How an apology made a playful prank into a national farce

THE paintings of Brian Cowen were, at the very latest, completed some time in January, judging by an email to the Ray D’Arcy Show on Today FM on the 19th of that month.

The sender claimed to be a friend of the artist, and attached in the email one of the three nude portraits of the Taoiseach, of which details have since emerged.

It appears to have been sent so that Mr D’Arcy and his staff would publish the picture on the show’s website. They did not do this, however. Mr D’Arcy said yesterday they were simply occupied by other material at the time.