Joey's stepfather, Vinnie - a small-time criminal who left Dublin in a hurry a year ago - is back in town. Next thing Quinlan, a local gang boss, is putting pressure on Joey to give him Vinnie. Meanwhile Joey's girlfriend, Sharon, is studying in Trinity College, and loving the student life.

Joey tracks Vinnie down, to warn him he is in danger, and Vinnie gives him a USB stick. It turns out to contain extremely compromising material - for Quinlan, and for a crooked cop who has been nosing around.

Not surprising, then, when the cop turns up dead; but a bit more surprising when Quinlan has Joey kidnapped to be used as bait to draw Vinnie out.