The plight of Commissioner Padraig Flynn reached new dramatic heights last night, when the Minister for Foreign Affairs opened his defence in the Dail by reminding TDs of the cases of "the Birmingham Six, Guiseppe Conlon and the Maguire family".
Of course, in proposing the Government's softened version of Fine Gael's private member's motion calling for a statement from Mr Flynn, Mr Andrews had a difficult job. Rather than "In the Name of the Father," this was "For the Sake of the Daughter," as Fianna Fail sought a balance that would satisfy the Progressive Democrats while keeping Ms Beverly Cooper Flynn on-side.
Hence the sensitivity about the Dail's rush to judgment in the case of the Castlebar One. But in recalling other famous miscarriages of justice, Mr Andrews may have been inspired by the arithmetic on the Government benches.
So much did the Government respect the privacy of the private member's debate that the vast majority of them decided not to intrude at all. The Minister was completely alone at the start, when Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell complained about "a few bad apples" threatening the name of politicians. And although halfway through the debate Government TDs outnumbered the Birmingham Six by one, thereafter numbers fell again.
Proceedings reached a climax of sorts when Brian Lenihan complained that even Adam and Eve had received a fair hearing before being kicked out of the Garden of Eden (the biblical equivalent of the European Commission). His own fig leaf was barely in place by then, but the Opposition let him away with it.
Earlier, questioning the sincerity of Fianna Fail's letter to Mr Flynn asking about the alleged donation, Mr John Bruton said it was "about as convincing as seeking information as a tax demand in a Valentine's card".
The bitterness of the Fine Gael leader could have been excused. His own overtures to the Government had gone sadly unrequited, and his party Valentine card - the motion signed by all Fine Gael TDs - had been received with indifference on the Government benches.
As the first instalment of the debate drew to a close last night, the situation was this: Labour's roses were red/the Blueshirts were blue/but the Government representation was down to just two. (And one of them left soon afterwards).
