Life was tough - then they took away his Prozac

It was December 7th, 2001. Christmas was on the way and Conrad's life was slowly coming unstuck. Then they took away his Prozac.

The business was in ruins and the staff wanted payment. He was pawning to Peter to pay Paul and the two Ps were about to get together and compare notes.

Conrad went to Harcourt Terrace to assist detectives who were inquiring after "some paintings that had gone missing". So sure was he of a quick getaway that the car was left running outside the station.

But within moments the Peacock One was having his flamboyant collar felt by the long arm of the law. He no sooner had stepped onto the pavement when he was arrested and subsequently held for nine hours, his misery completed when they took away his Prozac for safekeeping, as is normal during such interviews.

It was all a mess, he assured the detectives. Yes, he agreed, he had sold some paintings to the Fitzwilliam because he needed the money. Originally the collection of 30 works had cost him "100 grand". Now though, things were far from grand.

A disgruntled supplier to whom he owed money had taken three of the paintings. He was refusing to return them until he was paid. Conrad was too frightened to give a description of the art snatcher to gardaí, but given a few days he felt he could get the art back.

Later he decided to tell the truth. He needed money from the paintings to satisfy an attachment order the Revenue had placed on his account.