Hmm, my previous post seems to have vanished. :-(

Cap'n, that's as may be, but Bertie Ahern is Irish. Ireland is not part of Britain.

Now if you were to talk about the al-Yamamah bribery, where $1bn of UK taxpayers' money went into Prince Bandar's own back pocket, then you'd be talking my language. Can't believe Westland practically brought down the Thatcher government, but no-one seems to care about al-Yamamah. Or Shirley Porter being let off nicking £40m worth of council houses by her Tory mates, for that matter.

Still and all, I don't want people let off just because they didn't nick very much, same as you wouldn't want the drunk who punches you for no reason to be let off because it was only a small bruise. Zero tolerance applies to the small fry as much as the big boys.

Graham.