Billy Byrne

Evil-doer
Full Name	William Byrne
Alias	Billy Dad
Origin	Waterloo Road
Occupation	Retired
Powers / Skills	Brute strength Exceptional hand to hand combat
Goals	Reconcile with his son Michael after years of distance due to Billy’s abuse End his own life due to not being able to live with his illness any longer (both succeeded)
Crimes	Abuse
Type of Villain	Remorseful Abuser

Billy Byrne is a minor antagonist from the school-based drama Waterloo Road, who appears as a recurring antagonist in Series 8a, between Episode 4, titled Read My Lips and Episode 10, titled Paradise Lost.

He is portrayed by Ron Donachie.

Biography

We first hear of Billy after Gerard Findlay, headmaster of Waterloo Road’s rivals Havelock High, puts up multiple of the same photocopied newspaper headline on the corridors of Waterloo Road. The headline reads that Billy’s son Michael, who is the headteacher at Waterloo Road, beat Billy to a pulp when he was younger. The attack came as a result of years of Billy abusing both Michael and Michael’s mother. The incident left Billy in a coma and the pair cut ties.

We first meet Billy properly when later that day, Michael’s deputy head, Sian Diamond, goes to visit Billy at his house. There, she tells Billy of the trouble that Gerard has been giving Michael. She then successfully persuades Billy to help her prove Michael’s innocence, by taking him to see Michael at the school. When they get to the school however, Gerard, with his arm in a sling, is at the main entrance with a bunch of news reporters, alleging that Michael broke his arm when Gerard squared up to him in a pub the week prior. Billy, disgusted that Gerard would use his and Michael’s history for his own gain, then openly admits to the press that he physically abused Michael when he was younger, and that the headlined assault that Gerard had put up around the school was deserved after everything he put Michael and his mother through. He then tells them that he knows that, in any other circumstances, Michael wouldn’t hurt a fly and that Gerard is simply faking his injury to try and get students to leave Waterloo Road and go to Havelock High instead. He then warns Gerard off, who promptly leaves. His help goes unappreciated by Michael however, who tells him that his apology doesn’t change everything Billy put him through all those years ago.

Despite Michael’s rejection of his father, Sian keeps going to visit a very ill Billy, bringing him food to keep him going. After a couple of weeks, Michael is finally convinced by Sian to go and see Billy. However, as soon as he gets there, he very bluntly tells Billy to stay away from him and Sian. Michael then confronts Billy about the abuse that he and his mother endured at Billy’s hands. He reminds Billy of all the things that would cause Billy to kick off that them. Things like his dinner being too hot, or too cold. A specific time that Michael remembers is being beaten after he accidentally spilt tea while bringing to Billy. These reminders cause Billy to get upset and he once again tells Michael that he doesn’t blame him for putting him in the coma. Michael, believing these to merely be crocodile tears, then leaves.

The following week, Sian suggests that Michael should go and see his father again, even if it didn’t go very well last time. She even puts forward the idea that they have dinner together, mentioning that Billy likes minestrone. Michael reluctantly agrees to the idea and, when the school day finishes, he once again goes to see Billy. Upon Michael’s arrival, Billy tells him that he doesn’t actually like minestrone, he just didn’t want to hurt Sian’s feelings. This puts a smile on Michael’s face and he goes and makes them both a cup of tea. This trip to Billy’s is much more of a success, as the pair finally reconcile. Just as things seem to be on the up, Billy reveals to Michael that he’s dying. Not only this, but that he wants Michael to help him die. Michael is left stunned by this.

Another week goes by before Michael sees Billy again. On his way to work, Michael goes to visit his father, this time taking Sian with him. Billy mentions that he was thinking of going to see the football one last time, and even offers to buy Michael and Sian a ticket. The pair refuse however, due to Billy’s deteriorating condition. The pair then go to work and Michael tells Billy that he’ll come and see him again later that day. Lunchtime arrives and Michael once again finds himself at Billy’s house, where he finds his father lying on the sofa in a bad way. He shows Michael a bottle and tells him that it’s time. Michael initially refuses to open it for him, but then ultimately decides to, after having one last look at just how much pain Billy is in. Michael watches tearfully as Billy takes in the contents of the bottle, and sits with his father as he peacefully passes away.

When Michael returns to the school for the rest of the day, he is confronted by a detective who promptly arrests him for his part in his father’s suicide. He tells the detective that he would do it all over again if he had the chance, as he now knows that Billy is no longer suffering and is in a better place. As he stands in his holding cell, Michael pulls out from his blazer pocket a necklace that his father gave him in his final moments.

Trivia

• He appeared in 7 episodes during his time in the show.