A
FORMER East End gangster who has turned his back on violence and
now lives in a religious community in Ireland paid a visit to Birmingham
and Solihull recently to speak to schoolchildren about his life.
John Pridmore visited Archbishop Illsley School in Acocks Green and
St Peter's Catholic School in Solihull as part of a short tour to
warn youngsters of the dangers of gangs, violence and drugs.
These days John is a member of St Patrick's Community in Carrick-on-Shannon,
Co Leitrim. The community consists of a priest and lay people and
is supported by Bishop Colm O'Reilly (Ardagh and Clonmacnois), who
provided a house for their ministry.
John is also a published author who wrote about how his life changed
in the book ‘From Gangland to Promised Land’.
He started out working as a bouncer in clubs in London's East End
and West End.
"I met people who had everything - power, drugs, girls - and
I wanted that respect and that power," said John.
"I started working for them and before long I was working with
them and they were running most of the organised crime in London
- drugs, protection rackets.
"I wore a designer leather jacket and in one pocket I had a
machete and CS gas in the other."
John tells how he reached a ‘crossroads’ in life and
the shock of what happened led him to leave that world behind and
embrace religion.
"I thought I had killed someone and had a big conversion where
I truly knew that God was real and he existed.
"From that moment I wanted to give as well as take - I had spent
most of my life taking. I went on a retreat and that is where I discovered
a personal relationship with Christ. I knew the love of Christ and
his forgiveness for me. I had a massive experience with the Eucharist
- every good feeling I had ever had was magnified a million times."
After his life was turned around John even worked with Mother Theresa
and her sisters in the Bronx in New York.
"She had a major influence on me, to help young people understand
their worth."
John says he feels there is more violence and anger than ever, particularly
in towns and cities. He therefore feels it is important to reach
out to young people, though the community he is part of is also engaged
in the wider work of parish missions.
"I tell people the reality of violence and what it begets -
pain and suffering. Also to break the illusions of gangsterism, violence
and drugs - that they are not what they seem to be.
"Young people particularly have the responsibility to be the
person God created them to be. They can make a massive difference
to their community. I want them to know that they are loved, treasured
and precious - a lot of them are not aware of that.
"I love speaking to young people. If someone had spoken to me
like that I might never have lived how I lived for so many years.
But I love my life now, being the person I expect God always created
me to be. I love being able to help people rather than hurt them."
