MP and Sydney Silverman MP over the case. But he sadly got nowhere.
As for the late crime historian, Vincent Burke and the ghost writer, Slemen, their opinion, right up to the appeals, was that Kelly was guilty!
No, The person who was responsible for righting this terrible wrong, after 10 years hard work diligently researching case, was an ordinary citizen named Mr Lou Santangeli.
This fair-minded man's motive wasn't fame or the filthy lucre.
It was simply that he hated , and still hates, injustice. And he rightly believed Connolly when he told him he was innocent. Indeed, he not only believed him but proved him to be innocent!
It was Mr Santangeli - not the lawyers and everyone else who have lined their pockets - who toiled all those years at his own personal expense, who should be given the credit - and the only one who should be given the credit.
Without his voluminous dossiers of new evidence the lawyers would not have had a dog's chance of getting the case re-opened after 53 years! It was this quiet, reserved and dignified man who handed them a winning case on a plate. They hardly had to lift a finger.
Yet - although he has never expected any praise -he has not received one scrap of recognition or credit from either the lawyers or the media or the Kelly family.
Indeed, at the appeal he was sitting next to a close member of the Kelly family when the decision was announced to quash the convictions. But she never even had the good grace to turn to him and say, "Thank you"!
So, I sincerely hope, in the interests of justice and fairness, the record has now been put straight.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
THE WORLD CUP: A NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING.
There is to be a National Day of Mourning next week in Fantasy Island following its humiliation yesterday of only securing 2 FIFA votes out of 22 and thus losing its £15 million bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
The millionaire Prime Minister, the heir to the throne and the world's most famous millionaire male model (sorry, footballer) fought back their tears as did thousands of the religion's (sorry, football's ) disciples throughout the Island.
Because this is the land of naivete and Doublethink, they felt deeply hurt and didn't expect this hammer blow from FIFA.
I mean they had obligingly ignored all the Sunday Times and BBC Television accusations of widespread corruption and bribes made against five of FIFA's directors, hadn't they.
They could hardly do anything else though, could they? I mean if you're on the make that's the sort of thing you do in a highly "religious" state isn't it? You know, forget ethics and morality and bury your head in the sand ( Sorry, I mean "Turn the other cheek" and all that).
Best about it though, they were most sporting and didn't seem in the least surprised or aggrieved at the logic of Russia, the thoroughly corrupt "Mafia State, being granted the World Cup honour. Well, why should it? In Fantasy Island it makes perfect sense.
This is after all, the country that invented the "Dunkirk Spirit."
And why should they feel surprised or aggrieved?
Well, if you don't acknowledge FIFA's corruption- or conveniently bury your head in the sand about it - then it's very hard to complain that there's anything at all wrong when that corrupt World Cup organisation awards the World Cup to one of the World's most corrupt state's.
But, like I say, 2 plus 2 always makes five in Good old Fantasy Island!.
By the way, the Day of Mourning will be next Friday. The service of national grief will be held at Westminster Abbey.
Although the Queen and all the other luminaries will attend, actual football fans have been barred, since it wasn't found practicable to charge them the £100 admission they usually cough up at the match.
In addition, to maintain the dignity of the occasion Sir Alec Ferguson has been ordered to refrain from chewing gum throughout the ceremony. Another reason is that the Government is trying to reduce the epidemic of passive-chewing, for which they blame him.
The millionaire Prime Minister, the heir to the throne and the world's most famous millionaire male model (sorry, footballer) fought back their tears as did thousands of the religion's (sorry, football's ) disciples throughout the Island.
Because this is the land of naivete and Doublethink, they felt deeply hurt and didn't expect this hammer blow from FIFA.
I mean they had obligingly ignored all the Sunday Times and BBC Television accusations of widespread corruption and bribes made against five of FIFA's directors, hadn't they.
They could hardly do anything else though, could they? I mean if you're on the make that's the sort of thing you do in a highly "religious" state isn't it? You know, forget ethics and morality and bury your head in the sand ( Sorry, I mean "Turn the other cheek" and all that).
Best about it though, they were most sporting and didn't seem in the least surprised or aggrieved at the logic of Russia, the thoroughly corrupt "Mafia State, being granted the World Cup honour. Well, why should it? In Fantasy Island it makes perfect sense.
This is after all, the country that invented the "Dunkirk Spirit."
And why should they feel surprised or aggrieved?
Well, if you don't acknowledge FIFA's corruption- or conveniently bury your head in the sand about it - then it's very hard to complain that there's anything at all wrong when that corrupt World Cup organisation awards the World Cup to one of the World's most corrupt state's.
But, like I say, 2 plus 2 always makes five in Good old Fantasy Island!.
By the way, the Day of Mourning will be next Friday. The service of national grief will be held at Westminster Abbey.
Although the Queen and all the other luminaries will attend, actual football fans have been barred, since it wasn't found practicable to charge them the £100 admission they usually cough up at the match.
In addition, to maintain the dignity of the occasion Sir Alec Ferguson has been ordered to refrain from chewing gum throughout the ceremony. Another reason is that the Government is trying to reduce the epidemic of passive-chewing, for which they blame him.
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
FANTASY ISLAND: THE LATEST!
Sub- Zero temperatures besiege the Island!
Roads, Airports, Railways, Petrol Stations , Schools - all closed!
But guess what? The Island's new religion, Premier League football (or "Opium Of The Masses", as some unsporting, ignorant critics call it ) still took place last night ,even in snow and freezing ice - West Ham hammered Manchester United and Arsenal trashed Wigan.
There was no way the impassable roads, closed petrol stations, and out-of-action buses and trains were going to stop the worshippers of this multi-million corporate business from getting to the grounds to stand in the freezing cold for two hours to cheer their millioniare idols. No way, man!
But that's the good old Fantasy Islanders for you! That's what used to be called, "the Bulldog Spirit" before the Island became an offfshore province of the European Union.
Yes, you can bet your life NOTHING will get in the way of the Islanders and their beloved religion!
I mean, their own Prime Minister, even as we speak, is in Switzerland with another millionaire, a guy called Beckham, (who is more fashion model than footballer), begging FIFA to let Fantasy Island host the World Cup in 2018. This is despite 5 of FIFA's directors being exposed by the BBC for corruptly lining their pockets with £millions in bribes.
But what the hell. Millionaire old Etonian, David Cameron is determined to show the fans he is much more of a Working Class Hero than his model, Tony Blair!
Before travelling to Zurich he was reliably informed by the BBC's Panorama that you actually lose money by hosting the World Cup - one reason being that the corrupt FIFA demands, among many other exotic benefits, exemption from any taxes payable to the host country.
Well, that's ok with David. I mean what with him and his crew claiming all kinds of mortgage expenses, it's par for the course!
What do you expect!
Oh, and before you go, heard the one about Vince Cable the Government Minister responsible for introducing student tuition fees? Well he says that when it comes to a vote in the House Of Comedians he will probably abstain from passing his own legislation!
Surprised?
Come on!
This is Fantasy Island, after all!
Roads, Airports, Railways, Petrol Stations , Schools - all closed!
But guess what? The Island's new religion, Premier League football (or "Opium Of The Masses", as some unsporting, ignorant critics call it ) still took place last night ,even in snow and freezing ice - West Ham hammered Manchester United and Arsenal trashed Wigan.
There was no way the impassable roads, closed petrol stations, and out-of-action buses and trains were going to stop the worshippers of this multi-million corporate business from getting to the grounds to stand in the freezing cold for two hours to cheer their millioniare idols. No way, man!
But that's the good old Fantasy Islanders for you! That's what used to be called, "the Bulldog Spirit" before the Island became an offfshore province of the European Union.
Yes, you can bet your life NOTHING will get in the way of the Islanders and their beloved religion!
I mean, their own Prime Minister, even as we speak, is in Switzerland with another millionaire, a guy called Beckham, (who is more fashion model than footballer), begging FIFA to let Fantasy Island host the World Cup in 2018. This is despite 5 of FIFA's directors being exposed by the BBC for corruptly lining their pockets with £millions in bribes.
But what the hell. Millionaire old Etonian, David Cameron is determined to show the fans he is much more of a Working Class Hero than his model, Tony Blair!
Before travelling to Zurich he was reliably informed by the BBC's Panorama that you actually lose money by hosting the World Cup - one reason being that the corrupt FIFA demands, among many other exotic benefits, exemption from any taxes payable to the host country.
Well, that's ok with David. I mean what with him and his crew claiming all kinds of mortgage expenses, it's par for the course!
What do you expect!
Oh, and before you go, heard the one about Vince Cable the Government Minister responsible for introducing student tuition fees? Well he says that when it comes to a vote in the House Of Comedians he will probably abstain from passing his own legislation!
Surprised?
Come on!
This is Fantasy Island, after all!
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