‘And you?’ He turned to Thomas, and Thomas thought for a moment. ‘The true soldier fights not because he hates what’s in front of him, but because he loves what’s behind him,’ he said with great authority before leading the others to chant ‘Shove your meters up your arse’.

The police arrived two hours later; the lads had been corralled in their van for five hours. Two Garda stepped out of the car – a pretty girl in her twenties and an ugly fella in his early fifties. They surveyed the situation.

‘I’ve seen it all now, Edel,’ he said to his fellow Garda. She just shook her head. ‘Who’s in charge here?’ he asked. Paul and Molly both said, ‘I am.’ He sniffed and made his way towards Molly. He didn’t introduce himself; later she came to know him as Sergeant Kevin Fogarty.

‘Molly Hayes.’

‘You’ll need to move this car, Molly.’

‘And if I don’t?’

‘Then I’ll have to arrest you under section 15, Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.’

‘For what?’ Molly said.

‘For false imprisonment.’

‘They’re not falsely imprisoned.’

‘Are they free to leave?’

‘No.’

‘Well then, they are falsely imprisoned,’ he said.

‘They are vandalising private property.’

‘They’re doing their job and so am I, so it’s time to go home.’

Molly called out to the others: ‘Roll ’em up and lock ’em down,’ rolling up her window so fast she nearly took the hands off the Garda.

Sergeant Kevin Fogarty shook his head. ‘Molly Hayes and friends, I am arresting you under section 15, Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.’

*

The station was quiet enough when Jack arrived, puffed up and pale-faced, with Molly’s passport in hand. She had no choice but to call him; she wasn’t allowed home until she had verified her identification.

‘My God, Molly, what’s going on in that head of yours?’ he said.

At least I don’t hide away in an attic, old man. She ignored him. Pauline jumped to her friend’s defence. ‘We all just got a bit carried away.’

A thundering Grace was hot on her father’s heels. ‘Carried away? Ma, you’re being done for false imprisonment, and one of the lads is threatening to sue for assault,’ Grace said in a very high-pitched voice.

‘Sorry,’ Molly said. Sorry.

Everyone was quiet on the car ride home. Molly and her cohorts would be forced to appear in court within thirty days. It was a big deal. Sorry.

‘We’ll need a solicitor,’ Jack said.

‘Just call Maurice.’

‘Maurice is not a criminal solicitor,’ Jack said.

‘Good, because I’m not a criminal.’

‘Well according to the fuckin’ charge sheet you are,’ Grace shouted. After that everyone was silent again.