Johnny Regan's early years were completely dominated by his obsessive mother, Clare, nicknamed "The Colonel", who frowned upon his friendships, didn’t allow him to play sports, and publicly horsewhipped her young son.
She was married to Alf Regan, the town drunk, the pair having met at The Australian Hotel where Clare worked as a barmaid. With the marriage over by the mid-1950s, Clare took her son to Sydney, starting a new life in the mean streets of Darlinghurst, where the gangster takes shape.
In this episode, Matthew Condon visits the country NSW town of Young to retrace the childhood of Stewart John Regan and delve into his troubled early years.
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Read more: How ruthless mum shaped her deadly gangster son
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