In his hare-brained attempt to strike a blow against capitalism - in this case offering the multinational businessman his freedom in exchange for jailed IRA comrades - Gallagher could hardly have imagined the scale of working-class disgust at his actions.

Herrema was seen as a jobs provider and beneficial to the local economy, even though his company would, argues Eamonn McCann plausibly, be leaving Ireland as soon as the tax breaks dried up. So when Ferenka did eventually shut up shop, it wasn't the Irish Government or the company that got the blame - it was Eddie Gallagher and his friends.

No wonder he sounds so disillusioned in McCann's revealing interview.