‘I got death threats’: Irish author Roddy Doyle on writing about domestic violence

The Irish writer Roddy Doyle was riding a wave of fame for his novels The Commitments and ‘Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha’, when he first wrote the character of Paula Spencer.
The 1994 TV drama she featured in was an unflinching portrayal of domestic violence and alcoholism – and it caused a massive row in Ireland.
But Doyle has stuck with Paula – who’s featured in three subsequent novels – the latest out this month.
We spoke to him earlier this week, and asked what he now wanted to explore at this stage of both his – and Paula’s – life?