The smuggling of cattle was a favourite with the ‘big boys’. 

It was more dangerous – carried on at night on ‘unapproved roads’ that were often patrolled – but also much more profitable. 

I had a relative who was caught at it. Of course the ‘drover’ was acting for another – the profiteer who took no chances. When my relative came to court he was fined £100 or in default, given three months incarceration in Crumlin Road Gaol.  

Learning that ‘the man’ would give his wife a further £100 to compensate the family for the prison time, he elected for that!  

It was certainly much more than he might have earned, had he been free to work those three months. 

(That's Tom in the centre, with Marie.  Tom's hair was thinning already in front!

How many of the others can you name?)

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