References to parenthood reveal nothing about victims and their lives

THE Irish, in the early years of the 21st century, devoted their weekends to killing each other, using guns, knives or cars.

That’s the conclusion scholars from another planet will make, a couple of centuries down the line, when they come to investigate why our world ceased to support human life.

They’ll go through the yellowing newspaper files and the radio news tapes and the conclusion will be inescapable: yes, these Irish people regarded Saturday and Sunday as open season on killing each other.