"you had to photograph my friend James Kingston and my partner Cathy Cook, playing outside a pub in Durrus, west cork ,IRELAND some years ago ,without asking permission, and you never paid any royalties"

I believe in most countries you are allowed to take photographs in public without consent.

If a photographer snaps a photo at a football match, he does not have to get the rights from every person in the photo - such as those sitting in the stands.   

There is a huge difference between snapping a photo in public and reproducing someone elses work.