Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention...

He threw his hands up now and again in deference to wisdom after the event, writes Michael Clifford

Brian Cowen is sorry for your trouble. Definitely, maybe. For those who like to consider the Oireachtas banking inquiry as a forum to perform acts of contrition, the former taoiseach duly obliged.

“I’m sorry that the policies we felt necessary to put in place in responding to the national crisis brought with it hardship and distress to many people,” he said.