Philip Coogan

Collusion With Injustice Ireland 1916 to 2016 Philip Coogan

Collusion with injustice details with lyricism and moving honesty the story of one family's experience with the Northern civilwar of the 1970's. The story first began when Grandfather Owen Coogan joined the British Army in 1877 at Crinkle, Kings County. After serving twenty years overseas, Grandfather returned home in 1895. He married Bridget McCormack in 1897 at Birr, Kings County. Soon after Bridget's first child is born. Grandfather purchased a farm near Sharavogue, Kings County, now known as County Offaly. In 1921, Grandfather, Bridget, and nine of their eleven children were held at gunpoint by the IRA and their homestead was set on fire. Grandfather, s family then migrated to Northern Ireland in Cooneen County Fermanagh, a place made famous by the Cooneen poltergeist. Author Philip Coogan's life changed overnight in December 1971. when a bomb destroyed his thriving garage business in Donaghadee, Northern Ireland. His troubles intensified and Philip survived repeated assassination attempts. Feeling defrauded and conspired against, Philip was not allowed to rebuildhis garage by the planning authorities. " I received no compensation for my injuries or large building site. My health deteriorated and I suffered a severe post-traumatic shock disorder and other illnesses." In January 1973, the family fled over the border to safety and Philip was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. He emerged a broken man, just waiting to see what would happen next. Philip now lives in the west of Ireland and says, "I have never been able to hold a job from that night of1971 when the bomb went off."