FEW things in politics are certain. But one of them is that when it comes to dropping people in it, no body does it better than the gardai.
The cock up (as David Hanly so indelicately insisted on calling it) over the extradition warrant - unbelievable in its gross ineptitude - happened within the gardai. When the cock up was finally noticed, no one came forward with the real story.
If it hadn't been for the Dail questions we could all have been left in ignorance about the whole thing.
That is how Drapier sees it. But what he doesn't understand is why Nora Owen had to wait so long to get the full story and why the person or persons responsible were not named at a much earlier stage.
The matter was not handled well by the Government and that's an understatement. John Bruton got his roughest ride since becoming Taoiseach as the PDs, in particular, scented blood and headed for their usual target - the jugular.
It was disruptive and uncomfortable but Drapier thinks not much more than that - unless something new turns up over the weekend. And in this business, especially dealing with extradition, anything can happen.
The whole incident indicated an onset either of end of term nerves or the beginning of pre election jitters. There is no doubt the ante has been upped considerably and it is strange how the words "Attorney General's Office" and "extradition" can still get the place into a tizzy.
Fianna Fail has, by and large, come to terms with being in opposition. But every so often the memory of what happened in December 1994 rears up and then the sense of loss and grievance is all the greater.
The ghosts of Albert Reynolds and Harry Whelehan still haunt the place, not to mention Mall Russell's, and so it was this week.
Wednesday was a connoisseur's day. We had Ray Burke bemoaning the fall of Albert Reynolds's government and defending Willie O'Dea - and managing to sound sincere on both counts; we had Sean Treacy making a bid for the Glenroe Bad Actor of the Year Award; Dessie O'Malley was even more like Dessie O'Malley than usual. And, of course, there was Liz O'Donnell and her expulsion from the House.
Drapier, however, does not buy the martyr status now being conferred on Liz by her colleagues. Drapier was close by Liz when it all happened and he distinctly heard her say, "A Cheann Comhairle, will you at least throw me out." Drapier could hardly believe his ears but the Official Record bears him out. Strange.
It is unlikely that this week's debacle endeared the Garda to the Government. There were many who felt that Paddy Culligan's broadside at the Garda Representative Association conference was well merited and long overdue.
As we now face into the new Garda Representative Bill there is unease at the sense of the gardai seeing themselves as a law unto themselves, impervious to any sort of political control and accountable only on their own terms.
Meanwhile, what is the overall picture from this week's events? The Government handled it badly, of that there is no doubt. A full debate on Wednesday was needed and would have lowered temperatures and cleared the air.
The Garda's handling raises serious questions, and not for the first time. But after that, it is doubtful if there is much else to be said.
The opposition made a meal of the whole thing but few people outside paid that much attention. It was very much a Leinster House `in house' crisis and no amount of hype of indignation changed that perception.
But the whole episode showed once again what a poisoned chalice the Justice portfolio can be.
Nora Owen had a hard time on Thursday. Drapier has sympathy for her but, as he said before, Nora is tough and she put in a fighting and very competent performance under intense pressure.
The opposition, as is the wont of all oppositions, went that bit too much over the top. A lower key, more measured, more focused approach might have drawn some blood.
But it all goes to show that in politics it is never the ones you expect which cause the real problems. It's the sneaky ones that come from nowhere which cause the real headaches.
Meanwhile, to more important matters.
There was some light and some movement on the Northern peace process during the week. In spite of the delays and lack of decisiveness at Wednesday's Anglo Irish Conference meeting, there is a sense that genuine progress is being made.
Both John Bruton and Dick Spring were more upbeat than for some time and Drapier had a chance to meet some of the SDLP people who were on one of their Dublin visits during the week. Drapier sensed that relations between John Hume and the Government are back on a firm and friendly footing after a period of rockiness - and for that let us all be thankful.
Drapier is not the only one here astonished at the almost non existent media coverage of the SDLP election campaign. The headlines day in and day out are hogged by Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein, and Drapier hopes that this will not lead to any diminution of the SDLP vote.
As far as Drapier is concerned the SDLP members are the real heroes of the past 27 years in Northern Ireland.
Through the barren years, through provocation, isolation and rejection, they have stuck to the constitutional path of peace and reconciliation. They have taken enormous physical, financial and moral risks to bring their community with them and more than any other party have lifted the debate above sectarianism and tribalism to a plane where political solutions are possible.
It is therefore ironic to see them virtually sidelined by the media in the present situation. The glamour apparently lies elsewhere but Drapier hears that the SDLP's door to door canvass is effective. Certainly he hopes so.
In a way, we have all taken the SDLP a little too much for granted all these years.
Meanwhile Drapier hears that Ken Whitaker's committee on the Constitution is coming to the end of its deliberations and we may expect a final report in the next week or so. Then it is over to the parties to name their teams for the all party committee, and Drapier's understanding is that this has all but happened.
The key position, of course, will be the chair, and Drapier would like to suggest Jim O'Keeffe.