Mr Liam Lawlor began this last day before his 2 p.m. release as he had for the past six days - with a wake-up call at 8.15 a.m. Following a shower, breakfast of fruit, cereal and toast was served in his cell at the end of the medical unit wing. As usual he brought the meal to his four-bunk cell where, like all prisoners, he was locked in while he dined. After breakfast he had the option of going to training or doing chores in the kitchen or bakery, though neither the Prison Service nor Mountjoy authorities would say if Mr Lawlor took part in these during the week. Mr Sean Aylward, director general of the Prison Service, said the service had "assiduously avoided micro-managing that man's case". He said his staff "had no information" about what Mr Lawlor did on a day-to-day basis. The TD probably packed his suitcases yesterday morning, given that his driver picked these up at the prison during the midmorning.
It is understood chicken curry was served for lunch and that Mr Lawlor had his lunch, as usual, at 12.45 p.m. Lunchtime lock-up ends at 2.15 p.m., though by that time he was already sitting in the back of his gardener's van, ready to be conveyed from the prison.
At about 2.20 p.m. the van passed about 80 members of the media and public who were waiting for a glimpse of him outside the main prison gate. From there it is understood he made a rendezvous with his driver and on the way phoned his constituency office to tell his secretary he was "going to a meeting in town".
Still bashful, he arrived at about 4 p.m. through the back entrance at Leinster House. He is said to have gone first to his office before adjourning to the members' bar where from 4.30 p.m. "howls of laughter" could be heard, according to those in its vicinity.
He is due to resume regaling the Flood tribunal in the coming weeks.
