Egg on the face of the smiling Quinn

So the halo has slipped a little over the smiling face of Feargal Quinn. The revelation over alleged payments of "support money" by suppliers to secure shelf space and support new store development may well be within the law, despite the abolition of "hello money" in 1987 - after all, Senator Quinn would know the law as well as anyone - but it certainly runs a coach and four through the spirit of the legislation.

Much has been made of the "Irishness" of Superquinn, and Senator Quinn himself has been quick to point out that any savings made in tough negotiations with suppliers have been passed on in the form of rebates to customers. However, even this defence has been contested by people who have had dealings with the group in the past.

Ironically, the legislation banning "hello money" was brought in specifically to protect Senator Quinn and other smaller Irish retailers from the threat of monopoly power being wielded by larger multiples.