Former football hooligan to speak in front of Delvin audience
A reformed football hooligan is to speak to audiences in Delvin as the part of the parish's pre-Easter mission.
At a time when football and violence went hand in hand, Niall Slattery became part of the most notorious gang in Britain, the Inter-City Firm - a hooligan group drawn from among supporters of London club, West Ham United.
Travelling the country to get into fights with opposing teams supporters was part of the weekly routine, until he witnessed an innocent man stabbed and left for dead after a London derby. Brought to death’s door himself, he found a way out and underwent a drastic change.
Niall speaks internationally about the life he has lived. Recently, movies such as Green Street, Cass and Football Factory have glorified the brutality of firm life, but Slattery tells the truth of what it is to be involved in the cycle of drink, drugs, and violence.
His story was recently featured on RTE Radio 1 and TV3, and Niall has appeared in various newspapers throughout the country.
He will be in Westmeath during the week after St Patrick's Day, and is available to talk to secondary schools about his experiences. Primarily though, he will speak at Delvin's parish mission between March 18 and 22, at 9.30am and 7.30pm each day.
The Delvin mission will be conducted by a lay team from the St Patrick's Community.