The man who exposed police corruption on an unprecedented scale said debate over whether it was “appropriate” for the AWB inquiry to wide its focus – after commissioner Terence Cole said it was not within his powers to examine ministerial conduct – came down to weasel words. He said: “It’s become like a children’s game – ‘I’ll come if you ask me’, but ‘I’ll only ask you if you say you’ll come’.”

Other authorities are also reported, with majority opinion clearly on the side of Parish and Morris.