JACK TAYLOR: THE PIKEMEN

Ireland, 2010, 100 minutes, Colour.
Iain Glen, Ralph Brown, Frank O’ Sullivan, Nora- Jane Noone.
Directed by Stuart Orme.

Jack Taylor: the Guards is the first of a series of six telemovies focusing on the exploits of a member of the Garda, Jack Taylor. It was followed by Jack Taylor: The Pikemen.

The setting is the city of Galway, the photography giving audiences the atmosphere of the city, it streets, homes, police precincts, factories, as well as views of the water and Galway Bay. This is a great advantage for the authentic feel of the films.

The film shows the work of the Garda, the police work, diligent, with some corrupt officials. In the first film Taylor confronts a corrupt minister of the government and is dismissed from the Garda, although he keeps the overcoat against the wishes of the authorities – who finally allowed him to keep it at the end of The Pikemen.

In the first film, there are mysterious deaths of young women, their bodies found on the docks. A woman comes to ask Taylor to investigate her missing daughter. As it turns out, she is lying and is really trying to find an artist, a close friend of Taylor whose portrait he had painted, but he was involved in shady deals, especially in Kosovo where the woman worked. This leads to a businessman in the city and the number of deaths. In the final confrontation, the woman shoots the artist dead but the chief inspector pushes his body into the bay and everyone goes away with the case considered closed.

Taylor then goes to Dublin for a year but returns when he receives a letter from a close friend whose son has been murdered. The audience sees the killing, a group of masked men hounding the victim to his death. This opens up a group of vigilantes in the town, the chief forcing his young son to become a member of the group, the boy having been responsible for the disappearance of his sister sometime earlier. The pikemen choose targets who have exploited their victims. With the murder, things become more complicated, especially with Taylor’s arrival, and his being framed for the murder of a businessman. The addition to this film is the arrival of a young man, devoted to Taylor, wanting to be an investigator, much to Taylor’s initial annoyance, but finding that he saved his life.

There is a great deal of pathos in this story.

The Jack Taylor films were directed by Stuart Orme, a veteran television director, Merlin, Inspector Lewis.


1. The second film in the Jack Taylor series? Presupposing the characters from the first, the tone, Galway and the city, the water?

2. The title, the visuals of the Pikemen, hounding O’ Shea to his death? Their meetings, the masks? Meeting the Castle? The coat of arms and the Pike? Their motivations, vigilantes, choosing targets who offended but not convicted, the drunk drivers, drug dealers? The targeting of O’Shea?, his being in the town when the leaders daughter disappeared, information about his being in Australia and Berlin with similar disappearances? Ambiguity as to whether he was guilty or, as his father said, a propensity for being in the wrong place? The scene with the drunken driver, running over his foot?

3. Taylor, as in the first film, a year away after the death of Sutton, his drinking and reading, the letter from Mr O’ Shea, his return, investigation? His meeting up with Kate, their bond of friendship? Cody listening in, Taylor sending him off? Cody coming with information, wanting to be an investigator, his admiration for Taylor? Research? Taylor visiting his home, the discussions with his mother, her explanation of his obsession, the printing of the card, Cody and Taylor?

4. Suspicions on the wealthy businessman, Taylor’s visit, discovering Ann with him, his disappointment, her explanation because Taylor had disappeared? The businessman and his reputation for violence, his attitude towards Ann? His anger with Taylor, sending him the fake text, the confrontation and the bashing? His later been found dead after Taylor had gatecrashed the party and threatened him?

5. Clancy, in charge, meeting Taylor again, warning him, the evidence against Taylor for the businessman’s death? The arrest? His being taken to court, his escape?

6. Taylor, contact with Kate, her obeying the rules because Taylor was a fugitive, trying to get help from Ann, her shutting the door? Going to Cody, his mother, staying? His return to boarding and the landlady keeping his room for him?

7. Cody and his researches, the various cases, grievances, pinpointing the leader of the Pikemen? Taylor ringing him? The attack, then taken to the Castle, inviting him to join them? His decision to do so? The plan for him to attack the drug dealer, taking the leader’s son?

8. The leader, the disappearance of his daughter, the vigilante idea? Not telling his wife? The flashback with Frankie and his staying with his friends, letting his sister walk home alone, her disappearance? His father blaming him, not talking to Frankie for years? Making Frankie join the group? Participate? With Taylor, with the drug dealer, the gun, the dealer’s fear, Taylor challenging Frankie, his not being able to go through with it? Taylor shooting the man’s earlobe?

9. Taylor contacting Frankie, the setup for the meeting, the police waiting? Taping the discussion? Frankie and his explanation of what happened, the role of his father, the Garda contact giving him information? The explanation of the death of O’ Shea?

10. The police chasing Taylor, the leader confronting him, finding him with his son, the reconciliation with his son and then stabbing him to death? Taking Taylor to the Castle? Threatening him?

11. Kate, with Cody, working out which Castle they were at, the emblem of the Pike? Coming just in time?

12. Taylor wanting to kill the leader, Cody and Kate restraining him? With Clancy, the mother reading Frank’s letter, Clancy giving it to Taylor, the explanation for Frankie’s behaviour, his father framing Taylor for the businessman’s death?

13. Kate, Cody and Taylor together – and the prospect of another case?