Amazing what hard times can do to a company's penchant for publicity.

Once dubbed as an example of the Celtic Cubs, Stentor, the troubled Irish-based telecommunications company, has found it hard to deal with the media's interest in its current troubles. Headed up (at present anyway) by Patrick Cruise O'Brien, the son of former minister for post and telegraphs Conor Cruise O'Brien, Stentor just can't hack the press. A strange scene unfolded at Stentor's a.g.m. - where shareholders were told of the company's £14 million accumulated debts - when a reporter from The Irish Times was barred from the meeting.

The company said only shareholders were entitled to attend. So the press were unable to report the shenanigans which took place at the meeting. Ironic, really, for a company involved in the communications business. It's a far cry from the days when Stentor was employing people to ring up offering interviews with young Patrick.