Pro and anti-treaty sides set to fight a bitter civil war

The self-styled patron saint of septic tanks was finally martyred by Micheál Martin on the altar of Europe.

After a day of dithering Éamon Ó Cuív was exited from the front ranks of Fianna Fáil in tempestuous fashion, speaking of himself in the third person, and darkly warning the “machine” would now “blacken his name”.

But the most remarkable thing about the spectacle is that in his leaving, Ó Cuív had managed to do something never seen before: Make Martin look strong.