Bertie’s nightmare before Christmas comes to pass

HE’S making a list, he’s checking it twice, he’s gonna find out if Bertie’s naughty or nice — Judge Mahon’s coming to town...

Unfortunately, no such festive tune flowed through the bowels of Dublin Castle yesterday, just the usual chill winds of bitterness as proceedings opened with a great big row.

At one point it seemed everyone was accusing everyone else of making accusations, before moving to deny everything they had just been accused of.