Murphy’s law, she’s not good on dates

“HENRY,” purred Celia Larkin, her blonde bob teasing the collar of her powder pink twin suit as she leaned forward slightly in the witness box, “I’m, sorry, Henry, but I’m not very good on dates.”

If Mahon Tribunal counsel Henry Murphy was surprised by the intimacy of how the Taoiseach’s ex-partner addressed him, he didn’t show it.

It was just minutes since she had walked pensively to the stand, tightly clutching a white tissue in her left hand, now she was assured and poised. Clearly unhappy to be in this position, but determined to give no quarter.