Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
My name is Hugh Murphy and I’m 75 years young. Because of a terrible childhood in which myself and two of my brothers were badly beaten by our father. This resulted in a tragedy – in which my brother stabbed another brother to death. Because of this I have been anti violence and injustice all my life. I started work at Belfast Docks aged 16 and from the start saw corruption in action – which I objected to. In 1972, 50 years ago my Union the ITGWU betrayed every trade union principle ever devised for the protection of workers – and joined with the employers in a Decasualisation Scheme. This was supposed to give the Dockers jobs for life. However, the Employers invented new rules as and when it suited them. One of which was – that by agreeing to the Scheme the Dockers must discharge Asbestos without protection. I got the Dockers to refute this. However, the union and employers had established a diabolical Union and Employers Court named BELFAST AND NORTHERN IRELAND FEDERATION OF EMPLOYERS AND IRISH TRANSPORT & GENERAL WORKERS UNION JOINT DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE.
This committee rail-roaded me with a series of silly charges and I was sacked. Since then I have been trying to get justice for this abomination. Details of the corrupt actions of the Court are on the web and also on linkedin. Several Solicitors refused to take action on my sacking so I contacted the NI Law Society. They replied that if I was refused by six solicitors they’d give a list of three to choose from. However, as I’d already passed that number they gave me the list. The first was a G McCann and I sent him my papers and he took my case – and appointed Norman Shannon, a Junior solicitor to my case. Everything proceeded well until Shannon left Mr McCann and took my case with him. [See papers] Shannon then set on my case until it Became Statute Barred. This corruption is covered up by both Law Societies in Ireland. See my recent open letters to them on linkedin – and also to the Police Commissioner in Dublin.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Memories And Observations”?
My main challenge in writing the book was to suppress the anger that was spurred by every word. The saying ‘Violence creates Violence’ in my childhood was proved very true. My gentle brother who normally wouldn’t hurt a fly – was sent into a life-end rage – because of loud music. Also, I felt terrible anger and the injustice that my Trade Union which – one hundred years ago had fought as ‘The Citizens Army’ to free Ireland from British Rule – had been corrupted at Belfast Docks. Besides the above, I also felt anger at the ‘powers that be’ in Ireland and in the European Parliament who allow this corruption to be covered up.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
To be honest there’s no writer that I’ve come across who portrays the working class in a genuine fashion. My first play ‘Justice’ toured NI and was in the Dublin and Theatre Festivals in 1992, but then I wrote ‘The Judas Goat’ which showed the corruption of the Docks Chairman as he ordered the Dockers to discharge Asbestos without protection. He then left the Union and took the position of Labour Controller with the Employers. I wanted the Scheme thrown out – because an Employer had drawn it up, but to no avail. This play is censored – and this has led to all my plays being censored. However, I did set up a small company and stage two plays. ‘Daddy’, which is about the after effects of child abuse on two adult sisters – and ‘The Grandeur of Delusions’ which is about an alcoholic drug user trying to make sense of his life.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
My favourite spot is on the ‘Cave Hill’ which overlooks Belfast and Belfast Lough. From there on a clear day you can see Scotland and the old cranes for the now defunct ship building yards. It also saddens me to look down on the old Dockside district of ‘Sailortown’ – where I come from. Number 42 New Dock Street, with the old houses long gone- to be replaced by warehouses.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?
No, I don’t make any special preparations before I start writing, as stated I mostly write stage-plays and writing every day. At the moment I’m on the last read- through of a trilogy entitled ‘Why The Poor Are Poor’.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Memories And Observations’?
It took about 18 months to complete Memories and Observations. I would usually fit in a few hours after I finished my play-writing.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
Memories and Observations can be obtained on Barnes and Noble and Amazon
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Memories And Observations’?
My publisher Carol Staff found the photo for me. I described what I wanted, ie a photo of the type of bags that the Dockers handled on a daily basis.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I kept things fresh by thinking back to the time of the things I was describing.
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
The most valuable thing I can say to anyone who is going to write – is don’t think about – just sit down and do it.
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