The Second World War came to his village. Americans moved through the fields in camouflage. Black men appeared in the choirs at church and sang lustily. And in the same way as he treated locals, Jonathan Adams arrested the soldiers for being drunk and disorderly. He brought charges of theft when he discovered goods sold between soldiers and civilians. With resentment he saw summonses dropped. He checked cars to see had the petrol originated in the camps. He checked food in shops to see whether it was of American origin. He hounded the by-roads where soldiers courted local women.

The neutrality of the Southern Republic in the war only confirmed what he already believed – that this was a war begun by Hitler to reinstate Catholicism throughout Europe. This was why Spain remained neutral, this was why Mussolini entered the war on Hitler’s side. Rome, while the rest of Europe was devastated, sat out the war. Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, De Valera, the Catholic warlords, and the Jesuits – these were the enemies of the Allies. But, at home, in Fermanagh, the law must take its course. He charged Yankee soldiers with indecent exposure when he found them urinating in the local graveyard. Jonathan Adams became the scourge of the military, and his activities led to a rift between the barracks and the American authorities.

“I have a request here, Constable Adams, from the Americans,” said his sergeant.

“Yes, sir.”

“They would like you to allow them to get on with the war.”

“Yes sir.”

“You think you can do that?”

“If they’ll refrain from drunken excesses and sexual debauchery in the village.”

“It’s a small price to pay, Constable, don’t you think?”

After the war he was occupied with the black market, with smuggling and customs abuse between the Republic and the North of Ireland. One night, the only time he had done so, he discharged a shot over a boat on the Erne, then another, until the Bardwells came ashore with a cargo of butter. Then in the fifties came an IRA Nationalist campaign that soon petered out, but not as far as Jonathan Adams was concerned. Throughout it, and long after, he kept a list of Fenians from his district who were involved. Alongside each name was noted the date of birth, the background of the father and mother. Various relations who had possible Republican interests were added. In red he wrote under each Roman Catholic. Then went on to other headings: prison record, employment, local disturbances.

On a scale of one to three he estimated their potential treason. Possible, definite, committed. It was on his word council houses were given, the few times they were given, to Catholics.