'A State of Mind, The Poetry Book', 2000

This booklet was written by Joey Joe McGuire who served as Private Russell Thompson with 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment. Thompson joined the Paras in 1973 and served in Northern Ireland during which time he was bullied for his political views, forcing him to leave the Army.

He later suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after leaving the Army which caused the break up of his family and resulted in him becoming homeless for four and a half years. He believes that poetry was an important factor in his recovery.