Rising to the rank of corporal, he gained a black belt in karate but was dishonourably discharged after beating up a new recruit.
[1] Having separated from his first wife and two children and unable to pay child support, he met one of Dublin's major ecstasy dealers in a gym in Buckingham Street.
[1] Bowden cleaned and loaded the pistol used to kill Veronica Guerin,[2] which he believed would be used by Patrick "Dutchy" Holland only to threaten her.
Granted complete immunity from prosecution for the murder of Guerin, he was the only witness to give evidence against all four drug gang members at their trials in the Special Criminal Court: Holland, Paul Ward, Brian Meehan and Gilligan.
The family had been provided with a house, the mortgage for which was to be paid by the state, and Bowden was given a job compatible with his abilities and education.