From Hell to the Heavens

The curious case of Mr. F

- Ian Kirke

According to Albert Einstein, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” And who am I to argue with such a luminary? Little did I know that this piece of guidance would begin to prove itself on a scrap of paper. Nor, come to think of it, did I ever imagine that as a direct consequence I would be intimately exposed to the perfect murder of an MI6 operative, the harrowing searches for hidden homicide victims, and eventually an uplifting spirit of adventure born out of the tragic death of a child.

The route from Dublin airport to County Mayo, in the Northwest tip of Ireland, meandered across some of the most stunning countrysides I had ever seen – lush open green fields dotted with the odd rustic dwelling, and lakes that shimmered like giant tears, surrounded by thick woodland. Alone in my hire car, I constantly stopped just to breathe it all in. Sightseeing was not, however, my intended purpose. It was the business of risk that had taken me to this incredible part of the world and keeping staff safe at one of the most divisive locations, on behalf of a global energy provider, was my ultimate goal. Serious protestor activity coupled with local tensions had created a perfect storm of intimidation and potential violence, and my expertise was sought to better protect those working on the project.

Up early the following day along with other colleagues, I was chauffeured across a differing terrain – peatland stretched as far as the eye could see, with the flatness only interrupted by hardy bushes and stricken, weathered trees which at dawn resembled skeletal fingers pointing skyward. On reaching the coastline the vicious Atlantic waves battered the beautiful granite cliffs with unrelenting force and the ensuing rain made me squint, despite having donned protective gear from head to toe.