Dear Ray, Drapier was never too close to you. Indeed, like most people in Leinster House, no one ever really got to know you too well. But Drapier does not think you deserved what was dished out to you over the last number of weeks.
You always had the name of being abrasive and you did not disabuse those around you of this. You didn't get the name "Rambo" for nothing. And yet, over the last week or so, Drapier has heard quite a number of stories which would reveal a much more humane and softer Ray Burke.
This week, all of this was for naught. The pack smelt blood and went for it with a vengeance never seen before. What surprised everyone, Ray, is the fact that you left us altogether. While Bertie Ahern is being accused of dithering, it is generally accepted that, despite the public posturing by others, he held on as long as he could to give you breathing space.
But what you did in return, by resigning your seat, did Bertie no favours. His minority Government will probably be even in worse straits after the by-elections both in Limerick East and in Dublin North. On the other hand, many are saying that you had no option but to go completely in that (if you were to stay on the back-benches) they would continue to hound you.
Drapier has also heard that members of your family had put you under considerable pressure to get out of politics altogether because it was causing terrific strains on your family relationships.
Some of your Fianna Fail colleagues are darkly muttering about the fact that there were elements in the media who had an agenda to do you down once Bertie Ahern appointed you. Drapier can confirm that a number of journalistic contacts were delighting at the fact that you had been appointed by Bertie in the first place.
Your parliamentary colleagues in the other parties haven't covered themselves in glory and must be feeling very small in the last few days. Surprisingly, in Drapier's opinion, the party which behaved worst in all of this was Fine Gael. Some of its leading members were hitting the airwaves at the grossly insensitive time of your brother's funeral. Drapier could not believe the depths to which some of these parliamentary colleagues were descending.
The Labour Party, who normally would climb to the "high moral ground" on this type of issue, were decidedly restrained and, indeed, Democratic Left was equally muted. A number of people are suggesting that Fine Gael's vehemence on this was due to the fact that last week, on the Order of Business, Dick Spring "pulled one over" John Bruton when, at the height of the Dail row, he suggested a compromise which was immediately accepted by Bertie Ahern, thus leaving John Bruton adrift. From that moment on, it appears to Drapier that Fine Gael went for broke.
While the other parties were agreeing the terms of reference for the planning tribunal, Fine Gael was sticking it out to the last. Even up until Tuesday morning, Fine Gael was indicating that it was refusing to agree the planning tribunal terms of reference until the Taoiseach gave a statement in the Dail concerning the passports issue.
For what it's worth, Ray, many of the correspondents around the House this week were saying that the passport issue was somewhat of a red herring in that it had previously been in the public domain many times but that nothing had transpired from it. Indeed, it would appear that the previous government knew all about this but did nothing about it, so why then was it such a big issue this week?
Your constituency colleague, Nora Owen, did herself no favours by going public on Wednesday (after your resignation) to confirm that there was nothing to suggest corruption (on the passport file). Bertie and Co asked why she had remained silent before then, while Fine Gael was clamouring on this issue.
They had a point. I know you would not want to do any favours for your former constituency colleagues by your resignation so it must have taken a lot to do what you did, even without any other personal considerations.
One way or another, Drapier does not think the passport issue was the straw which broke the camel's back. The fact is that you were being subjected to attack by what was a moving enemy. At no stage could you pin down your accusers.
Ray, for what it's worth, you are probably better off out of this place altogether because the venom and bile which permeated the place on Tuesday was unprecedented. The fact that David Andrews "blew his top" is a huge indication of the feelings of his Fianna Fail colleagues, some of whom showed unusual restraint in the Chamber. But in the corridors afterwards there were fairly harsh things being said.
Normally, after a row on the floor of the Dail, there would be inter-party back-slapping and mirth but Tuesday was not like that. Particularly between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael members, the usual "we're all in this together" feeling was not present and Drapier can envisage the civil war being fought all over again in the immediate future.
All in all, Ray, the whole affair was a sorry one. You're better off to take Drapier's advice by enjoying life with your family and leaving politics totally behind you.
There will be reverberations from this not only for the Government. Drapier thinks that Fine Gael will do badly out of this, particularly John Bruton. He and his people, in Drapier's opinion, misread this episode from start to finish. John Bruton, you may recall, when it was first put to him about Michael Lowry's difficulties, passed them off as being "things that happened before he was a Minister".
Such logic, if transposed to Bertie Ahern's predicament with you, surely would excuse him for his reticence, but Mr Bruton did not let up on him (or you!)
It has even been said in here that some elements within your own party were up to their tonsils in your downfall. If that's the case, your going is all the more surprising in that you were giving in to those malign forces. All in all, the whole thing was a sordid affair.
All Drapier can offer in consolation is that many of the wiser heads in here are now saying privately that this killing of each other must stop if we, as a profession, are to survive. Your going may be the catalyst in that regard. Drapier can only hope so.