Business Editor
If a week is a long time in politics, a fortnight is an eternity in the world of stockbroking.
The extraordinary controversy that has engulfed the country's largest broker, Davy, has developed at break-neck speed in the past two weeks.
At the start of this month, the firm enjoyed pinnacle status in the financial services community here.
It possessed an excellent brand and reputation built on trust, a stellar client list including blue chip companies like Kerry Group, Paddy Power owner Flutter Entertainment, Smurfit Kappa and Ryanair, and a prestigious status as a primary dealer in Irish Government bonds on behalf of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA).