The President, Mrs McAleese, had two one-hour gaps in her four-day, 22engagement programme in the US last week. When she went shopping with her husband Martin in Washington she asked for minimum security, but ended up with eight security men stopping all traffic on the street and following her around the store as she tried on shoes and selected presents for her daughters.
In New York, she went to Bloomingdales and a similar number from the secret service accompanied her. They did manage, however, to keep their distance when she went into the changing room.