A Cause Worth Living for

by David 'Packie' Hamilton

A Cause Worth Living for At 22 the young Loyalist David Hamilton was locked into a powerful cycle of paramilitary violence from which release seemed unthinkable. He would know what - and often who - was behind that news item: his own barrister told David he was lucky to get only 11 years. This title shows how fraught with danger quitting a terrorist group can be.

Genres: Ireland

188 pages, Paperback

First published January 24, 2008

Reviews

[David Campton · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy to read book, offering a snippet of David "Packie" Hamilton's life story. Packie is now pastor of Heaton Chapel in Stockport, but was previously a convicted loyalist paramilitary. This book tells of his journey into the paramilitaries from the tartan gangs in the 1970s and his time in prison after a conviction for bombing and robbery, during which he became a Christian. His story has a particular resonance for me because the author was once an apprentice to my dad before his conviction, and independently, after his release his testimony along with hunger striker Liam McCloskey, made a big impression on me at a church weekend in 1984, greatly influencing my own thinking and life. It is a straightforward evangelistic testimony, told with the flare for storytelling that I remember Packie for back in 1984, clearly conveying his passion for God and people. It is let down in places by some typos and factual inaccuracies, and the parts that have been "dropped in" for this re-released edition, referring to recent developments in the peace process and global politics sit slightly at odds with the tone of the rest of the book, but it is an easy read and has real passion.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learning about Northern Ireland

[Marja Verschoor-Meijers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Powerful testimony of an ex terrorist in Ireland. His time in prison turned out to be a time of renewal and forgiveness and certainly a time of struggle. I found this book very inspirational.

[Stan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Its all right ,