apartment which is joined to her house.

5.30 a.m. Police arrive at the scene and try to calm the man. The mother is then released unharmed.

7 a.m. An eight-man Emergency Response Team (ERT) arrives.

7-7.30 a.m. Two Police negotiators arrive and begin the long process of talking the knife man into giving up.

9.21 a.m. He is seen repeatedly bashing the window with a long-bladed knife as tension mounts. Minutes later he is seen stabbing the furniture as an anxious crowd look on.

9.30 a.m. A St. Brendan's nurse makes a doomed attempt to set up dialogue. He returned and said: "He's not responding to me.'' 9.40 a.m. Further Police arrive and rumours spread that force will be used.

9.52 a.m. Eight ERT officers crowd around the French windows.

9.53 a.m. The knife man lurches forward over the barricade and is dealt with by ERT officers. The crisis is over.