Let the nation rejoice: Bono's trousers have finally achieved closure.
It took two judges, an army of lawyers, and much legal huffing and puffing to reach this milestone.
In the High Court yesterday, following one last push by Mr Justice Michael Peart, the U2 lead singer reclaimed his three- quarter-length pedal-pushers for good.
One of the world's richest rock bands has fought two successful courtroom battles over these little trousers, a Stetson hat, a pair of cheap earrings and a green sweatshirt. They have registered a victory against a former employee, forcing the woman who once looked after their wardrobe to return items of clothing and some souvenirs.
On one level, U2 lived up to their celebrated reputation by providing first-class entertainment and a wonderful show when they took Lola Cashman to court. On another, many wondered if their response to an individual, described by them in court as a traitor to their company, amounted to unreasonable force.
It may be the corporate way of doing things, but is it the rock'n'roll way? The disputed items were worth about €5,000, but going to law to retrieve them could have cost the image-conscious band a lot more in terms of showbiz credibility. Charismatic Bono tours the world campaigning to reduce Third World debt, while hiring lawyers at home to make sure a woman can't make a few bob selling a pair of his trousers? On the face of it, it didn't make sense. However, the band's belief that Lola Cashman has a lot more U2 memorabilia in her possession, which she might try to sell in the future, helps to explain their decision to sue.
As Judge Peart noted, Bono told the court they didn't take the case over a few small items - there was a principle at stake.
Yesterday morning, principle upheld, Bono managed to escape with both his trousers, and, more importantly, his band's reputation, intact. U2, the judge was informed, will not seek their costs from Ms Cashman.
Both sides left their legal teams to see this saga through to its conclusion. Lola Cashman wasn't in court for the finding that her evidence lacked "credibility, plausibility or probability". The members of U2 and their management team are on tour in Australia.
Ms Cashman worked as a stylist for U2 in 1987, and said that the disputed items had been given to her as gifts by the band. In 2002 she tried to put U2 memorabilia into a sale at Christie's. When the band found out about this, they wrote to the London auction house, disputing her ownership of some of the items.
Ms Cashman issued defamation proceedings in London against the band, while in Dublin, they issued proceedings against her to have the memorabilia returned.
U2 were successful last year in the Circuit Court. Ms Cashman appealed to the High Court, and the tale of Bono's trousers, his iconic Stetson and his fluctuating waistline was given another airing last month.
And so it was that a 38-page judgment was delivered by Judge Peart, addressing such weighty matters as whether or not Bono's trousers were "redundant" (they were not), and whether the singer had "plonked" his Stetson on Ms Cashman's head (probably not).
"For my part, this case has much to do with the credibility of witnesses, since the court is presented with evidence about events dating back about 19 years," he stated, before pointing to a number of inconsistencies in the former stylist's version of events.
While finding against her, Judge Peart doesn't believe she was deliberately untruthful, but had "convinced herself to the point of honest belief" that the goods were given to her.
Later, in a statement, the band said "proceedings were issued in Ireland very much as a last resort, and with great reluctance". They are relieved that the matter is now concluded, and wish Ms Cashman well in the future.
An unhappy Lola issued a statement last night expressing her disappointment with the verdict. When she has had "time to fully digest the consequences of this decision" she will make a further statement.
But for the moment at least, Bono's prodigal pants are at peace.
