Claim: Maurice Leitch's first novel was The Liberty Lad and second novel was Poor Lazarus he then joined BBC headquartered  in Belfast.
Evidence: Adding Radio Drama to his repertoire in 1960 with The Old House, he wrote and produced documentaries during his time at the BBC in Belfast. His second novel, Poor Lazarus was awarded the Guardian Fiction Prize in 1969, and Silver's City won the Whitbread Prize in 1981.