Kevin, Paul, and Hugh Junior may not have been born with silver spoons in their mouths, but unlike most youngsters from their background, they wanted for nothing. Their mother had tried to bring them up in a disciplined way and to appreciate the real value of things. Their father let them do more or less as they liked and made sure the boys always had plenty of money in their pockets. That the young Boyles had very different natures became very clear during their school days.

The eldest, Kevin, was known to his schoolmates as Podge, at least behind his back. Often a fat kid would be a figure of ridicule among his contemporaries but such treatment was never inflicted on young Master Boyle. He had a vicious temper and liked everyone, except his mother, to know that he carried a knife. His favourite phrase, ‘I’ll fucking plunge you’ was often dismissed as piss and wind – but not always, and not by everyone. After all, big Hugh Boyle was his father.

Kevin hated school, and to be fair, the school returned the compliment. Although he enjoyed being the bully, he heartily disliked his teachers for their efforts in trying to impose discipline on him. He hated his classmates because they would not be his friends. He hated the lessons because he was thick. By the time he was fourteen he seldom bothered to turn up, much to the relief of all concerned. By the age of fifteen he had left to join the family firm. No one mourned his leaving.

Paul was quite different. Academically he was very bright and had a natural aptitude for figures. He was popular with his teachers and fellow pupils, although people still tended to tread warily because of his family’s reputation and the fact that Kevin was his big brother.

From an early age, Paul demonstrated a flair for the world of commerce. He always had pencils, rubbers, comics and crisps available for sale at bargain prices. No one much cared how he was able to undercut the local shops – mainly because everyone knew. Following the family tradition, Paul was quite prepared to provide credit for his customers. Few people availed themselves of this facility. Kevin tended to act as debt collector.

In his fourth year at school Paul sat and passed nine ‘O’ Levels with top marks in arithmetic, mathematics and physics. His teachers expected him to return to school after the summer holidays to sit his Highers and in due course go on to university. Paul left school to join the family firm.

Hugh Junior was very much the baby of the family. He was vaguely aware that he and his brothers were treated differently by the other kids in the neighbourhood. He cared not to know the reasons why. He quickly gave up asking his mother why people pointed at her when they walked down the street.