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A Criminal and An Irishman: The Inside Story of the Boston Mob - IRA Connection
A former rival and associate of Whitey Bulger tells all in this “profane, often brutal” true crime memoir about the inner workings of life in the Irish mob ( The Boston Herald )
After serving in Vietnam as a combat Marine, Irishman Pat Nee returned to the gang-filled streets of Boston. A member of the Mullen Gang since the age of 14, Nee rejoined the group to lead their fight against Whitey Bulger’s Killeen brothers. Years later, the two gangs merged to form the Winter Hill Gang, at first led by Howie Winter and then by Bulger. But by the time Bulger took over, a wide rift had opened up between the infamous crime boss and Pat Nee, who was disgusted by Bulger's brutality.
A Criminal and an Irishman is the story of Pat Nee’s life as an Irish immigrant and Southie son, a Marine and convicted IRA gun smuggler, and a former rival-turned-associate of James “Whitey” Bulger. His narrative transports readers into the criminal underworld, taking them inside preparation for armored car heists, gang wangs, and revenge killings. Nee details his evolution from tough street kid to armed robber to dangerous potential killer, disclosing for the first time how he used his underworld connections as a secret operative for the Irish Republican Army. For years, Pat smuggled weapons and money from the United States to Ireland—in the bottoms of coffins, behind false panels of vans—leading up to a transatlantic shipment of seven and a half tons of munitions aboard the fishing trawler Valhalla . No other Southie underworld figure can match Pat’s reputation for resolve and authenticity.
After serving in Vietnam as a combat Marine, Irishman Pat Nee returned to the gang-filled streets of Boston. A member of the Mullen Gang since the age of 14, Nee rejoined the group to lead their fight against Whitey Bulger’s Killeen brothers. Years later, the two gangs merged to form the Winter Hill Gang, at first led by Howie Winter and then by Bulger. But by the time Bulger took over, a wide rift had opened up between the infamous crime boss and Pat Nee, who was disgusted by Bulger's brutality.
A Criminal and an Irishman is the story of Pat Nee’s life as an Irish immigrant and Southie son, a Marine and convicted IRA gun smuggler, and a former rival-turned-associate of James “Whitey” Bulger. His narrative transports readers into the criminal underworld, taking them inside preparation for armored car heists, gang wangs, and revenge killings. Nee details his evolution from tough street kid to armed robber to dangerous potential killer, disclosing for the first time how he used his underworld connections as a secret operative for the Irish Republican Army. For years, Pat smuggled weapons and money from the United States to Ireland—in the bottoms of coffins, behind false panels of vans—leading up to a transatlantic shipment of seven and a half tons of munitions aboard the fishing trawler Valhalla . No other Southie underworld figure can match Pat’s reputation for resolve and authenticity.
232 pages, Paperback
First published March 14, 2006
42 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Nee
1 book2 followersPatrick Joseph Nee (born December 22, 1944) is an Irish-American former mobster and republican sympathizer. A former member of the Mullen Gang and the Winter Hill Gang, he is a Vietnam War veteran, and author of A Criminal and an Irishman; The Inside Story of the Boston Mob-IRA Connection.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 10, 2011
I thought the book was going to give more insight into the Irish Mob in Boston but was much more of a life story of growing up an Irish Immigrant in Boston. It was interesting but not on my list of must reads.
December 28, 2021
Great story
I didn't know what to expect when I chose this book. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. Well written and right to the point. Highly recommend it.
I didn't know what to expect when I chose this book. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. Well written and right to the point. Highly recommend it.
May 19, 2025
I got this book to learn more about what it was like living in Boston and being involved with the Irish mob. It wasn’t to learn more about Whitey Bulger, there is plenty of info from other sources. This book went beyond my expectations, including a different perspective of Bulger, and I appreciated that.
This book feels more like a bio, a memoir, which includes a history of the Irish people that their plight, along with a closer and more personal view of the IRA.
It was an enjoyable read, well paced and well organized. The telling of Patrick Nee’s experience wasn’t bogged down with a recital of dates and names like so many other rendition of one’s life experience. Even the events filled with action, such as sailing across the Atlantic, was engaging.
Patrick Nee and his fellow authors have not only entertained and educated me, but enriched my research on living in Boston, in particular, the Irish communities and I thank them for that.
For the above reasons, I gave this book a 5 star rating. It is going to remain in my library.
~ C.J.
This book feels more like a bio, a memoir, which includes a history of the Irish people that their plight, along with a closer and more personal view of the IRA.
It was an enjoyable read, well paced and well organized. The telling of Patrick Nee’s experience wasn’t bogged down with a recital of dates and names like so many other rendition of one’s life experience. Even the events filled with action, such as sailing across the Atlantic, was engaging.
Patrick Nee and his fellow authors have not only entertained and educated me, but enriched my research on living in Boston, in particular, the Irish communities and I thank them for that.
For the above reasons, I gave this book a 5 star rating. It is going to remain in my library.
~ C.J.
October 1, 2020
Pat left out the good info from 1975-1986. The work he did with Jimmy, I understand he had to leave out some of the murders since he could get charged with but that leaves a small amount of info that isn’t worth the time and the money for the book. His details lack as well. It’s not worth the read at least by my standards.
April 14, 2022
This book was alright, the information is interesting for sure. I expected there to be more information surrounding his mob life but that wasn’t the case, he’s also extremely self righteous considering he’s literally a criminal who did some awful things but whatever
January 20, 2021
Decent overview of a violent time in Boston's history, there's a lot more to the story that's not in this one but it's worth the read regardless
January 24, 2022
Thought it would give a touch more insight on the mob side of his life but thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless!
September 30, 2023
Patrick Nee gives a first hand account of his involvement in the IRA and in the Irish Boston Mob. It's an amazing story.
October 15, 2025
Interesting. A different view of Whitey Bulger. And now I know how to rob an armored truck and ships docked in ports.
November 6, 2013
Picked this because it was it staring me in the face at my favorite used book store, and I've just finished a spate of Whitey Bulger-related fiction following his arrest.
If you're not from Boston, Whitey Bulger was psychopathic murderer who ran the Southie section of the city. He took over by ratting out his rivals to the FBI — he was top-level secret informer — and those the FBI didn't take care of, Whitey and partner Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi did. Whitey went on the lam before being indicted, and was the FBI's Mosted Wanted Man before bin Ladin came on scene and returned to the top spot after bin Laden's death.
I picked this up because the cover featured a picture of the Valhalla, a fishing boat used to smuggle 7 1/2 tons of arms to the IRA from Gloucester, MA, to Ireland. When Whitey was arrested, I wrote about the case for the local paper, which sparked my interest in all things Whitey.
This book is a little different from many out there related to Whitey. It was penned by Patrick Nee, who unlike many other Whitey associates who wrote books, saw the man as he really was — a ego-driven sociopath. In the beginning the two Irishmen were rivals then reached an uneasy peace.
Nee, a gang member who became a citizen and graduated to the Marines, saw combat in Vietnam, came home and picked up a life a crime. The early chapters detail his life in one of Boston's Irish gangs, his days in the Marines, his budding interest in the IRA, and the death of a brother two months after the brother finished two tours in Vietnam with the Air Force Command.
Bulger doesn't show up til halfway through the book, when his Killeen gang tangles with Nee's Mullens. Nee gets the leaders of the Boston Italian and Irish mafias to mediate, and the two rivals become partners.
Nee is knocking off armored trucks to raise money in part for the IRA, and Whitey lets him because it makes Whitey look good. Nee becomes increasingly involved with the iRA, smuggling more and more arms, and starts distancing himself from Whitey. But then comes the Valhalla, and Nee uses some of Whitey's connections to make the biggest arms deal with the IRA to that date (1980s).
Nee describes amassing the guns and the plans to ship them. The authors also talked to the ship's captain to add life to this story.
In the end, the Valhalla was betrayed. Whitey blamed and killed a crew member, who he was convicted of murdering in 2013.
Nee served 18 months for the gun-running, and went back to robbing armored cars to fund his IRA comrades. He was soon back in jail.
This book was a straightforward, easy read, but it was also a little flat. Nee admits being a criminal, but not a zealot — and that's the problem. There's no humor or pathos here, except when his brother is killed. Nee keeps talking about his love of Ireland, but I have no real feel on why he would risk his freedom and his life for the IRA.
If you're not from Boston, Whitey Bulger was psychopathic murderer who ran the Southie section of the city. He took over by ratting out his rivals to the FBI — he was top-level secret informer — and those the FBI didn't take care of, Whitey and partner Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi did. Whitey went on the lam before being indicted, and was the FBI's Mosted Wanted Man before bin Ladin came on scene and returned to the top spot after bin Laden's death.
I picked this up because the cover featured a picture of the Valhalla, a fishing boat used to smuggle 7 1/2 tons of arms to the IRA from Gloucester, MA, to Ireland. When Whitey was arrested, I wrote about the case for the local paper, which sparked my interest in all things Whitey.
This book is a little different from many out there related to Whitey. It was penned by Patrick Nee, who unlike many other Whitey associates who wrote books, saw the man as he really was — a ego-driven sociopath. In the beginning the two Irishmen were rivals then reached an uneasy peace.
Nee, a gang member who became a citizen and graduated to the Marines, saw combat in Vietnam, came home and picked up a life a crime. The early chapters detail his life in one of Boston's Irish gangs, his days in the Marines, his budding interest in the IRA, and the death of a brother two months after the brother finished two tours in Vietnam with the Air Force Command.
Bulger doesn't show up til halfway through the book, when his Killeen gang tangles with Nee's Mullens. Nee gets the leaders of the Boston Italian and Irish mafias to mediate, and the two rivals become partners.
Nee is knocking off armored trucks to raise money in part for the IRA, and Whitey lets him because it makes Whitey look good. Nee becomes increasingly involved with the iRA, smuggling more and more arms, and starts distancing himself from Whitey. But then comes the Valhalla, and Nee uses some of Whitey's connections to make the biggest arms deal with the IRA to that date (1980s).
Nee describes amassing the guns and the plans to ship them. The authors also talked to the ship's captain to add life to this story.
In the end, the Valhalla was betrayed. Whitey blamed and killed a crew member, who he was convicted of murdering in 2013.
Nee served 18 months for the gun-running, and went back to robbing armored cars to fund his IRA comrades. He was soon back in jail.
This book was a straightforward, easy read, but it was also a little flat. Nee admits being a criminal, but not a zealot — and that's the problem. There's no humor or pathos here, except when his brother is killed. Nee keeps talking about his love of Ireland, but I have no real feel on why he would risk his freedom and his life for the IRA.
August 6, 2011
If Your a fan @ all of books about the past like the 80's, 90's and maybe even further back then that, and...if u like books about the Mafia, in this case, the Irish Mafia then i think you'll enjoy this book. At first i was exactly sure what to expect considering that i had only read one other previous book about the Irish Mafia, The Winter Hill Gang & Whitey Bulger. I was presently supprised when i opened it up and started to get into the book iteself. To get u a synapses of the book its about a gentleman and i use the term loosely here, named Patrick "Pat" Nee. He was originally born in Ireland, moved when he was young to America, more specifically Boston and from there on it things got interesting, i don't want to give away too much but i suggest if you are curious about stuff like this like i was i highly suggest this book
September 16, 2012
I really liked this book - I was inspired to do some research on the politics the author spoke of and I always like a book that pushes me to learn something new.
Not amazing writing, but not bad either. Very fluent and not repetitive on wording, phrases etc - that seems to be a problem with my recent reads.
I think the title should have been "An Inside Story..." instead of "The inside story..." as I am sure there are tons more details out there and this is from 1 point of view.
Pat Nee, thanks for being kick ass and having great adventures to support your beliefs - even if it did involve crime and guns and greatness!
Not amazing writing, but not bad either. Very fluent and not repetitive on wording, phrases etc - that seems to be a problem with my recent reads.
I think the title should have been "An Inside Story..." instead of "The inside story..." as I am sure there are tons more details out there and this is from 1 point of view.
Pat Nee, thanks for being kick ass and having great adventures to support your beliefs - even if it did involve crime and guns and greatness!
July 7, 2016
Well told...
I've read several accounts of this time era and specific group. Paul New is one hell of a story teller ad fate ad I'm concerned. This was the most entertaining account I've read so far. He had me laughing when should have been appalled or concerned. The southie crew never seemed so down to earth, like regular Joe's, until I read this. Whitey Bulger belong the exception of course. He seems to be seen universally as a psychopath. If you're from the. North East, ad I am, you've heard about this and I recommend it anybody who likes a good gangster story told in an entertaining way.
I've read several accounts of this time era and specific group. Paul New is one hell of a story teller ad fate ad I'm concerned. This was the most entertaining account I've read so far. He had me laughing when should have been appalled or concerned. The southie crew never seemed so down to earth, like regular Joe's, until I read this. Whitey Bulger belong the exception of course. He seems to be seen universally as a psychopath. If you're from the. North East, ad I am, you've heard about this and I recommend it anybody who likes a good gangster story told in an entertaining way.
December 11, 2012
I was leery of this one. I'm not into the whole gangster genre, but it came highly recommended, so I dove in. I then proceeded to rip through it. It's very refreshing to read an unapologetic memoir. Mr. Nee's view of the world may not be the same as everyone else's, but it's clear and methodical and makes sense in an odd way.
October 26, 2007
I couldn't put this down. Learned a fair bit about Irish history along the way; things that were more meaningful to read as a first-person account rather than straight out of the history books.
April 9, 2009
I grew up in Southie. I used to babysit in this guy's house. The next year he was arrested for shipping over $1 million in arms to the IRA.
December 6, 2011
Patrick does a good job of explaining his life of crime, as well as his work with the IRA. Lots of name dropping and places in South Boston.
June 30, 2012
Interesting with his IRA work.
July 3, 2012
Read it in 2 hours. Nothing really new or interesting here.
January 31, 2013
Really good story. Sometimes it's a little hard to follow the timeline, but otherwise an easy and informative read. Must have for true crime buffs!
September 17, 2015
I enjoyed this perspective on South Boston and gunrunning to the IRA. A fun, easy read with a lot of interesting points to think about.
October 23, 2012
Typical run of the mill gangster yarn ,replete with chest thumping hype.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews