When Ciaran doesn't care, he really doesn't care and when he does anything, he does knowing the consequences, he lived off adrenaline and loved to live dangerously, but he also knew boundaries and how much he can push a situation.
Knowing that one of his biggest problems was having too much time on his hands, Ciaran decides to get a job and with a bit of luck one of his friends had hurt his back at work, he was working as a garden landscaper and he was the only labourer. Because of the size of the project, his boss had said he could have help for a week and with luck the job was cash in hand
All it takes for Ciaran to enjoy a job is for it to be challenging whether it be physical of cognitive and although some of the skills required in this role he had learned before, this role pushed him on both sides and he was in his element.
Being told he has some much potential, from basically everyone that been involved in his life proves what they say "being told you are something so much, you start to believe" for Ciaran being told he had some much potential, that he could do anything he wanted to was fact to this. This wasn't he carer choice, in fact most of his work life was in catering and hospitality, he had spent a small period as a painter and decorator at 14 and short burst in other projects in either school or Fairbridge.
His first day as a garden landscaper and he was in his element, with being pushed both physically and mentally, the more he done the harder he worked and it didn't go unnoticed. The end of the day is fast approaching and the boss takes an opportunity when Ciaran was alone to talk to him, the boss offers him the job indefinitely.
This was just the type of job he needed and he wasn't about to turn it down, the job itself came with increased pay, the role itself was also head labourer as well. The client had seen Ciaran's work ethic and speed seeing potential, he decided to utilise on this and added to an already large project, there was conditions on the role offered to him.
Throughout the day both the boss and client had noticed that when they would be looking out over the project or at Ciaran and his mate, when the had been looking toward his friend and the friend would notice he would start holding his back. When the boss offered Ciaran the job it was under the condition that he would fire his friend, he would then be allowed to make the decision on we would replace him and then manage labour from then on.
Waiting until the day was finished and they could sit and talk while having a smoke, ciaran sat his friend to explain the situation and thankfully his friend wasn't upset, he himself agreed that he wasn't right for the role. Ciaran was then left to decide on who would be best suitable for the role having two people in mind, against his better judgement he decided not to hire the more reliable out of the two.
After giving the underdog a chance, he turned up and worked like a machine and Ciaran was really happy about this, not only did it look good to the boss and client, he was happy to see his friend making the effort. We finish for the day and as the boss pulls up to let us out of the van, he pulls a large amount of money out of his pocket and hands us both our wages.
Walking off now Ciaran's friend is talking about getting some smoke and alcohol, Ciaran advises against this telling him tomorrow will be even harder hung over, his friend tell him he will be okay and gets alcohol anyway.
The evening is coming to an end and its starting to get late so Ciaran leaves offing his friend to stay at his, he could help him get up in the morning but his friend declines but promises that he will be at work on time.
The next morning Ciaran is waiting for the boss at the pickup point and he has yet to hear from his friend. The boss has arrived and still no friend, the boss tells Ciaran to try and get a hold of him and instead of rolling and having a smoke at the layby just before the client's house, they would here while they wait. Now with them both rolled and still no word Ciaran tells the boss to head off and he will step up his game for the day, he also assures him he has someone else and this person won't let us down.
The next morning Ciaran is waiting for the boss in the usual spot and just like Ciaran, his friend was early as well which made him happy and even happier when he pulls out two joints, knowing that the boss smokes as well he came prepared. Ciaran however was only there this morning to introduce his friend and boss because Ciaran had to answer bail at the police station that morning.
As Ciaran expected when he arrived at the police station and was booked in, he was told that he will be charged and the case will be committed to court and for an offence of this nature, the case will be heard at crown court.
With this outcome Ciaran knew there is a chance he could receive a custodial sentence and for him that in itself isn't a concern for him, what is, is if he does receive a custodial sentence it would undermine his brother Michaels actions, Michael made a plea deal on the offence he was currently serving a custodial sentence for, the deal was a selfless act.
The day of Michaels trial was also the day of Ciaran's trial. Michael was charged with street robbery and Ciaran was charged with handling stolen goods, Michael had been remanded to prison awaiting trial while Ciaran had been on bail, though it be with heavy bail conditions including an exclusion zone around the town centre not that, that had stopped him. It did mean that Ciaran and Michael couldn't talk at all with the prison being able to control that.
As Ciaran was opening the courtroom door, his barrister pulls him inside to tell him that Michael had made a plea deal and would be changing his plea to guilty, telling him that prostitution would be unable to prove the charge of handling stolen goods so they will be dropping those charges and indite him on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery.
With Ciaran's colourful background and the sentencing guidelines he would be looking at a sentence of eight to ten years, they had told Michael before the trial day and it was Michael who had offered the deal, though the prosecution would love to incarcerate both of them, they were not about to turn down a guaranteed conviction, especially when the offender is Michael and under the offence it was.
Stood in the court room I plead with Michael not to change his plea that we stood a good chance of winning, his reply was there was no point both of them being in jail and he wanted better for him, he said to Ciaran that he can still make a great life for himself and this was opportunity to help with that.
The court session was opened and after a brief statement from the prosecution barrister all charges were dropped against Ciaran and he was free to go. After statements made by both the prosecution and defence barristers it was time to pass sentence. Sat with his fingers crossed, the nerves building and about to spiral out of control.
The judge comes back from deliberation, the sound of please stand sends a wave of anxiety through his body, he sits back down crossing his fingers, praying, anything that could help Michael. Knowing this will be the fifth street robbery conviction and the sentencing would start at ten years, Ciaran is about to lose hope, the judge passes out sentencing and it shocked everyone, two years. Never had Ciaran and Michael been so happy with a sentence.
When ciaran was then charged for the charge of aggravated street robbery, this being a more serious offence that he and his brother had been on before, Ciaran decided to do all he could to stay out of jail for it, he didn't want his brothers selfless act to go in vain.
Ciaran still had too much time on his hands so he decided to get a second job, he had got a job as a chef in one of the casinos work through the evening and nights finishing a three in the morning.
The year had gone by so fast and Michael had now served half his sentence and has now been released to a M.A.P.P.A approved premises in Stains, this had taken a lot of stress off Ciaran and they had started making plans but it wasn't long before Michael had been recalled back to prison after suffering a psychotic break and missing two sign in times.
Over the next month Ciaran kept his head down, he had been a bit emotional with his brothers recall and his birthday was also at the end of the month. Knowing that under the influence Ciaran had less control over his thoughts and behaviour so his birthday was a lowkey day.
With his birthday out of the way, Ciaran throughs himself in to his jobs. While at work in the casino on a cigarette break, he looks on his phone and notices he had several missed calls and texts from his brother Michaels girlfriend, with no information other than a text saying to call her immediately, he does just that.
What have you done now?
To be continued.....