"Sins of the Father" is the first book of the trilogy "O'Hagan's Pact.". An incestuous relationship between brother and sister, produces a son, Peter O'Hagan. From his birth, he is doomed to be a victim. A victim of those placed in positions of power, the Church, the state, the rich landowners, but ultimately the victim of his own self-disgust. His simple act of catching a rabbit to help feed his family led to an a train of events in which he and his 'elder brother' Matthew (his father), were sentenced to be deported to Australia. . Aged 14, Peter is observed by the new local priest, Father Fitzpatrick, poaching. At confession, the priest molests the boy, who attempts, unsuccessfully, to knife him. The deceitful Fitzpatrick, to save his own reputation, gives evidence to the Squire's court which results ultimately in both Peter and Matthew being sentenced to be deported. The horrors of their journey from Ireland to the first staging point of Gibraltar are described in "Sins of the Father". They are initially interned on a prison hulk in the Thames, where they undergo the inhumane punishments of the 19th Century. They form a small group with some other so called 'criminals' which though offering mutual support results in Peter committing unspeakable acts to get better treatment for them. He is inconsolable after being parted from his sweetheart Brigit. She too is distraught and has followed them to Limerick, where they were held in gaol. She becomes inadvertently involved with a 'Madame' who runs a high class brothel and as result of her activities also ends up being sentenced for transportation. Finally they are loaded aboard the ship, Lady Antigone bound for Botany Bay. At Gibraltar, their hopes are raised when Matthew recognises his boyhood friend Daniel Corcoran, now an Army sergeant who comes aboard with an officer. Both are enlisted in the replacement garrison bound for Norfolk Island, the notorious penal colony situated more than a thousand miles east of Australia. Could this man and his officer companion just be the help which will free them from this nightmare?