Former Antrim hurler Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton recalls the worse night he experienced during the Troubles
On the night I’m referring to, I went to Omagh to attend their dinner dance and had a very enjoyable evening. I decided to head for the long journey back sometime after midnight. I took to the by-roads and back roads over the mountains around Cookstown. There wasn’t a sinner about on these country roads until I noticed a red light some distance ahead of me.
When the guy walked over to me, I wound down my window and saw that he had his face painted in black as camouflage. He made no effort to communicate other than with a one-word demand: “Licence!” I was there sitting in the driver’s seat for almost two hours, trying to stay calm but sweating and imagining all sorts of scenarios. I knew if I attempted to drive on, he would shoot me. Or even if he didn’t, it could be a case that there was a road block mounted further up the road and they’d get me as I approached. It took everything I had inside me not to give way to the rising panic that got worse with each slow passing minute which seemed more like a lifetime.
There was still no clear instruction for me to go, so as I’m driving away, I’m wondering will I hear the crack of a bullet any moment now?
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