It was a cruel twist of fate for the Morris Tribunal that, having decided to open its hearings in Donegal to allow local people to attend, it found itself competing with Daniel O'Donnell for the county's attention.
An hour's drive west from the small courthouse where Mr Peter Charleton SC began a 10-day opening statement, Donegal's best-loved native was getting married.
And when one compared the crowds outside Kincasslagh Church with the empty overflow room which the tribunal had set up, with a video-link, in anticipation of a packed public gallery, it was clear who had won this particular ratings war.
One almost felt sorry for Mr Charleton, notwithstanding his €2,500-a-day legal fee. Aside from the poor turnout, he had to cope with the demoralising discovery that, after a day on his feet, he had reached just page 83 of his 531-page opening statement. A lot of reading, and water-sipping, remains to be done.
One felt sorry for him, and the tribunal legal team, for other reasons, too, most notably in the area of securing honest evidence. With an audible sigh, Mr Charleton noted that for every allegation of Garda corruption in Co Donegal there was a counter-allegation, or a different version of events.
His exasperation in this regard led him to appeal for honesty from those involved, and he even went as far as quoting Carl Jung: "If only people could realise what an enrichment it is to find one's own guilt, what a sense of honour and spiritual dignity!" Mr Charleton's message, in short, seemed to be that the truth will set one free. Some of those under investigation, sadly, believe that the truth will do exactly the reverse.
None of the players at the centre the inquiry were in the courthouse yesterday, with lawyers and Garda representatives making up most of the 50 people present.
Ironically, the jury benches were given over to members of the media. But, just in case any of them felt that their positioning gave them special powers, Mr Justice Frederick Morris reminded them of their duty to give balanced coverage and not report allegations as fact.
Echoing this view, Mr Charleton remarked that "the only person who can stop a malicious tongue is its owner"; and, to illustrate the point, he added: "Paper will not refuse ink." That theory was quickly put to the test as Mr Charleton began to detail a litany of allegations which will be investigated by the tribunal. Reporters struggling to keep up will testify that for ink and paper to remain on good terms one needs a sturdy biro.
Spare pens will be at the ready this morning as the opening statement continues.
