‘The first one was here – at this gap in the wall along Pope’s Quay – then the second was here at the dockside at Albert Quay – number three here at Horgan’s Quay – number four off the jetty off Tivoli – number five from the Port of Cork Garden – and then six and seven at The Marina.’

‘Do you think it’s significant that he pushed the last two from the same location?’ asked Katie. ‘All the others were drowned somewhere different.’

‘I don’t know if we can read anything into that,’ said Detective Inspector Mulliken. ‘It seems to me that he took any opportunity that presented itself, and The Marina’s by far the easiest place to knock some unsuspecting passer-by into the river. At Pope’s Quay you’d have to follow them down the steps, and at Albert Quay and Horgan’s Quay you’d have to cross the wide-open dockside before you pushed them. It would be the same with the jetty at Tivoli… they could easily see you coming, although they probably wouldn’t guess what you had in mind, like.’

‘Personally, I don’t think where he pushes people into the river is nearly as important as why,’ said Dr Power. ‘Where is a matter of chance. Why is a matter of psychology. I’m convinced from the Lee Pusher’s behaviour that he’s one of those paranoid people who harbours chronic resentment against the rest of the world. He spends his days mulling over the times that he’s been humiliated or rejected – or imagines that he has. He feels that he’s a social outcast, and he’s deeply envious. He believes that everybody else has a happy and fulfilling life, while he’s on his own, out in the cold, with his nose pressed against the window, metaphorically speaking.’

‘Do you have any idea at all why he might feel so resentful?’ asked Kyna.

‘Well – there are many possible reasons. He could have started bearing grudges when he was a child, especially if he had a poor or an underprivileged background. He could have been rejected by somebody he fell in love with. He could have lost his job because of his attitude or his incompetence. His wife or a partner could have left him, or unexpectedly died. It’s surprising how much of grief is anger, like “how dare you die and leave me alone”. Then again, he could be suffering from a mental illness such as Huntington’s disease or Alzheimer’s or a stroke, or some form of dementia, or a brain injury. It could be a combination of some or all of these causes.’