General History

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The Story on the maternal side, is only recently being completed by Darren's mother, a Genealogist for over 50 years, who has dedicated her life to correcting Irish history (Northern Ireland & Ireland). Mrs Bolger (nee Johnson) was also, a Trustee of the first Pro Bono Criminal Appeal's Charity - Justice on Appeal.

It was the meticulous and detailed research of Mrs Bolger, that she discovered many inaccuracies in Irish History and has discovered that her 2 x great Grandfather John Johnston was the designer, and builder of the Rollo Gillespie Monument in Comber.

A meeting (2019) was held in Ards & North Down Council Chamber

"AGREED, on the proposal of Alderman Girvan, seconded by Councillor McAlpine, that this Council requests that officers bring back a report on erecting a plaque in memory of Mr John Johnston, the designer and builder of the Rollo Gilllespie Monument, the Square, Comber." Read More Here

Darren went to the local Nursery at the Village Hall before attending, Benyon Primary School, then, Benyon Junior School, then onto Culverhouse Comprehensive School for his teenage years. Darren's younger brothers, Brian and Jason followed soon after although Jason was at Bonnygate Junior School before Culverhouse.

The Bolger family are avid West Ham supporters and such is the intent to retain 'real cockneys' in the male lineage, that Darren's parents returned to his paternal grandparents home at No. 9 Avenons Road in Plaistow E13 so that his younger brothers could also be born in West Ham. During Jason Bolger's birth, Darren spent a short period of time attending Ravenscroft Primary School, adjacent to his grandparents home.

Darren was lucky to have his father leave the Shipbuilding Industry, continuing to mentor his Sons as they all completed their respective apprenticeships working on, Grade l and Grade ll listed buildings, pub refurbishments, and large commercial contracts; including, all four offices of KPMG in the City of London, Warburg refurbishment and the refurbishment of the Circle Bar at the Atlantic Bar & Grill in Glasshouse Street, London etc.

Darren returned to shipbuilding in Tilbury docks (1990-1) and left within 12 months after having a major head injury on a container ship, which almost ended his life. As is Darren's nature, he went on to build and refurbish the New Orleans at Lakeside (Essex), another for Hobbs & Sons in Henley Upon Thames and other work to the Elizabethan Restaurant (then) owned by Sir Richard Branson. 

It was Wednesday 11 March 1998. A day not too dissimilar to any other. The Bolger brother's, father and uncle Terry, also a Shipwright now Carpenter (from Tree Road, Custom House) were all working on a refurbishment in Dulwich Village. A message was delivered that the materials were not going to arrive until the following day, so the Bolger family made a decision to go home.

Jason Bolger soon opened his garage located at the end of Celandine Close to work on his Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth before joining Brian for a 'few beers' in the local pub named, the Village Inn but better known to locals as 'The Plough', before it's immediate change of name to the Stones Throw. 

Darren was asked to join them but chose to stay at his local flat, at 59 Celandine Close across the car park from when he was brought up and behind the local pub. What happened next would change their lives forever

Darren left the California after what he thought were, some of the craziest moments of his life. The emotional rollercoaster of the situation with his brothers, the legal process, watching his parents and family suffer and managing a pub, with naked women, drag nights with male strippers (for the ladies) and the madness of managing a bar in the middle of the East End with all of its characters and drama's. We can all take something from these experiences and it was whilst working one Saturday, that Darren' ran out of the pub after hearing someone shout "HELP". Darren ran to the river Thames and rescued THREE BROTHERS from the mud.

The fire brigade were sent to the wrong address arriving 15 minutes after the brothers were saved. Had the brothers remained in the mud for ten minutes more, and the tide would have been over them and they would have all died.

The irony of being able to save the lives of these three brothers, yet unable to change the position of his own family situation of three brothers. Eastender's always stick together and once hearing of the story of the saved brothers, the pub was regularly visited to meet their local hero, which only brought more business and subsequently, more financial support for his family. With East End support, the pub flourished and the family survived.

Darren wanted to advance the development of Top Flight and invited Peter Lloyd to share the profits of his company. As Darren had yet to be a Company Director, the thought of sharing a business whilst in its prime, did not interest Peter and Darren left the position to initiate his own company. Before he could do so, he was still living in Celandine Close and travelling into London each day. Darren knew that Wandsworth was beginning to change its profile and decided to launch his plans there. Darren returned to his tools and worked for local loft conversion companies, building his reputation as a local tradesman. Darren purchased a one bedroomed flat at 109 Ericcson Close, Wandsworth SW18 1SQ for £132,500 from Alan Fuller Estate Agents, assisted by Michelle Louise King, an Independent Financial Advisor, with flexi-desk at the Putney Based real estate agents.

It was whilst some success with Custer Developments Ltd, late nights at the K-Bar in Radcliffe Gardens in Chelsea, The Sugar Hut in Fulham, Darren was working on the homes of the most respected individuals in the land. Their good name so important to the successes of his introductions and beginning with numerous military officers and journalists. Tim Rayworth (brother of newsreader Lucy Rayworth) and Lucilla Watson (nee Bathurst) - Lilla to her close friends. Lilla is the sister to Lieutenant General Sir Benjamin John Bathurst KCVO, CBE - daughter of Admiral of the Fleet, Sir David Benjamin Bathurst GCB, DL. 

Darren and Lilla spent a considerable amount of time together, both, whilst working on the double extension of her Wandsworth home and privately discussing how her network behaved whilst having fun together in the wine bars of Chelsea & Westminster.

Darren moved to Lennox Gardens Mews in Knightsbridge SW1V and back to Wandsworth Common along with his child's mother (Miss Havisham). He had spent a considerable time, along with his mother, researching the events that led to his brother's case.

Darren and his mother were making headway on the case for Appeal on Conviction and had gained a considerable amount of serious doubt in evidence, on the conviction of the Bolger's. Miss Havisham revealed information, that would not have been known to put serious doubt in her trust and the relationship ended.

Darren was almost out of funds and so, he Incorporated London Building Specialists Ltd and (again) wrote to individuals in South West London to invite them to use his company' services after having made a planning application for works on their homes. Darren had met with Janet Eavenson, an American interior designer based in Fulham and Paul Cooper,  a Salesman for Magnet Kitchens also based in Fulham. Darren, Janet and Paul all collaborated in bringing building works and refurbishments into fruition. Janet returned to the USA now in California with Londonto Laguna Interior Design Studio. https://www.instagram.com/londontolaguna/

Darren had created and then submitted grounds of appeal for his brother's case to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). The submissions set out how that the blood samples, important part of the case, had been mislabelled with other co-defendant/s. A helicopter video had been hidden by the prosecution and police. The Scenes of Crime Video had been fabricated. A juror related to a barrister who was previously, an ex-Essex Police Detective (David Holborn of 18 Red Lion Court Chambers) - had shared a room with prosecution counsel who sat on the jury at his brother's murder trial. The CCRC refused the appeal even though the grounds were evidenced. Darren decided to create a charity to address the issues he was facing and whilst with the serious issues contained, 'on appeal'. Justice on Appeal (JA - short for Jason). JA completely unnerved the British Judiciary as here was a Defence Focused Criminal Appeal Force that was not aligned to Establishment Interference.

Tom Kark KC is a Fraud Prosecution Barrister at QEB Hollis Whiteman Chambers in London. Tom and his wife Judith, thought that they had tricked Darren's company, Building Matters London Ltd into completing an element of the works at a fraction of the cost. A cost that they had previously received a quote on. Darren had the Fraud Prosecutor in difficulty as he had detailed the works in the contract, which embarrassed the Kark's and ensured that they then repudiated the contract.

Knowing of his potential future losses after Darren's lawyers had written to the Kark's, & Tom's refusal by the Police; Tom used his position as a Barrister when communicating with all of Darren's company clients, and the Serious Fraud Office, making false claims, with the 'intent' to bring a prosecution against Darren.

Darren had claimed, that Tom Kark and others had colluded.

Miss Jane Osborne was initially acting as Prosecution Counsel whilst a barrister at 2 Hare Court Chambers. A fraud case is heavily reliant upon the finances of the company. These financial documents were initially claimed to have been lost by Darren's solicitor (on oath) and later understood during cross examination that they were stored in the solicitors safe, in his office.

Upon disclosure (3/4 of the way through the trial of Darren) of the 2,000 emails, there was an email from Miss Jane Osbourne KC to DC Angela MILLS (Officer In Charge). The email was Miss Osbourne explaining to DC Angela MILLS, the prosecution were in difficulty, as she had obtained a copy of Darren's company bank accounts, stating that, The Company (and Darren) were 'carrying our legitimate business'. Miss Osbourne then went on to confirm that this 'positive evidence' on Darren's company finances would 'damage the Crown's case' & to place this key evidence in the Unused Material. There was no Schedule of Unused Material.

Each prosecution has an indictment. Each of the seven complainants were associated to a numbered count on the indictment. The jurors spend 17-weeks distilling evidence and made their decision on the evidence and the indictment.

Mr. Stimpson asked the Judge to change the indictment during the summing up. The jurors were asked to retire, whilst the Court Clerk - Mr. Jim Webster, removed the indictments and replaced them with a re-ordered indictment. The complainants names now not correlating to the original Count name. Recorder Catherine Moore then told the clerk to remove the continuity document "a helpful document" (summing up) which would have assisted the jurors if having any difficulties with the re-ordering of the counts. Recorder Moore then summed up in the manner in which the initial indictment was led. Intent to confuse the jury?!

Whilst Darren was inventing his new luxury brand platforms with his multiple companies, he was trailing: 'Opulent Interiors' with his new contacts, HRH Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia and George Bond (pictured right) were both on board.

Please click on the photo to view the footage.

Darren Bolger, was asked to join London Building Specialists Ltd as Managing Director, when the founder director seriously injured his spine. Darren developed the South West London firm (Wandsworth) which created beautiful conversions and refurbishments for homes and commercial premises. Darren re-developed his Apprenticeship Initiative by taking on apprentices from disadvantaged backgrounds to learn the skills of the construction industry.

The industry has been through some difficult times since the financial crash. Darren says, “It is important for the building industry to nurture new talent. Since 2011 we have been helping young people to learn the basic techniques which mean they can work in the industry. Recently we have also added training in ecological construction and materials. So we are looking to the future, as new methods replace older, less environmentally-sound ones.” Darren Bolger receives Mayoral award

In 2022, Darren completely re-wrote his memoirs, Operation Westminster which has feature film interest/s & media potential. 

Darren then returned to further his business interests at an event in Berkeley Sq. Mayfair where he met with a man, looking to invest in a future media business for luxury brands to connect, Trusted Individuals, including, UHNWIs, Brand Ambassadors, Influencers, Journalists and Bloggers to Luxury Brands & Content, via global media platforms, events and parties. The Home Club returned!

As ever, Darren was at the right place at the right time and now acts as the Senior Brand Ambassador for The Haurun Cub.  across all nine Reciprocal Clubs and advises on all other associated Companies within The Haurun Club community.