Nick Hogan is safely back behind bars. Not the bars which the government sought to contain him behind for failing to act as an unpaid policeman and report his customers for smoking – even when he was not on the premises to witness them to doing so – but the bars, the snug, and the restaurant of his own private property, the Swan with Two Necks, in Chorley, Manchester.
It was with the greatest pleasure that I was able to telephone Denise Hogan, his wife, a few minutes ago, and ask her to go and collect her husband from the Forest Bank jail in Pendlebury.
The indefatigable Old Holborn had moved heaven and earth, above and beyond the call of duty, to arrive at the jail with £8,664.50p in cash, to exchange with the Custody Officer there in return for Nick Hogan’s freedom.
Nick was jailed as an example to us all, that when the State barks ‘jump’ you only question ‘how high’.
He didn’t. He said ‘Why’?
The State made him pay a high price for his temerity; they harassed him, hounded him, bankrupted him, and finally forcibly removed him from his family and friends and jailed him for six months.
His crime? No longer the original charge that he had failed to prevent two customers from smoking on his premises. No. He was actually jailed for being unable to pay the £11,600 in fines and prosecution costs resulting from that charge. He had managed to pay off £1,600, but incomprehensibly to the State, he was not able to put his hands instantly on the £10,000 balance.
The State is so used to having a bottomless pot of Taxpayers money to dip into whenever they feel the need, that they have literally lost the ability to comprehend what the recession means to ordinary people.
I blogged about this affair on the afternoon of 28th March. My primary concern was, and always would be, Nick’s wife Denise.
Nick objected to the smoking ban. He was part of a group of people, unsurprisingly largely publicans, who violently objected to the smoking ban, both regarding choice and their viability as a business. That is both his right, and his concern. He hosted a demonstration on the day the ban came into force. He stood up to be counted. He was willing to challenge the law.
He eventually paid the price for doing so.
Did Denise? She stood in the background, the loyal wife. She is not a ‘campaigning person’. She is not macho. She is just a wife and Mother.
When the Bolton Evening News story came out, I tracked Denise down to interview her. She was ‘shell-shocked’. Having run a busy restaurant and hotel myself, I was only too aware of the position she had been left in.
‘Put a smile on your face girl; keep the show running’, while the posturing idiots make their political point. Not her choice.
Within minutes of my blog appearing kind hearted people were asking how they could help, where could they send money? I asked Old Holborn if he would let me use his Paypal function and cross post the story onto his web site. Unwittingly I had lured him into a nightmare situation where he would be abused, vilified, threatened, and harassed himself. One day I shall blog about the back ground events to this saga, but today is a day of celebration.
Within 36 hours over £5,000 had been raised. A further £1,200 was donated over the next two days before the campaign received a crucial helping hand from political blogger, Guido Fawkes, who publicised it on his influential site.
Money came in from all over the world, the International Blogosphere had reacted in a truly heart warming way, outraged at the behaviour of the State.
Four days after my story first appeared, Old Holborn’s Paypal account held in excess of £9,700 in assorted currencies. We had to ask people to stop sending money! Then began the battle to persuade Paypal that we were not part of an International money laundering cartel….
Today we succeeded, and with the good wishes of thousands of ordinary men and women, equally battered by the recession, Nick Hogan is once more in the bosom of his family, able to support his wife Denise and their children, instead of being locked up with drug dealers and murderers.
Thank-you Blogosphere – and well done.
The fact that so many of you responded is a powerful message from the voting public that politicians would be well advised to heed. The Blogosphere will not be controlled by politicians, bound up in regulations, throttled by impenetrable legislation. It is not a single target that a ‘D’ notice can be fired at. We are not beholden to advertisers.
“We are the authentic, unfiltered, voice of your electorate”.
UPDATE: 
so much for the quiet half hour with Denise, the press have caught up with him……..
Ms Raccoon lives in the Monbazillac area of South West France, renowned for its fine wines and gourmet food, so she frequently finds better things to do than sit in front of a computer all morning. She is liable to take off traveling at a moment's notice. Consequently this blog only gets updated these days when it is raining - and it doesn't rain very often round here...
{ 70 comments }
Yay!
A1
Applause! And on No Smoking Day too!
Excellent news, that’s made my day.
(Slight error in the post, it was the afternoon of 28th Feb, not March!)
Sorry for being pedantic Anna on this joyous post, but you first blogged about this on the 28th of February, and not March, and it kind of threw me over at Old Holborns place, to think that you may have first highlighted this eleven months or so ago.
I’ve had a glass of wine – I earned it!
I shall toddle off and edit it now.
Nick wants to marry me – shall I tell him I’m an old age pensioner?
Awesome result, awesome effort, a credit to you all.
I’d let Mr Raccoon tell him that, Anna!
Mr Raccoon is laughing fit to bust – says he’s welcome to me!
What does Denise have to say about Nick’s declaration?
Superb news, Anna. I know how much effort you put into this so enjoy that wine to the max.
Well done.
There’s not many things that make me feel good lately, but I’m beaming and proud to have been a teeny part of this!
Love the photo!
Excellent news Anna, I say a big well done to both yourself and Old Holborn, I was about to make a second larger donation on the day that the funds were recieved and will do exactly that if it is what is needed to help out again.
My heroes!
As I said on Old Holborn well done that woman, oh yes, and man.
As Steve L – very well done and proud to have taken part in this in our own, small way.
Well done to all concerned. Today, national no smoking day, is a great one!
Thank God.
Bravo a vous.
Well done, peeps – they don’t like it up ‘em, Captain Mainwaring!
Let’s hope full details of his release are reported on the TV and in the newspapers.
Well done Anna and Old Holborn! Isn’t what we have all done tantamount to paying ransom to kidnappers? If so, it feels bloody marvellous. If only HMG could divert money from the international sleaze and bribe budget to release the Chandlers from the Somali pirates.
Well done to EVERYONE involved. Now let the MEN have your views on the jailing of Nick and the Smoking Ban.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1198289_landlord_who_defied_smoking_ban_released_from_jail
Thank you, Anna for kicking this off – for the first time since this hateful ban came in people have fought back. And thanks to all the non-smokers who contributed. Thank God some people can see beyond the end of their own noses.
Thanks for all you have done Anna, I know it wasn’t at easy.
A brilliant day for Nick and his family and proof, if any were needed, that the power of the blogosphere is something that the Government finally need to take notice of.
They must be wondering where we are going to ‘strike’ next
Excellent stuff. A huge pat on the back to your good self Anna and Holby too, of course.
l am so glad the people responded to yours and OH’s appeal although l understand it still needed hard work from you 2 to make it happen. Maybe you’ll tell us about it?
Well done!
Have I missed something?
Yes, little Saul, you managed to miss the Blogsphere event of the year…..never mind, watch this space, more excitement to come!
Where were you?
Typical!
You nip outside for a quick fag….
What a mixture of emotions. Anger at the situation Nick found himself in. Delight at hearing of his release. Pride at the manner in which his release was brought about.
Libertarianism won’t work. People will only look out for themselves. The vulnerable and needy will cast aside to fend for themselves.
Wanna bet?
Snowolf, may I point out that you’re a proper cunt?
Uncle Marvo, I suspect that you’re misinterpreting Snowolf’s sentiments.
Well done to you both! And as it’s No Smoking Day today, how appropriate. I’m having a Cohiba to celebrate – at home.
Marvo, I think Snowolf was being ironic
Well done all.
That’s a great outcome, I’m pleased I contributed a small amount and it shows what can be done when like-minded people team up – It may be the only effective way to counter the state-bully. It’ll be interesting to see if the mainstream media pick this up
This of course is only the beginning.
The British State, whether under Socialist-Labour or the Socialist-Tories or a socialist-hung-parliament, will not stop now: it knows that it does the things that it does _/because/_ these things are wicked and undermine liberty. It acts on purpose.
This will all have to be done again, and again, and again. It is of course possible that most ordinary individuals, who have lives to run, families to look after and taxes they are forced to pay, will shrink understandably from the risks, and the Endarkenment will indeed follow. I hope not but I fear so. I for one would not be brave enough, to do what Nick Hogan did.
Bless you Anna Raccoon for your hard work on all of our behalf as well as Nick’s.
Fucking Marvelous result.
Well done to everyone who contributed to set Nick free, its a pity that it has taken 4 years for the pubilc to wake up to the fact that their Freedom has been taken from them
Now I will be heading off the The Hague in the company of Dickpuddlecote to ensure that the wheels of change keep rolling along throughout Europe. But wait, just when are the other publican going to stand up and fight, or are they content to let their customers do the dirty work for them
Alcohol and Food is in the sights of Government … so be warned.
http://www.antiprohibition.org/ticap_pages.php?q=15
It is fitting that Nick should be released today, as he was the only person from the UK able to attend the funeral of our good friend and colleague Gian Turci who died 10th March 2009 and was a founding father to the Freedom movement. He would have willingly changed places with Nick shouting ‘you bastardos’ as he entered the cells.
Feel free, Marvo. Any particular reason?
Well done!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1257023/Pub-landlord-thanks-donors-helping-early-prison-release-flouting-smoking-ban.html
Chuffed to bits. And on No Smoking Day.
Oh sweet irony.
paulo
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8561184.stm
Anna, you’re on the Beeb site!
And let me add that this has been an action to my heart. Smoker or not, the law is draconian and oppressive.
How dare Nick ask for your hand in marriage. A duel is called for. Ever since I heard about those long legs I’ve been besotted! How about releasing a picture of those pins when you were on Top of the Pops?
Nick and I can then study the picture before the duel commences.
Now, where would you find such a picture…..
excellent news
Anna, you asked a while ago about where blogging can go – well, it can get someone out of gaol for a start …..
maybe we can get a decent government one day …??
I have just spent an entire day and 600 miles in a car with Beauty and the Beast.
Conversation snippet on M1 near Nottingham
OH, you are a star. xx
He is a star, Glo, an absolute star.
Fantastic news, well done Anna and OH.
Applause.
Very happy news about the release. Am glad we little folk had a chance to participate by way of AR & OH making the Paypal button easily accessible. If it’s quite possible to expect more political prisoners be taken, for other trumped up charges against the next victim, perhaps the Paypal button could be made permanent, so a fund balance is always available.
Statistically speaking, one could say that the blogosphere outperformed the government charity ASH in its money collecting ability and maybe shows us where the hearts and votes are of the public majority. On the issue of anti-smoking alone, ASH, primarily funded nearly 99% by the government and corporations, took in less from individual donations over the entire last year than in four days of privation donations pouring in from around the world for Nick Hogan by way of the blogosphere thanks to AH’s and OH’s blogopresence.
The mainstream and the politicians prefer to ignore the reality, then let them do so at their own peril.
Absolutely brilliant, is the first time in ages I’ve felt positive about anything remotely related to politics, proves that there is still hope and little people (no comment on your or OH’s actual height) can have an impact. Awesome, well done to you both.
A great day for power of the little people over the overbearing, muscular state. But why isn’t this story getting more coverage in the national press?
Caxton,
Go on then, you get three guesses, bet you don’t use all of them!
Anna,
Well done to you and OH. I get the impression that you also provided what was probably a welcome sympathetic ear for poor Mrs Hogan, again much praise due to you .
My best wishes, also, to the Hogans and I hope they can recover from this and their other losses.
As a gesture of solidarity, would it be an idea to organise a Libertarian conference at their pub, to give a bit of business to them, and to have a sympathetic venue for the Libertarians?
Great work Anna! Just one example of the insanity of the British Government – and its sheeplike followers. Luckily I live in a city where smoking and spilling someone
Hi Anna
I read your blog every day, but I never post, I think my views are far too strong and poles apart from many of your regular posters, but tonight after reading all the in-fighting, accusations and foul language being spewed forth in OH’s blog, I just want to say this…..
I believe that you are a caring person with a heart of gold, I sussed out many months ago that you had got ‘hurt’ by all this blogging game, and you had to get away from it to regain some normality back into your life, and I could understand and I ‘felt’ the sorrow in your written words, but I knew you would bounce back.
Me? I’m just a silly old woman and the secondary modern school education in the 1950/60′s didn’t educate me with a wide enough vocabulary to explain what I want to say with ‘fancy’ words, but after reading OH’s blog tonight……
Anna, don’t let anybody try and taint what drove you from your heart to do what you did for this family, you and you alone, recognised the injustice of the whole sorry saga, don’t let anybody try to say that you did it for any other reason, because I for one would never believe them.
I don
Elsie, very well said.
I’m glad you did summat about putting your well composed thoughts here.
IRA mass murderers walk free because they are ‘political’, but a smoking ban landlord is jailed. You wouldn’t believe such utter incompetence to govern was possible, would you?
This Chapter ends, but the Battle against the DISCRIMINATION smokers have to suffer goes on. It’s up to ALL of you, EVERY day to keep standing up and demanding that your human rights be respected because if you don’t, I promise you that this government isn’t going to suddenly reverse its crimes against freedom. Party of Fairness? HA! – QUITE THE OPPOSITE!!
I am very happy for Nick Having said that : The fact he was in there in the first place is such a blemish on the UK “democracy” and those who are in power . I cannot begin to tell how disgusted I am . Being from Holland the UK for me was ( years ago) the state of freedom and the people who stood up against Hitler and helped us on the continent What happened that this country steps on freedom and civil rights ?
Greetings Anna – another Anna!
What pisses me off with the anti smoking brigade (I’m a non smoking libertarian) is they lecture people who like a ciggy but few of them are strangers to the pleasures of the fragrant herbal mixture that can usially be bought from rather dubious individuals who lurk in dark corners of sleazy pubs.
Bloody hypocrites.
Terrifically well done guys! Looking forward to the seeing the honorable member for Chorley in the house, now he is free to stand!
It just pisses me off that the heavy-handed authoritarian bastards who ruin our lives on a daily basis got their hands on all that cash, which could have been put to better use. Let’s hope that the voters reflect on that in Chorley on May 6th
Paul
well done to everyone who supported the campaign. lets have more of this to combat this faciast law.
Brian Moore.
Comments on this entry are closed.
{ 6 trackbacks }