The Margin could only feel sorry for Waterford Crystal chief executive, Redmond O'Donoughue, at a weekend press conference at the international consumer goods fair in Frankfurt.

After several minutes of reflections on the state of the world economy by Waterford Wedgwood chairman, Tony O'Reilly, a patient O'Donoghue got his chance to speak about his company's products to a contingent of European journalists.

But no sooner had he begun than Ms Donatella Versace, the sister of the late fashion guru, Gianni Versace, made a dramatic entrance behind him. Cameras clicked, journalists pushed forward, people stretched for a better view and Mr O'Donoghue was left speaking into a void.

The Waterford chief could only reflect

afterwards that Ms Versace was capable of causing such distraction that maybe he would invite her to the next Waterford Wedgwood annual general meeting.