THE Late Late Show is an Irish institution. Its host, Gay Byrne, is a white-haired traditionalist who, despite his conservatism, has forged ahead to break many of television's taboos. He was the first to demonstrate to Catholic Ireland how one applied a condom (to his fingers, of course); the first to interrogate the mistress of the wayward Bishop Casey and the first to interview a self-confessed paedophile on air.
Tonight, however, Mr Byrne fails to hide his own personal distaste for his other premiere. As he introduces Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein president and a man he describes as 'the most controversial person in Ireland', he breaks with the programme's 32-year-old routine. He does not welcome his guest; does not shake his hand nor does he invite applause from the audience.
The abhorrence with which many regard Mr Adams is also reflected in the panel lineup: a collection of mostly hostile politicians who are champing at the bit to say their piece. It is just eight weeks after the IRA announced its ceasefire; the first day that Sinn Fein has been admitted to Irish democracy via the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation and Mr Adams' first opportunity to explain to a chat show audience why the killing has stopped and why peace must begin.
The moment of television truth comes in the early stages of the programme when well-known columnist and playwright Hugh Leonard gives a long, dramatic (though obviously rehearsed) speech detailing innocent victims of the IRA's 'armed struggle'. With downcast eyes and in a soft-spoken voice, he laments the fathers murdered while their children looked on; the young women who will never grow old; the corpses crying out from their graves for retribution and the human vegetable who no longer have the voice nor the wit to join them in their appeal.
'And you', he says, head swivelling to face his opponent, eyes blazing, 'are morally responsible for that. Morally, you are a murderer and not only are you a murderer but now you add the extra dimension by saying I want peace, you're a hypocrite as well.' 'And you obviously don't want peace?' counters Mr Adams. 'I want peace but there is a price to be paid, you know. If you lie down with dogs you're gonna get up with fleas,' he returns, the hatred almost palpable.
'Well let me say that I know many of the people you have described and unlike you I don't come here to be sanctimonious and to engage in theatrics,' says Mr Adams, in measured tone. 'I want to see peace, I want to see an end of all that has passed in the past 25 years.' Mr Leonard challenges him with some of the well-circulated allegations about Mr Adams' membership of the IRA, his position as officer-in-command of the Belfast brigade during the 1970s. All are greeted with the standard and expected denial. 'Why have you never sued for libel then?' an increasingly furious Leonard asks. 'Well, I might after tonight,' Mr Adams retorts. The audience breaks into applause and Mr Adams visibly relaxes.