‘But do you not agree that this operation has made Cork a more dangerous city to live in?’ Owen Dineen persisted. ‘All you’ve done is poke a hornets’ nest, haven’t you? Barry Riordan is still a free man, and so is Thomas O’Flynn, and tonight the drug peddlers will be round the clubs as usual and the brothels will be open for business on Grafton Street but your officers had better be wearing bulletproof vests.’

Katie stayed calm. ‘I can’t divulge to you all of the progress we’re making against the gangs in Cork, for operational reasons. But I can assure you that Operation Hubbard was only the beginning. What you’re going to be seeing in the next few weeks and months is a purge of crime in this city like you’ve never seen before – a disinfection. From St Luke’s Cross down to Togher, it’s going to be cleaner and safer than any other community in the country.’

‘Chief Superintendent O’Kane, what do you have to say about that?’ asked Rionach Barr from the Echo. ‘That’s quite a target to be aiming for, isn’t it?’

Brendan blinked, as if he hadn’t been listening. ‘What? Oh. Well. I suppose you could say that I’m a little less sanguine than DS Maguire, but I’m never one to put a damper on anyone’s optimism. And of course I’ll be giving her my unqualified support – always provided that she and I see eye to eye on the operations she has in mind to carry out this “purge”.’

‘What about this Operation Hubbard? Did you see eye to eye on that?’

Brendan stood up abruptly. ‘I’m sorry, but that’s all we have time for this afternoon. Thank you all for coming. If you need any further information, have a word with Mathew McElvey here.’

‘You didn’t answer my question, sir!’ called out Rionach Barr. But Brendan had already stepped down from the platform and walked out of the door.

Rionach Barr turned to Katie. ‘DS Maguire?’

‘It’s been a hard day for all of us, Rionach. We very much regret the fatalities that took place this afternoon during Operation Hubbard, and Chief Superintendent O’Kane is obviously anxious that we don’t have more. All I can say is that men who carry guns with the intention of killing other men are endangering their own lives, too.’

‘Especially when DS Maguire is on the warpath,’ said Owen Dineen.

You just wait, thought Katie. You’re next in the firing line, my fat friend.

*

Before she left for home, Katie went down to the cells to see Doireann Greaney. She was due to be sent to Limerick Prison in the morning, where committal prisoners for all of Munster were held pending trial.

Doireann was lying on her bunk reading a book when Katie entered her cell. She didn’t even look up.