There's a tendency to see celebrations in our own countries as spontaneous expressions of public opinion, and those in others as state organised. There's a bit of truth sometimes, but the truth is a bit more muddy especially if you think about the workings of our media. Tie a yellow ribbon?

The real tragedy of McGrathy (his name is written in Arabic, so there's no one to one transliteration- I'm sure his ancestors must be Irish) is that his release will put obstacles in the way of a deeper investigation into that tragis day. It's plain that the truth wasn't brought out by the trial; it really was a stitch up. McGrathy was a nasty piece of work, and a secret agent of a murderous state, but did he do THAT crime? And if he didn't who did? Did the Iranians order it in retalitation for the American shooting down of the airliner?