ENTER Mr Price, with a dagger in his voice. The handle to his hand. QC for Times Newspapers, yesterday was day one of his frequently very cross cross examination.
"Complete u turn", he thrust at Mr Albert Reynolds in the witness stand. "When you drove the stake through Harry's heart ..." he struck again.
"Are you trying to suggest the (Labour Ministers) walkout was irrational", he tried again.
But there was no blood. Not even a wound.
Just that mantra, "truth, the truth, nothing but the truth, as I knew it, as it was at that time", repeated Albert.
And some effective thrusts back.
"As the Protestant Archbishop of Ireland said to me ... keep up the good work."
"There are few more satisfying things in life for a politician than being able to save lives."
Parry that, Mr Price.
"Rather astonishing."
"Surely you don't expect us to believe..."
"Startlingly different".
Albert did not like that last one. "I don't see why the word startling should be used", he said, his tone like that of a Mayo footballer aggrieved at a Meath opponent's tactics.
Albert had "no recollection whatsoever" that he had told Dr Michael Woods to let the real Mr Whelehan know that he would get the very first High Court judicial vacancy available, if only he'd give up the presidency job.
Only Mr Price called him Mr Woods, again and again.
Mr Price really startled everyone though by saying: "If you look near that column there, you will see Ms Harney."
But he, was only referring to the Dail record. Wherein Michael McDowell, Alan Dukes and Liz O'Donnell were also to be found. Bothering Albert.
That's the opposition for ya, as he might say himself. Always asking sticky questions.
Which brings us to Pat Rabbitte and his query about a file that would shake the State to its foundations, in Mr Rabbitte's words.
Albert referred to it again yesterday, as he had on Wednesday.
And how it had contributed so much to the atmosphere of "rumour, innuendo and cover up" at the time. Suggesting, he said, a massive State cum Catholic Church conspiracy.
Adding oil to troubled fires.
Albert saw it as his job to put those fires out, above all else.
That was his main concern on the Tuesday, not the Duggan file. To save the threatened and very fragile peace process.
"To save your job", dripped Mr Price.
"Principle", retorted Albert. "Psshaw" (it seemed) snorted Mr Price (probably from Shakespeare).
"To thine own self he true Albert could have retorted (certainly from Shakespeare).
Instead of which we got "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth".
