Maybe the lady had put it in the bin before your friend had heard about it, I mean you can't really blame the lady for doing that.
there's always two sides to a story, and anyway it was just an accordion, and saved a lot of suffering.

Pity she didn't have a banjo or a Bordhran, and this is from a man? who plays ? the bordhran. And I also have an accordion and I am looking for a Banjo. so the next time someone comes to the local folk cloub and starts telling Bordhran/banjo/accordion jokes. I could ruin their night by saying I've got all three.