JOHN SWEETMAN

In 1917, David Lloyd George declared that airmen were the cavalry of the clouds the knighthood of this war This romantic image was fostered post-war by writers of adventure stories and the stunts of Hollywood filmmakers, and yet it was far from the harsh reality of life of an airman. From their baptism of fire in 1914 carrying out reconnaissance and experiencing the first dogfights, to the breakthrough in 1918 which claimed heavy casualties, the aerial defenders of Britain were continually tested.In Cavalry of the Clouds John Sweetman describes the development of British air power during the First World War on the Western Front, which culminated in the creation of the first independent air force, the RAF. By making use of the correspondence of airmen and ground staff of all nationalities, he illustrates the impact this new type of conflict had on those involved and their families at home. Extensively researched, Cavalry of the Clouds is an essential reference work for any student of military history.

A FASCINATING READDR MARIE CASSIDYWHEN A VIOLENT INCIDENT LED YOUNG MISFIT GARDA JOHN SWEETMAN INTO THE GARDA TECHNICAL BUREAU WITH INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE, HE FOUND HIS TRUE CALLING.He spent the next 25 years as a detective garda working on the frontline of crime scene investigations - as both a fingerprint expert and, in later years, a forensic handwriting and document expert. His tenacity and natural eye for detail led him to becoming involved in many criminal investigations and high-profile cases.From the brutal murder of Marie Dillon in Finglas in 1998 to the gangland killing of Raymond Salinger in 2003, John was involved in the search for forensic evidence at these and other crime scenes.He later employed his handwriting expertise in examining fraudulence, threatening letters and counterfeit documents, as well as the investigations into the murders of Jasmine McMonagle and student Jastine Valdez and the horrific Hawe familicide in Cavan in 2016.Identity is both a fascinating insight into specialist forensic fields, which peeks behind the curtain of how crimes are solved, and a bravely told story of a nonconformist detective in a remarkable career.Eye-openingBUSINESS POST