INJURY and psychosis were the order of the day at the launch of Hugo Hamilton's new novel, a Dublin based police caper called Headbanger, on Thursday evening. Joe O'Connor, who was to do the honours, went under the knife at six o'clock that evening afflicted with wisdom tooth troubles, leaving the way clear for Hamilton himself to take over the speeches and perform a very enthusiastic version of Talking Head's song Psychokiller, complete with actions and an improvised verse, to the accompaniment of old friends Philip King and Sonny Condell.
Meanwhile all the children in the author's extended family were adorned with great lumps of elastoplast, a continuation of the Headbanger theme dreamed up by writer Mary Rose Doorly, Hamilton's wife.
Both Roddy Doyle and Philip Casey arrived claiming they had been slaving over hot computers all day, a fate avoided by Anne Haverty, who was accompanied by Anthony Cronin. Her novel, One Day As A Tiger, is definitely finished and due to be officially published next week, having attracted glowing reviews.