THEY say a week is a long time in politics. In Northern Ireland, it seems we can hardly go a single day without another scandal, another jaw-dropping story that perpetuates the notion that our Assembly is nothing short of a wrecking yard.

Lately, this dysfunction is being characterised in alarming fashion by the two biggest unionist parties, much to the frustration and exhaustion of their voter base, who just want a sense of normalcy and, at the very least, a return for the trust they have placed in their political leaders.

This week we had the visibly uncomfortable figure of Gavin Robinson addressing questions about court proceedings involving a long-serving MP, confirming that the DUP “became aware of this issue over two years ago”.

This is a party which is already the subject of a review into what was known internally about the actions of another of its MPs, now awaiting sentence for unspeakable sexual crimes.

David McCann: Sinn Féin need to learn lesson of choosing wrong Stormont departments

Deirdre Heenan: Mike Nesbitt wanted to do the right thing, but it wasn’t enough

In any other world, this story and that image of the lonely figure caught like a rabbit in headlights would run and run.

Fast forward to only a........

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