Still Breathing: The True Adventures of the Donnelly Brothers

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HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) mounted its biggest ever operation in Northern Ireland to bring the 27-strong gang to justice. This group of individuals had links to organised crime groups in Sefton and were living a lifestyle which was well beyond their means. Now they will serve lengthy periods of time behind bars.

Matthew Brennan (37), of Mathieson Terrace, Glasgow, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue on 9 December 2021 and was sentenced to 26 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, on 16 December 2021 at Belfast Crown Court. Brendan Muldoon (57), of Cluain Mor Drive, Belfast, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue on 28 October 2022 and was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, at Belfast Crown Court on 28 October 2022.The prosecution team including counsel pulled together the various strands of evidence to form a strong prosecution case, which has resulted in these convictions.” Christopher: "It was a very different time if you know what I mean? Me and Anthony were brought up on a council estate, our Dad was a scrap dealer. It was nice where we lived, it was green, just on the outskirts of Wythenshawe. My Dad was a bit of a character, the whole family was really – well known right across the city. In the '70s I was a young kid, but ’77 was when it started getting interesting for me cause ’76-’77 the punk thing broke. Mark Clarke, 18, of Oxford Road, Waterloo, who pleaded guilty to the supply of Class A and Class B drugs, got 12 months in a Young Offenders Institute.

Detectives got even closer when they complained they had been sold “sub-standard cocaine” and were handed another mobile phone number. Kieran McGuinness (46), of Berkeley Hall Square, Lisburn, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue on 10 March 2022 and was sentenced to four years imprisonment, suspended for three years, on the same date at Belfast Crown Court. Robert Clarke (71), of Dundrod Road, Crumlin, pleaded guilty to one count of converting criminal property on 8 November 2019 and was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, on 12 November 2019 at Belfast Crown Court. Even prior to all that, everyone talks about the Hacienda– ’87, ’88 onwards – but I remember going to the Haciendain the early 80s, I was there for their first birthday party when I was 13! It’s been documented, but underneath the Hacienda dancefloor there was a hairdresser’s called ‘ Swing’ and the geezer who ran it, Andrew Berry, was a DJ at the Hacienda, so there’d be all types in there, it was just mad! I’d go and get my hair cut and Morriseywould be there, Bernard Sumner, Johnny Marr, The Falland seeing those guys made me think ‘that’s where you need to be. That’s where it’s at – music and fashion’.So that was definitely a turning point in my head. That was the route we needed to go." There are three things you should be: 1. Be nice 2. Be nice and 3. Be nice. So, whatever your career, just work hard and be nice and I think you can get to where you want to be."

Gary Ireland, 24, of Alexandra Road, Waterloo, who pleaded guilty to the supply of Class A drugs and was sentenced to 31 months. John Donnan (43), of Portnamona Court, Belfast, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiring to convert criminal property on 28 February 2022 and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, on 10 March 2022 at Belfast Crown Court. Andrew Brimble, 48, Staffa Drive, Tibshelf, Derbyshire. Jailed for four years after admitting conspiracy to supply amphetamine

I wrote part of the 10-commandment speech that was performed by Stephen Graham. My two kids are actually in the video at the end playing Mouse Trap, and it says ‘to be continued’ – that video was 10-11 years ago, and I actually had a conversation with a huge name in the music industry about doing part two." Another 25 accomplices, most of whom knowingly allowed their personal details to be used as part of the fraud, were handed suspended prison sentences. verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ I’d be going into primary school with ripped jeans on, sort of Converse style pumps with ‘ 88’ on the side of ‘em, with a mohair jumper at the age of 9. There used to be a punk disco up the road that I’d sneak into, and they'd all be pogoing to Slaughter and Dogs(from Wythenshawe), Sex Pistolsand all that, and I’d be 9 years old in there with geezers who were 18 to 20. It was an interesting time and place to be brought up in."

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