So Mr David McKenna is finally going to put Marlborough out of its misery and take the company he floated eighteen months ago private. Given the succession of misfortunes the company has endured over that period and the collapse in the share price from a high of €5.35 to the €0.50 immediately the management buyout plan was announced, Marlborough will hardly be missed.

Some people lost a lot of money on Marlborough, not least Mr McKenna, whose 44 per cent is worth a lot less than it was when the shares were at their peak. However, Ms Ann O'Brien and Ms Dolores Smullen shared £3.9 million (€5 million) in cash when they sold their secretarial recruitment company to Marlborough.

Weren't Ms O'Brien and Ms Smullen smart to look for hard cash and not Marlborough shares when they sold out.