West Belfast, the mid-1990s. Leo Doyle, an IRA 'lifer', is released on licence after 14 years as part of the peace process after the first IRA ceasefire in 1994. He is allowed to go home at weekends and work, but in the week sleeps at a hostel with other paramilitary prisoners. These include loyalists, and there is simmering tension between them and the republicans like Leo and his friend Paddy John. Leo is feted on his homecoming but clashes with his civil servant brother Brendan, who he accuses of being an 'uncle Tom'.

Leo starts a job at a youth centre, but is quickly disillusioned, both by the brutal methods of the woman in charge and the kids' total lack of respect for him and his legendary gunman status. Befuddled by changes in everyday life since he went to prison he meets his old flame Roisin, to whom he had been engaged before his trial. Roisin is now unhappily married to Biff Donaghy but has turned into a tough woman who mocks his nostalgia while being keen to initiate a sexual relationship again.

Everywhere he goes, Leo finds that he does not receive the respect he deserves. Grieving relatives of a young man killed in the conflict fight him when he tries to talk to them about their loss. The IRA warn him off expounding his political views in pubs and about seeing Roisin. The police make it clear they are watching him.

While Leo carries on his affair with Roisin, much to his religious mother's disgust, Paddy John is having family problems. His wife spurns him and his children cannot conceal their loathing of him for his long absence. This culminates in a fistfight with his son, although Paddy John denies he has any problems to his friends.

After falling out with his family over Roisin, Leo gets drunk and beats up Biff Donaghy in the street. Interrupted by an RUC patrol, Biff refuses to tell the truth and lose Leo his freedom and then is arrested for attacking a policeman. The RUC commend Leo's actions, knowing this will cause him embarrassment. At the hostel he learns that Paddy John has committed suicide. The loyalist prisoners give him their commiserations. Leo arranges to meet Roisin and tells her he loves her. She is unimpressed and tells him that she doesn't want to be his cause, especially as his fight for the cause meant that he had killed people and left her alone, leading her into an unhappy marriage.