Cowen’s dwindling band of support bolstered by a couple of Hale Marys

THERE he was again — drinking and laughing as if nothing had happened.

Thankfully, Brian Cowen was indulging in nothing more than a cup of tea and a polite chortle — but he has no one to blame except himself for the fact his intake of liquids is now monitored as closely as that into Inniscarra Dam during the flood season.

More plus points for our chastened Taoiseach: it was in the middle of the afternoon, rather than the middle of the night, and Mr Cowen did not lapse into one of his improv stand-up comedy routines — or even do a lap of the room on a tricycle while dressed as a clown before giving a major interview to CNN.