But Clare was livid; she’d started and there was no way she wasn’t going to finish. ‘I work all the hours that God sends, so he can have a good life and when he is actually home, all he does is moan or play on that game all night. His bedroom is a shit-tip and he just treats the house as if it’s a bleeding hotel—’

Ged had had enough, she was doing his head in. He didn’t care who else was in the room.

‘Mam, wind your neck in. How embarrassing are you? Shut up, will you?’

That was it. Clare was going for gold. She sprang to her feet, ready to throttle him. ‘You see what I have to put up with? He needs anger management. It was bad enough before. But now it’s like he’s changed overnight. One minute he is the son that I love, a decent lad. Now he’s just a cheeky bastard who doesn’t give a toss about anyone but himself.’

Tina took control of the situation. This wasn’t how she had planned the meeting at all.

‘Ged, would you agree that things haven’t been that good at home? You can see how upset your mother is.’

Ged didn’t get why he was the one at fault. ‘She’s the one who started it. Every time I speak about my dad, she disrespects him and calls him a fucking idiot. Go on, Mam, tell them you said he was just a sperm donor, that he’s never been a dad.’

Clare raised her hand to her throat, his words choking her. Donny sent Ged across to the other side of the room before they started laying into each other. He meant business now; this was his school with his rules, not a bleeding boxing ring. No wonder the kids here had problems when their parents were just as hot-headed as their children. Tina poured Clare a glass of cold water.

‘Here you go, it will help you calm down. Might I suggest that we just have a five-minute breather so everyone can calm down?’

Donny nodded. ‘Come on, Ged, let’s me and you go and grab a bit of fresh air for a few minutes. We’ll sort this mess out, don’t worry.’

Ged stood up – it was clear he was about to snap. ‘Just get me out of here away from her. It’s her fault winding me up all the time. She’s a crank.’

‘Come on, let’s get that fresh air,’ Donny steered him out of the room.