But before the end of the workshop, Gill showed himself a second time. He announced that they had been a remarkable group. I had been listening – they were nice kids, but he was being excessive in his description of them, and in his thanking of the teachers and the Film Festival for their marvellous work.

A warm fog of self-satisfaction settled over the room. At a nod from Gill, his assistant stood up from his seat. Almost too late, I realised that Gill had been softening us up for something.

‘In fact, you’re so wonderful,’ he said, ‘that I’ve decided I want to keep in touch with you all, let you know how I’m doing, send you a newsletter, details of upcoming internships. And there’s going to be a premiere in Dublin, a little red carpet thing, in a few months so maybe I can meet some of you again there. My assistant will pass a clipboard with a sheet of paper around to all of you and I want you to sign your names, give me your email addresses and phone numbers and we can keep in touch that way. We’ll do a few photos now as well. And of course you can follow me on Twitter, if you’re not already.’

The students fizzed. Their teachers and the festival staff looked puzzled initially, then more sanguine. This was beyond what any of them had expected, but Gill was seeking only the kind of information needed for a mailing list, wasn’t he? And everybody had mailing lists, didn’t they? Even big-time film directors, apparently. So far, so ordinary.

This was it. His entire visit had been leading up to this moment. I got to my feet and started talking, before Boyband had a chance to move, and before I had time to think.

‘I’m sorry, Mr Gill, I’m afraid it won’t be possible for any of the under-18 students to give you their names and contact details without parental permission,’ I said. ‘I’m a board member and a solicitor. Finn Fitzpatrick’s the name, we met last night, briefly, though you may not remember …’

‘I remember you,’ Gill said. ‘What’s the problem?’

‘The festival has rules. What I mean is that it must follow its own guidelines on child safety, and …’

‘What are you saying?’

‘I’m saying it’s a matter of trust, parental trust.’

‘Wait a minute, are you saying you don’t trust me?’

‘I’m not saying that.’

‘That’s what I heard. You don’t trust me.’

‘It’s not you I don’t trust. It’s not personal.’