Pat Hickey farce a big deal but sorry tale was no Saipan

Paul Brady is often referred to as a musician’s musician, the implication being that his work is better appreciated within the trade than among those who take their music off the car radio. The Pat Hickey business last Wednesday had that feel.

On the sports desks and in the newsrooms, it was talked of as another Saipan. The heavy hitters filled pages of detail and comment. And across social media, journos could produce the writs they’ve accumulated, in chase of Pat, as badges of honour.

Sure it was big. An Irishman arrested in the nip during a world event. It taps in, fundamentally, to our traditional fascination with one of our own being made an absolute show of.