TONY Flannery must have committed some terrible crimes. He is a Redemptorist priest of nearly 50 years standing, who says he is being threatened with ex-communication from the church he has served all his adult life.

THROUGHOUT the week, two broad schools of opinion formed much of the debate on the sentencing of rapist Patrick O’Brien.

IF he was so minded, Lance Armstrong could have looked to these shores for the model confession.

So Rabbitte got his comeuppance, much of which was undoubtedly due. But let’s, for a moment, separate the messenger from the message. Did he say anything at all that was worth considering? The media (hold the front page!) are not flawless. Neither should they be above criticism.

COULD you spot a man with a €10 million gambling habit?

RESOLUTIONS are difficult to keep, so here are two wishes instead for the new year.

HAVING a drink on Christmas Day used to be fun because you were banned from doing so.

COME back Fianna Fáil, all is forgiven.

THIS column is a budget-free zone today.

THERE’S no nice way of putting this, but next Wednesday’s budget is going to be a clanger.