Comments on: Paddy Whacked: The Untold Story of the Irish American Gangster by T.J. English

By: irishcrimewriter

irishcrimewriter — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:15:41 +0000

Brendan: re Westie’s in Dublin – can you you email me. Thanks
Seamus

By: billyshootspatrick

billyshootspatrick — Sat, 23 May 2009 15:29:05 +0000

I’m fascinated by this topic and have read all Mr English’s books. As Hollywood is starting to leave the cliche Italian mafia stories behind its now turning to the Irish criminal fraternity. Theres plenty there. Corruption, duplicity and religion are all there. Im American with an Italian father and an Irish mother and I have to say this has been the source of much of my character. I hang about with most of my Italian family on my days off. As I’m a Policeman in NY I also fratenise with my Irish cop buddies. Its a fascinating mix. My Uncle who is from Belfast says the Irish could have wiped the floor with the Mafia but they were too busy selling each other out. Now that the troubles are over he says there are alot of itch trigger gangsters from Ireland ready to be incorporated into New Enterprises. This does not bode well for NY and other Irish American hoods.

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:45:28 +0000

Mr.English,

I know how the last 2 years played out in the lives of Shannon and Kelly before they turned themselves over. I know why they appeared suntaned and rested ..Like Paul Harvey says…”Now for the rest of the story”. Email me if you’d like..It was an interesting ride that’s for sure.

By: Tony Robledo

Tony Robledo — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:38:05 +0000

I just read The Westies and enjoyed the book cover to cover. I’m going to order Paddy Whacked.
And oh by the way I’m Mexican. I enjoy reading true crime drama

By: Olsen

Olsen — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:10:30 +0000

Mr. English,
I thint The Westies would make one hell of a good movie!

By: anonymous

anonymous — Tue, 29 May 2007 17:34:57 +0000

why is it those southern types get all the credit, the nortern lads do more, get more and get no credit !

By: brennan

brennan — Tue, 29 May 2007 17:34:20 +0000

For starters this isnt my real name. If anyone knew i was doing this i would be dead, but you ever considered looking at the westies gang in dublin.

Thanks

By: Taylor Ahern

Taylor Ahern — Tue, 29 May 2007 17:33:15 +0000

Mr. English, I read the “Westies” and to say that I was impressed with that book and your spectacular writing syle would be this major understatement akin to saying that Jimmy Coonan was a good Irish lad! The compelling and riveting quality of your irresistible page-turner is beyond any repudiation, yet there is one burning question that I’ve always been dying to know (no pun intended!). You never actually list nor make this record of the entire body count attributable to the Westies from the early 70’s till the mid 80’s. Because from what I could gather from reading other non-fiction crime books on John Gotti, especially one titled “The Gambino Dynasty”, and other real life crime dramas where the Westies were periodically featured, the amount of violence that they were guilty of is horrendous! Yet with all due respect you really never gave this accurate depiction of all the acts of murder that all the key figures in that gang were guilty of, like Featherstone, McElroy, Ryan, Shannon, Commiskey (I believe you attributed 10-12 killings to him.) Jackie Coonan and most importantly his ruthless brother and boss, the unrepentant, sadistic Jimmy Coonan. I believe I read someplace that as a whole the gang carried out between 30 and 40 murders between 1972 and 1985, yet that was never completely verified. Also, who killed who and why has never been thoroughly published and detailed in any readily available sources. Mr. English, would you know of any sources of information that, although no where near as fascinating and well-written as your book, might delve into deeper detail with authenticated documents as to how many people were killed by that gang, the perpetrators of that particular murder and the various, complex motives involved? There must be answers somewhere. Though I must state this, that no amount of additional info could ever in any way diminish the gruesome and macabre legacy of that ferocious, psychotic gang whose reputation, believe it or not, is internationally known, mainly because of your outstanding, cutting-edge book (again, no pun intended!)! Mr. English, 30000 apologies for going on for way too long, though if you’ve made it this far thank you very, very much! Yours truly, Taylor “Irish” Ahern, Squantum Ma. TTrain1@comcast.net

By: Ron Ross

Ron Ross — Tue, 29 May 2007 17:32:18 +0000

Dear Mr. English, I have read your book on the Westies, Sleepers and the book on Whitey Bulger called Black Mass.I have just ordered your book Paddy Whacked which should be here shortly. I am from Philadelphia and of Irish decent [grandparents were from Cork] and I just finished a book you might find interesting about the Irish mob in Philly.The book is called
“Confessions of a Second Story Man
Junior Kripplerbauer + the K+A Gang”
They were the best thieves in the country.It all starts back in the 1950s, but I recall as a kid reading t
about the big Pottsville heist in 1959 and how
the bodies started falling not long afterwards. the author is Allen Hornblum, and the book company is Barricade Books.
Thought You would be interested
Thanks Ron Ross

By: Robert (Bob) Fitzpatrick

Robert (Bob) Fitzpatrick — Tue, 29 May 2007 17:31:30 +0000

Paddywhacks; I was written about in Mr. English’s book particularly referring to Mr. Brian Halloran’s demise at the hands of Whitey Bulger. Could you have Mr. ENGLISH correspond with me at my email address. There are some inconsistencies I want to chat with him about the book. Thanks, Bob Fitzpatrick FBI 65-87.