Chapter Nine
'Portlaw Revenge'
While Margaret didn’t want to keep any secrets from Tom, she believed it to be wrong to break Paddy Grogan’s confidences without his strict consent. It made her feel somewhat underhand in the position she’d placed herself in, but she felt confidentially bound to maintain her silence. She almost told Tom during a day out to the coast one weekend a few weeks later, but at the last moment, she thought better about breaking Paddy Groggy's confidence and allowed the opportunity to pass.
During her meeting with Paddy Groggy, Margaret had learned that he’d no intention of ever again getting married and that since coming to England, his prime purpose had been to provide his daughter with every advantage in life that he could afford her. He found it easy to obtain a teaching post and within a matter of a mere three years, he’d secured the post of Headmaster at a school in Bolton and more latterly in Oxenhope. He'd bought a beautiful rural property in the nearby village of Denholme where he and Bridget had lived for the past two years.
When Margaret told Paddy about having seen Thomas Walsh in Halifax recently, Paddy involuntarily shuddered momentarily. That man had caused him much grief in his past life and like Margaret, both parties desired never to set eyes on him again.
At the next available opportunity, Paddy obtained a list of schools and their heads in the Halifax and Bradford areas and was very pleased to find that a Thomas Walsh occupied no teaching post in any of them. Further inquiries in surrounding areas however, greatly disappointed him. He learned that a Thomas Walsh was currently the Deputy Head at Richmond House Independent School for 3-11 year olds in the Educational Authority of nearby Leeds.
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Over the following summer before commencing their degree course, Bridget and Margaret became regular visitors to both parents' houses. However, the parents of both girls avoided meeting up if possible with the exception of enjoying a joint meal occasionally that one of their daughters had arranged.
Margaret and Bridget eventually decided to obtain their degrees from Bath University and moved down there to commence in the September of that year. They apparently secured a rented flat close to their university and to all intents and purposes, their studying and relationship blossomed.
They agreed however, that during visits back home during holiday breaks that they would each stay with their own parents. This was an agreement that seemed to work out well for all concerned. It seemed like one thing having their parents know that they 'did it' in their Bath accommodation, but they felt uncomfortable 'doing it' on their doorstep and 'rubbing their noses in it unnecessarily'!
Margaret and Bridget eventually decided to obtain their degrees from Bath University and moved down there to commence in the September of that year. They apparently secured a rented flat close to their university and to all intents and purposes, their studying and relationship blossomed.
They agreed however, that during visits back home during holiday breaks that they would each stay with their own parents. This was an agreement that seemed to work out well for all concerned. It seemed like one thing having their parents know that they 'did it' in their Bath accommodation, but they felt uncomfortable 'doing it' on their doorstep and 'rubbing their noses in it unnecessarily'!
For the first two years of their university degrees at Bath, Joe and Bridget very much remained an item. Then, for reasons which neither girl ever spoke about, these two love birds suddenly broke off their relationship and went their own ways.
Bridget took up with another girl at university and Joe seemed to need 'time out' before considering commencing any other relationships. Bridget had been the one to end their relationship after she'd started getting too close to another girl from Bath. This close friendship naturally caused a certain amount of jealousy and argument between Joe and Bridget and when Joe gave her partner the ultimatum of either choosing between her or her new friend, Bridget elected to break it off with Joe. Joe took the ending of their relationship the hardest, as she was the one who'd been dumped, with Bridget having been the one to have done the dumping. Until her broken heart had been given sufficient time to mend itself, Joe hadn't the slightest intention of emotionally investing her feelings and time in another close relationship!
After the girls had obtained their respective degrees, Joe went abroad for two years to travel across America, Africa and Australia. She wanted to spend six to nine months in each continent before she entered the field of politics as some British politician's research worker. Meanwhile, Bridget had started and ended her second same-sex relationship before deciding that she might be bi-sexual.
Joe had been in America for two months when the proverbial shit hit the fan and all hell was unleashed upon the relatively tranquil and contented lives of the main parties in this story. Margaret was so pleased that her daughter Joe was out of the country at the time and away from any news about Keighley and its surrounding area.
Bridget took up with another girl at university and Joe seemed to need 'time out' before considering commencing any other relationships. Bridget had been the one to end their relationship after she'd started getting too close to another girl from Bath. This close friendship naturally caused a certain amount of jealousy and argument between Joe and Bridget and when Joe gave her partner the ultimatum of either choosing between her or her new friend, Bridget elected to break it off with Joe. Joe took the ending of their relationship the hardest, as she was the one who'd been dumped, with Bridget having been the one to have done the dumping. Until her broken heart had been given sufficient time to mend itself, Joe hadn't the slightest intention of emotionally investing her feelings and time in another close relationship!
After the girls had obtained their respective degrees, Joe went abroad for two years to travel across America, Africa and Australia. She wanted to spend six to nine months in each continent before she entered the field of politics as some British politician's research worker. Meanwhile, Bridget had started and ended her second same-sex relationship before deciding that she might be bi-sexual.
Joe had been in America for two months when the proverbial shit hit the fan and all hell was unleashed upon the relatively tranquil and contented lives of the main parties in this story. Margaret was so pleased that her daughter Joe was out of the country at the time and away from any news about Keighley and its surrounding area.
xxxxx
The incident that ignited this explosive fuse was the unexpected meeting of Thomas Walsh and Paddy Groggy at a convention in Huddersfield for Headmasters and their Deputies.
At the time, Paddy was getting a coffee from the dispensing machine and when he turned to walk back to the small group he’d been talking to, who should he bump into, but Thomas Walsh himself. While both men were undoubtedly stunned to see the other, it was the older man Paddy who was the most shocked. Paddy pretended not to recognise Thomas Walsh.
“Who have we here?” Thomas Walsh said sneeringly when he clasped eyes on Paddy. “Why, if it isn’t my old deputy, Paddy Groggy from Portlaw. Now what brings you to this little gathering? By God, it’s a small world isn’t it? I've often wondered where you got to after your dear old Ma shot your wife and her soldier sweetheart in the family barn? And that child of Rosie's........what became of her? Married is she to some English man with his own castle?”
It was at that moment that Thomas Walsh saw the name tag on Paddy’s coat lapel that read Patrick Grogan, Headmaster.
“Been having a change of identity have we? Now then, I wonder why you’d need to hide behind the name of another and under the status of Headmaster also!”
“I’m afraid you have me mistaken with someone else,” Paddy replied in a futile attempt to bluff his way out of the embarrassing situation.
“Hang on there, Paddy. You don't get away that easy. There’s only one sheep-shite called Paddy Groggy in my book and there was only one Rosie Groggy in my life!” Thomas Walsh laughed raucously.
As Paddy looked at his old foe, he could see the glint of mischief in his eyes as the crude opening in Thomas Walsh's face begged to bite by mouthing words of scorn and derision.
“You don’t think for one moment that the soldier boy from Kilkenny was the first and only chap Rosie lifted her skirt for behind your back, do you, Paddy? No, there were too many to count on two hands I’d wager that she’d spread her legs for! Why, I bet in the time I knew her, I must have had her between the sheets of your bed twice as many times as you did yourself Paddy. Remember those long lunch breaks I used to take while I left you in charge of the school holding the fort? Remember those lunch breaks Paddy? Where do you think I was? What do you think I was doing, Paddy, and what’s more to the point, who with? When you were back here in school as my faithful Deputy doing what I should have been doing, Paddy, I had your Rosie spread-eagled across your bed doing to her what you should have been doing to her if only you'd been man enough! I missed old Rosie after your Ma shot her. I always found her a good roll in the hay, as I'm sure many another also did. Why, down at the pub, I recall a favourite ditty. It was often said by those who really knew her, that 'Rosie Groggy loved to doggie!'”
Paddy angrily put his cup down and immediately left the conference without a word of explanation to the organizers of it. He had no recollection of having travelled his journey back home and when he arrived back, he was furious with having walked out on Thomas Walsh with his tail between his legs without doing or saying something there and then.
Paddy spent the rest of the day uncharacteristically smashing crockery and breaking furniture one minute, with his head in his hands the next. He felt ashamed of his pathetic response that morning as he tried to grapple with the allegations that Thomas Walsh had made to him earlier. In particular, Paddy thought about the grave implications and possible outcome had those things Thomas Walsh spat out been truthful, however spitefully voiced.
At the time, Paddy was getting a coffee from the dispensing machine and when he turned to walk back to the small group he’d been talking to, who should he bump into, but Thomas Walsh himself. While both men were undoubtedly stunned to see the other, it was the older man Paddy who was the most shocked. Paddy pretended not to recognise Thomas Walsh.
“Who have we here?” Thomas Walsh said sneeringly when he clasped eyes on Paddy. “Why, if it isn’t my old deputy, Paddy Groggy from Portlaw. Now what brings you to this little gathering? By God, it’s a small world isn’t it? I've often wondered where you got to after your dear old Ma shot your wife and her soldier sweetheart in the family barn? And that child of Rosie's........what became of her? Married is she to some English man with his own castle?”
It was at that moment that Thomas Walsh saw the name tag on Paddy’s coat lapel that read Patrick Grogan, Headmaster.
“Been having a change of identity have we? Now then, I wonder why you’d need to hide behind the name of another and under the status of Headmaster also!”
“I’m afraid you have me mistaken with someone else,” Paddy replied in a futile attempt to bluff his way out of the embarrassing situation.
“Hang on there, Paddy. You don't get away that easy. There’s only one sheep-shite called Paddy Groggy in my book and there was only one Rosie Groggy in my life!” Thomas Walsh laughed raucously.
As Paddy looked at his old foe, he could see the glint of mischief in his eyes as the crude opening in Thomas Walsh's face begged to bite by mouthing words of scorn and derision.
“You don’t think for one moment that the soldier boy from Kilkenny was the first and only chap Rosie lifted her skirt for behind your back, do you, Paddy? No, there were too many to count on two hands I’d wager that she’d spread her legs for! Why, I bet in the time I knew her, I must have had her between the sheets of your bed twice as many times as you did yourself Paddy. Remember those long lunch breaks I used to take while I left you in charge of the school holding the fort? Remember those lunch breaks Paddy? Where do you think I was? What do you think I was doing, Paddy, and what’s more to the point, who with? When you were back here in school as my faithful Deputy doing what I should have been doing, Paddy, I had your Rosie spread-eagled across your bed doing to her what you should have been doing to her if only you'd been man enough! I missed old Rosie after your Ma shot her. I always found her a good roll in the hay, as I'm sure many another also did. Why, down at the pub, I recall a favourite ditty. It was often said by those who really knew her, that 'Rosie Groggy loved to doggie!'”
Paddy angrily put his cup down and immediately left the conference without a word of explanation to the organizers of it. He had no recollection of having travelled his journey back home and when he arrived back, he was furious with having walked out on Thomas Walsh with his tail between his legs without doing or saying something there and then.
Paddy spent the rest of the day uncharacteristically smashing crockery and breaking furniture one minute, with his head in his hands the next. He felt ashamed of his pathetic response that morning as he tried to grapple with the allegations that Thomas Walsh had made to him earlier. In particular, Paddy thought about the grave implications and possible outcome had those things Thomas Walsh spat out been truthful, however spitefully voiced.
Paddy Grogan stayed away from his job on 'sick absence' over the next two days as he thought and thought. Once he’d eventually decided what to do, he smartly dressed, left his house and boarded a train from Keighley Railway Station that was bound for Leeds. Two hours later, around lunch break, he was standing outside the school where Thomas Walsh worked as Deputy Head.
Paddy knew what he had to do and he knew that one way or another, before the day was out that Thomas Walsh would pay for having wronged him and Rosie's mother.
Paddy knew what he had to do and he knew that one way or another, before the day was out that Thomas Walsh would pay for having wronged him and Rosie's mother.
Entering the school grounds, Paddy made his way to the office of the Headmaster and after quickly flashing an identity card that contained a photograph of himself and introducing himself falsely as Detective Inspector Grogan, he requested to speak with their Deputy Head, Thomas Walsh in private.
"Can you tell me what it's about?" the Head asked in natural curiosity.
"I’m sorry, but I can’t until I’ve finished my enquiries,” Paddy answered in a tone of authority, "It’s of a highly private and confidential nature. Now would you please excuse me and allow me to speak alone with Mr Walsh when he arrives?”
After a bit of huffing and puffing and looking highly disgruntled, the Headmaster vacated his office to the visiting 'Detective Inspector' and asked the secretary to show the Deputy Head into his office when he showed up.
After a bit of huffing and puffing and looking highly disgruntled, the Headmaster vacated his office to the visiting 'Detective Inspector' and asked the secretary to show the Deputy Head into his office when he showed up.
Thomas Walsh entered the Headmaster’s office some five minutes later to speak with the Detective Inspector. His hands still gripped a new cane that he'd been in the process of breaking in on an unruly pupil's palm. As he entered, Paddy had his back to him and simply requested, “Close the door.”
As Thomas closed the door, he suddenly remembered the familiarity of the voice that he'd just heard issue the instruction. Had the words been wrapped in the form of a polite request, he would have instantly known it as belonging to the widowed husband of his old lover, Rosie Groggy. It was however, that because the words had formed an instruction instead of a polite request which had thrown him momentarily off the scent of recognition.
As Thomas closed the door, he suddenly remembered the familiarity of the voice that he'd just heard issue the instruction. Had the words been wrapped in the form of a polite request, he would have instantly known it as belonging to the widowed husband of his old lover, Rosie Groggy. It was however, that because the words had formed an instruction instead of a polite request which had thrown him momentarily off the scent of recognition.
Thomas Walsh closed the office door and when he turned, he found himself looking into the bloodshot eyes of Paddy Groggy. Paddy's eyes looked harsh and vwere filled with thoughts of revenge. As Thomas Walsh recognised the man before him and was about to say something derisory, Paddy thrust forward the knife he was holding. Suddenly Thomas Walsh was fatally pierced and he suddenly felt a sharp stabbing pain in his stomach. Paddy simply smiled as Thomas writhed in agony. The more Thomas writhed the more Paddy twisted the serrated-edged blade inside his adversary’s gut.
Thomas fell to the ground and as he moaned his final breath, Paddy Groggy pulled out the bloody blade, allowing the stomach wound of Thomas Walsh to bleed profusely. Then, Paddy opened the door and politely asked the secretary to call the police and inform them that he’d just killed their Deputy Head. When the police arrived some ten minutes later, quickly followed by the ambulance, Paddy Groggy offered no resistance or statement upon being arrested. All he offered was his complete silence and the surrender of the bloodied knife withy his finger prints on it!
Thomas fell to the ground and as he moaned his final breath, Paddy Groggy pulled out the bloody blade, allowing the stomach wound of Thomas Walsh to bleed profusely. Then, Paddy opened the door and politely asked the secretary to call the police and inform them that he’d just killed their Deputy Head. When the police arrived some ten minutes later, quickly followed by the ambulance, Paddy Groggy offered no resistance or statement upon being arrested. All he offered was his complete silence and the surrender of the bloodied knife withy his finger prints on it!
XXXXX
Initially, Paddy’s name was not publicly released and he was described only as ‘a Bradford man who'd been arrested for the murder of a local school teacher' on the television, regional radio and in the local press. His name eventually emerged in print in ‘The Keighley News’ some weeks later at the same time that the local television channels of 'Calendar' and 'Look North' were able to provide full identification of both victim and arrested man.
Paddy's distraught daughter returned home about one month after her father had been initially remanded in custody. Paddy had written to Bridget from his prison cell to her in Bath where she now lived. Bridget was naturally shocked that her mild-mannered father could have done such a thing; could have deliberately stuck a serrated knife in the stomach of another man for no known reason. Naturally, Bridget didn't know that the man who her father had killed was in effect Joe's blood-father; the man Joe had hardly ever known as father and never would.
During her visit back home, a shocked Bridget went to visit her father on remand in H.M. Prison Armley. Never having been inside prison walls before, she had no idea what to expect and as was her custom, she 'dressed up' as opposed to 'down' for her visit. Whatever her father had done was no excuse in her eyes not to walk in and out of there as though she wasn't better than anyone else watching. After all, she'd done no wrong!
Paddy's distraught daughter returned home about one month after her father had been initially remanded in custody. Paddy had written to Bridget from his prison cell to her in Bath where she now lived. Bridget was naturally shocked that her mild-mannered father could have done such a thing; could have deliberately stuck a serrated knife in the stomach of another man for no known reason. Naturally, Bridget didn't know that the man who her father had killed was in effect Joe's blood-father; the man Joe had hardly ever known as father and never would.
During her visit back home, a shocked Bridget went to visit her father on remand in H.M. Prison Armley. Never having been inside prison walls before, she had no idea what to expect and as was her custom, she 'dressed up' as opposed to 'down' for her visit. Whatever her father had done was no excuse in her eyes not to walk in and out of there as though she wasn't better than anyone else watching. After all, she'd done no wrong!
Bridget only visited her father once during his entire period on remand. Paddy Groggy was pleased to see her, yet while he was content to hear anything about her life down in Bath, not one word would he speak about the stabbing of Thomas Walsh. Bridget tried to push him to explain his action and his continued silence eventually led her to scream at him, "You....selfish man......How could you? Why?"
After her father still refused to enlighten her as to why he'd done what he'd done, Bridget told him that she didn’t want to see him again until his trial date as it broke her heart to see him in that horrible, filthy place.
Naturally, Margaret and Tom were also shocked at the news of what Bridget’s father had done once they'd found out, but they kept all knowledge of Paddy Groggy's deed away from their daughter Joe's ears. While in truth, under any other set of circumstances, the absence of Thomas Walsh from the face of the earth would have been a welcomed event for Margaret and Tom, the precise circumstances of his demise couldn't possibly have been more bizarre.
Margaret was so happy that both girls had finally ended their relationship and with any luck, she hoped that the entire matter regarding Bridget's father and the man he'd murdered might be done and dusted and put to bed forever more without Joe ever needing to know about it any more than was absolutely necessary.
After her father still refused to enlighten her as to why he'd done what he'd done, Bridget told him that she didn’t want to see him again until his trial date as it broke her heart to see him in that horrible, filthy place.
Naturally, Margaret and Tom were also shocked at the news of what Bridget’s father had done once they'd found out, but they kept all knowledge of Paddy Groggy's deed away from their daughter Joe's ears. While in truth, under any other set of circumstances, the absence of Thomas Walsh from the face of the earth would have been a welcomed event for Margaret and Tom, the precise circumstances of his demise couldn't possibly have been more bizarre.
Margaret was so happy that both girls had finally ended their relationship and with any luck, she hoped that the entire matter regarding Bridget's father and the man he'd murdered might be done and dusted and put to bed forever more without Joe ever needing to know about it any more than was absolutely necessary.
Soon after Bridget had visited her father and had returned to Bath, Margaret also made arrangements to visit Paddy on remand. She told Tom that he might talk to her easier if she visited him alone. Tom agreed.
Initially, Paddy was very apprehensive about seeing Margaret. Although he knew that she held nothing, but contempt for the manner that Thomas Walsh had treated her and Joe, Paddy Groggy still couldn’t know if she could bear to face the man who'd killed her estranged husband.
While Paddy was pleased to find Margaret non-hostile towards him and more concerned about his overall welfare inside the prison, he nevertheless refused to say what had led to him being so angry with Thomas Walsh to have hunted him down and killed him in his place of work. Margaret knew that as the deputy to her husband many years earlier, Thomas Walsh had made Paddy’s life a total misery, but she couldn’t grasp what in particular had driven this peaceful man over the edge to take the life of another in such a brutal manner. The only words Paddy would say on the subject were, “He deserved it. He was no better than an animal. I hope his soul rots in hell. Look out for Joe, won’t you, Margaret. She's a fine girl. I'm so glad that the two of them saw sense and ended their relationship. They each deserve some happiness without being saddled with the Portlaw revenge.”
Initially, Paddy was very apprehensive about seeing Margaret. Although he knew that she held nothing, but contempt for the manner that Thomas Walsh had treated her and Joe, Paddy Groggy still couldn’t know if she could bear to face the man who'd killed her estranged husband.
While Paddy was pleased to find Margaret non-hostile towards him and more concerned about his overall welfare inside the prison, he nevertheless refused to say what had led to him being so angry with Thomas Walsh to have hunted him down and killed him in his place of work. Margaret knew that as the deputy to her husband many years earlier, Thomas Walsh had made Paddy’s life a total misery, but she couldn’t grasp what in particular had driven this peaceful man over the edge to take the life of another in such a brutal manner. The only words Paddy would say on the subject were, “He deserved it. He was no better than an animal. I hope his soul rots in hell. Look out for Joe, won’t you, Margaret. She's a fine girl. I'm so glad that the two of them saw sense and ended their relationship. They each deserve some happiness without being saddled with the Portlaw revenge.”
Paddy waited almost ten months before his trial at the Leeds Crown Court was scheduled to be heard. Margaret felt the need to write to her father again, but without telling him precise details about the tragic death of Thomas Walsh and the manner of his demise at the hands of a friend of hers. She simply mentioned that Thomas Walsh had died in West Yorkshire and that she wasn't yet in a position to tell him any more details than those at the moment. She also didn’t feel able to say anything about his granddaughter Joe being a lesbian.
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