On tonight’s Fair City, we see Paul Brennan continue to struggle to come to terms with Fiona being gone, as well as his money which he keeps checking his bank account for. Unable to tell daughter Ruth the truth that Fiona will no longer be a part of their lives, he tells Carol that it ‘would break her heart’.
All week, Carol’s been keeping an eye on Paul and how he is slipping up on his fatherly duties. So while he’s taken his eye off the ball with Ruth, he is determined to get to the bottom of what gift Barry O’Hanlon has given Rose only for Bosco to tell him that Barry has reduced their rent.
Looking for Paul’s key to the O’Brien’s home back, Bosco tells Paul that Barry had told Eoghan that he wanted him to look after the house after Paul broke in and that he was reducing their rent. Knowing this, Paul lashes out at Melanie when Carol invites her to Brennan’s in an attempt to get her her job back.
Later that night in Carrigstown, the community gather for ‘The Townies’ awards ceremony. Still checking his bank account, Paul discovers some of his money has been returned, €30,000 which he tells Carol about, ‘he owes me a lot more than this… (on Carol’s look) ok, ok, if it’s an apology I’ll take it.
But with a late donation to the Community Centre, Cass questions if it’s a joke.
‘He’s looking at you’, says Carol. Paul is horrified to discover that his €30,000 has been donated in his name. Furious, through gritted teeth ‘He set me up again’ he says to Carol. Told to hold his speeches, those gathered raise a toast, ‘to Paul!’.
So will Paul admit this has all been one big misunderstanding, take his money back from the community and risk being a social pariah? We’ll have to see next week.
Fair City airs on RTE One at 8:00pm