Tallaght actor makes his ‘Red Rock’ debut

HE’S best known for his roles in crime drama Love/Hate, and more recently as the man who plays ‘Keano’ in the popular comedy music play ‘I, Keano’ and but Tallaght’s Stephen Jones is about to make his debut in TV3’s award winning soap Red Rock as feuding gangster Francis ‘Laser’ Byrne.

Laser is Beady Burke’s main competition on the Ridge Estate, a ruthless drug dealer whose income has suffered since Paudge passed on a tip from Beady about his operation.

The leak has since made him a little paranoid about a rat, which resulted in the stabbing of Davey Webb. Davey has since regained Laser’s trust, but for how long?

Poor Davey Webb (played by Darren Cahill) is put under increased pressure from a lethal Laser who will go to any lengths to make sure the young impressionable boy keeps his mouth shut.

The opening scene in next Thursday’s (December 3) episode sees Laser Byrne accost a frightened young Davey Webb in the street. It’s quickly very apparent to the viewer who the dominant force is. Laser is already deeply suspicious that Davey is a rat and Davey is sweating at the thoughts of his suspicions being confirmed. If Laser finds out he’s cooperating with the gardaí, it’ll be more than a stab wound he’ll get this time.

Davey is in a vulnerable position. CHIS (Covert Human Intelligence Sources) have turned down Superintendent McKay’s request to have him taken in as a confidential informant; he’s too young, too scared and too eager to please. McKay has no other option but to charge Davey for the petrol station robbery.

McKay delivers the bad news to Davey who is already on edge with Laser Byrne breathing down his neck again.

Terrified, Davey demands a deal with the Superintendent who agrees to bring him on as an informant, off the books.

Davey’s information could be McKay’s one chance to break the drug trade on the Ridge. But it might be the end for Davey if Laser gets a whiff of what’s going on.

Originally from Glenview in Tallaght, Stephen said how delighted he was to be part of the TV3 soap.

“It was great to do the role on the show,” he enthused. “‘Red Rock’ is yet another home grown hit and I really enjoyed my days filming. I hope my character has a bigger role to play in the future.”

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Red Rock, Conor regrets his night spent with Rachel. He was incredibly upset by his friend Dooley’s death and tells Rachel that they’ve made a mistake by taking things too fast.

Rachel is furious but it’s too late for Conor to apologise. As far as Rachel’s concerned he’s only a selfish junkie who has taken advantage of her and could have helped Dooley. Rachel’s harsh words hit an already distraught Conor hard. With everything falling to pieces around him could Conor be pushed to seek solace in a syringe? 

‘Red Rock’ airs every Wednesday and Thursday at 8.30pm on TV3.