Justice finishes marathon in laconic fashion

Courtroom scene: At 11 o'clock on the dot the judge's tipstaff came from her chambers and looked around the small courtroom on the second floor of the Four Courts.

The jury's benches were stuffed with reporters and there were more standing to the side.

The lawyers' benches were stuffed, too, the solicitors sitting with their backs to the judge's bench and swapping small talk with the barristers sitting opposite. The lawyers, all men, had gotten to know each other fairly well over the course of the marathon case. Now it was judgment time and fingers were tapping on tables.

Behind the barristers' benches a few lawyers stood waiting for the biggest ruling of the day. Behind them, on the public benches, sat some of the heaviest hitters in corporate Ireland.

The man of the hour, DCC managing director Jim Flavin, was sitting in a corner by the window, surrounded by the members of his board. Michael Buckley, Tony Barry, Alex Spain, Maurice Keane, Morgan Crowe and Fergal O'Dwyer were all there to lend support.

On the Fyffes side was chairman Carl McCann and Chris Comerford, who had acted as project manager for the huge court case, and a number of other supporters. Chief executive David McCann was not present.

After five minutes court registrar Betty McGuigan came out clutching a few documents and two large brown envelopes which, it later emerged, contained two copies of the 350 page judgment.

She was followed a few moments later by the main act: Ms Justice Mary Laffoy. Wasting no time, she settled into her seat and started straight away into Fyffes vs DCC and others.

She seemed a bit nervous, her voice quivering slightly as she read through the prepared text.

The only leak to the media beforehand had been that the 350 judgment would not be read to the court. As she started it seemed for a moment that she might be taking a lengthy route to her final decision.

Then she cut to the chase. There were a few questions to be answered and she read them out and then gave the answers. That was it. Fyffes had lost. The case was adjourned, people stood and the judge left, less than ten minutes after she had arrived.

The Fyffes camp, beside the door, made a quick exit. DCC board members stood around Jim Flavin, shaking his hand and wishing him well. Within a minute he was on the phone.

Much as he did throughout the lengthy hearing Mr Flavin yesterday remained stoney faced, nodding his head slightly as well-wishers shook his hand. He made his way out of the room, his public relations adviser, Jim Milton, informing reporters that the company had now to issue a statement to the stock exchange.

Soon everyone was dispersed. Down by the exit Mr Flavin made a few comments to reporters. Back on the plinth one of his barristers was having a celebratory smoke.

"How did it go? asked a passing colleague.

"DCC won," he replied, and took another drag.