ICAC inquiry: Gladys Berejiklian challenges Labor after Question Time attack about Daryl Maguire
The embattled NSW Premier has challenged Labor after evidence given in ICAC by her former boyfriend.
- Maguire told Gladys how he could pay debt
- What we know so far
- MP would be ‘looked after’ over Badgerys
- ‘Can we go and see Gladys?’
- Constance targeted for meeting
Welcome to The Australian’s coverage of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, where former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire has appeared for the second day. The inquiry has been adjourned until Friday morning .
Berejiklian fires up after Maguire’s second day in ICAC
The NSW Premier fired up in Question Time today after being targeted by Labor over revelations made by her boyfriend, and former MP, Daryl Maguire in ICAC.
On day two of his evidence Mr Maguire told the inquiry he discussed property deals with Ms Berejiklian in 2017, when they were in a relationship.
Mr Maguire said he had told the Premier he stood to receive a payment of about $1.5 million over the sale of land around Sydney’s Badgerys Creek.
He told the inquiry he had been in an “on again, off again” relationship with Ms Berejiklian until August or September. The pair had planned to make the relationship public around the time of his retirement from parliament in 2019.
Opposition Leader Jodi McKay seized on the evidence and went after the Premier in Question Time.
She accused Ms Berejiklian of being a “sounding board for corruption”.
“You said you didn’t know Iwan Sunito, but you did. You said you didn’t know what UWE (a company to which Mr Maguire had financial ties) was, but you did,” Ms McKay said.
“You said you didn’t know your office was used to lobby property developers, but you did.
“You said you didn’t know Daryl Maguire stood to profit from a property deal he was lobbying for, but you did.”
Ms Berejiklian labelled the claims “offensive” and maintained she had done nothing wrong. “I ask (Ms McKay) to withdraw it or say it out there. Either withdraw it or say it outside,” the Premier said.
“The opposition can clutch at any straws they like, the truth is I have done nothing wrong, and the people of NSW know it.
“I say to the people of NSW that every day that I have been in this place, since 2003 I‘ve worked hard, I’ve worked my guts out to the people, I will continue to do that.
“I never have and never will do anything wrong but I will work my guts out for the people of this great state.”
How the day unfolded:
Kieran Gair 4pm: The day’s proceedings come to an end
The ICAC has adjourned early after a very lengthy break and will resume at 10am tomorrow.
Counsel assisting the ICAC, Scott Robertson, blamed the delay on a “separate matter” that he said was unrelated to the “private” evidence involving conversations between disgraced former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire and Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Staff Reporters 3pm: Premier hits back at Labor attack
Embattled NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has hit back at state Labor’s accusations in Question Time that she was a “sounding board for corruption”.
Opposition Leader Jodi McKay took aim at Ms Berejiklian during another fiery, at times chaotic, Question Time after evidence given by her former boyfriend and Liberal Party MP Daryl Maguire that he mentioned a deal to her that could wipe a debt of $1.5million.
“Will you admit you were his sounding board for corruption?” Ms McKay said.
Ms Berejiklian said she had done nothing wrong, and challenged Ms McKay to ask the question outside the legally protected confines of the parliamentary chamber.
“I ask (Ms Mckay) to withdraw it or say it out there. Either withdraw it or say it outside,” the Premier said.
Kieran Gair 2.20pm: What we’ve learnt on day 2 of Maguire’s evidence
While we’re waiting for ICAC to resume its live feed following the inquiry’s switch to a private hearing, it’s worth recapping some of the key developments this morning.
– Former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire has admitted he orchestrated a “drop-in” meeting between Premier Gladys Berejiklian and “tipsy” property developer Joseph Alha in 2017. On the 18th day of hearings at the ICAC, Mr Maguire said he told Mr Ahla that they could “pop in and say hello to Glad” while the pair were sharing a “glass of red” with his former chief of staff Robert Vellar.
– Mr Maguire told Ms Berejiklian that he would be able to pay off a $1.5m debt when Louise Waterhouse sold a parcel of land around the western Sydney airport zone. Counsel assisting Scott Robertson played the phone call between Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire. “Can you believe it, in one sale,” Mr Maguire says, referring to Badgerys Creek. “I can believe it,” Ms Berejiklian replies.
– Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire broke off their five-year relationship in “August or September” of this year after deciding not to go public with their secret relationship.
– Mr Maguire was told he would be “looked after” by business associate William Luong if Louise Waterhouse managed to sell the land she owned around the western Sydney airport zone. Mr Maguire believed the sale could net almost $330m.
– Mr Maguire’s ministerial diary revealed he set up a “meet and greet” between Chinese developers and planning minister Anthony Roberts to discuss the land around the planned second Sydney airport.
– The Premier was not the only high-profile politician to whom Mr Maguire sought to connect to property developers. The inquiry heard an intercepted phone call in which Mr Maguire told developer Joe Alha he would try to arrange a meeting with Transport Minister Andrew Constance to discuss the site of a new train station.
– Mr Maguire has admitted he acted as a “door opener” for a network of Chinese business associates while he was the chair of the NSW Parliament Asia Pacific Friendship Group.
– Mr Maguire asked people to pay $1000 to come to Parliament House and listen to his secret partner Ms Berejiklian and the NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet
speak about his candidacy at a re-election fundraiser in 2017.
Kieran Gair 1.17pm: ICAC goes dark to protect Maguire, Premier privacy
CAC has cut the live feed as counsel assisting Scott Robertson plays an intercepted phone call to Daryl Maguire that could “trespass” on the privacy of the former Wagga Wagga MP and Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Mr Robertson says the private session is “regrettable” but notes it is necessary because the inquiry will “trespass on matters that ordinarily would be entirely private”.
“In the case of the particular matters I now want to put to Mr Maguire is outweighed and in my submission significantly outweighed ... by the privacy of Mr Maguire and Ms Berejiklian.”
Earlier, Mr Maguire conceded he would likely have told Ms Berejiklian about his $1.5m debt because they were in a close personal relationship.
“I only have a few friends that you can raise these things with,” he said. He also revealed that the pair discussed going public with their relationship after his retirement around the 2019 state election. “I was wanting to go,” he said.
Caroline Overington 1.15pm: Daryl changes his tune on Gladys
Just yesterday, grubby Daryl Maguire was getting all uppity about how he’d never pimp out Gladys.
Today?
Well, sure, he’d take people – property developers, mainly – into her office to see her. And why?
Because they “just adored her” apparently.
Yes, in many cases, they were trying to get a deal done.
In most cases, they know they can’t do it without the government’s okay, and it seems like you can hardly get planning approval in NSW with dropping a percentage of the deal into some grubby MP’s pocket.
Dodgy Daryl Maguire is a special case, because he was having a secret relationship with Premier Gladys Berejiklian, while taking men to see her.
She is attempting to isolate herself from the filth, while continuing to manage the coronavirus crisis with considerable aplomb.
How’s she doing?
It’s precarious.
How’s he doing?
Just woefully.
READ Caroline’s full article here
Kieran Gair 1.05pm: Maguire told Berejiklian how he could pay $1.5m debt
Daryl Maguire told Premier Gladys Berejiklian that he would be able to pay off his $1.5m debt with the sale of land surrounding Badgerys Creek.
Mr Maguire confirms the pair were in a close personal relationship from around 2015 or 2016 until “August” or “September” of this year, long after he quit Parliament in 2018 after a separate ICAC inquiry.
The nature of the intercepted phone call and the matters discussed could hold major significant implications for Ms Berejiklian’s political future.
Counsel assisting Scott Robertson plays the phone call between Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire in which he says he will be able to pay off his debts.
“Can you believe it, in one sale,” he says, referring to Badgerys Creek.
“I can believe it,” Ms Berejiklian replies.
Mr Robertson says: “At the time of this call were you in close personal relationship with Ms Berejiklian?”.
Mr Maguire: “Yes”.
Mr Robertson then asks Mr Maguire if he is still in a relationship with Ms Berejiklian.
“Not after the events of this I wouldn’t be,” he replies.
Earlier, Mr Robertson asked if Mr Maguire told Ms Berejiklian about the “Badgerys Creek” sale connected to racing heir Louise Waterhouse.
“I don’t recall. I just don’t recall what I would have said,” he replies.
Kieran Gair 12.50pm: MP ‘in line for $1.5m’ over Badgerys
Daryl Maguire was told the sale of the parcel of land owned by Louise Waterhouse around the western Sydney airport zone could net $330m.
ICAC is hearing another intercepted phone call, this time between Mr Maguire and his business associate William Luong.
Mr Luong tells Mr Maguire he believes he’s secured a buyer for the land around Badgerys Creek who was willing to pay as much as $330m.
“$330m, that’s pretty good going,” Mr Maguire replies in the taped phone call. “It’s good for everybody all around ... It’s nice to try and help people, I like to help people.”
After a lot of pressing by Mr Robertson, he admits he believed he might have been in line for “up to “ $1.5 million if the sale had gone ahead. At first he says he had had “no idea” how much he could have made, but concedes $1.5m had been discussed.
Kieran Gair 12.40pm: ‘Meet and greet’ between Chinese developers, planning minister
The ministerial diary of former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire has revealed he orchestrated a “meet and greet” between Chinese developers and planning minister Anthony Roberts to discuss the land surrounding the western Sydney airport zone.
Counsel assisting Scott Robertson asks Mr Maguire about his relationship with Country Garden, the Chinese development company that owns large parcels of land around Badgerys Creek.
“You sought to get them involved in a number of projects including the Smart West project?
He says he “can’t remember” if he tried to involve Country Garden in the project or if it was his business associate William Luong.
Mr Maguire is asked whether he tried to “build relationships” with any “government officials” in a bid to help Country Garden.
“My recollection says there was a lunch held at some point with the new managing director of Country Garden at their request,” Mr Maguire replies.
Mr Robertson now refers to Mr Maguire’s ministerial diary revealing that he did in fact facilitate a “meet and greet” with Country Garden and planning minister Anthony Roberts.
“Nothing specific was spoken about but Country Garden wanted to make an impression,” Mr Maguire says. “They wanted to pay their respects to the minister.”
Kieran Gair 12.20pm: Maguire would be ‘looked after’ over Badgerys Creek
Mr Maguire is insisting he was not motivated by money when he sought to help Louise Waterhouse sell a parcel of land around Badgerys Creek.
He says he was aware he would be “looked after” if Ms Waterhouse managed to sell the land around the planned second Sydney airport.
However, Mr Maguire tries to argue that the profit motive was a secondary consideration and that he was primarily concerned with helping landowners under the proposed flight path.
Commissioner Ruth McColl asks Mr Maguire why he was so concerned about issues faced by residents in western Sydney.
“Why, Mr Maguire? You’re the member for Wagga,” Ms McColl interjects.
He eventually admits that his close involvement in the western Sydney land deal had nothing to do with his role as the MP for Wagga Wagga or as a public official.
Kieran Gair 12.10pm: Maguire $1.5m in debt during Badgerys negotiations
Mr Maguire was trying to wipe a $1.5m debt when he tried to orchestrate a land deal in western Sydney for racing heir Louise Waterhouse.
Mr Maguire says he “would have retired regardless of my financial position” but has conceded he wanted to make real money before retiring from politics in the lead-up to the 2019 state election.
Counsel assisting Scott Robertson is pushing Mr Maguire on why he was so motivated to broker deals with property developers while still in Parliament.
Mr Robertson suggests the former Wagga Wagga MP engaged with Ms Waterhouse because he hoped the sale of her Smart West development in Badgerys Creek would wipe off some of the debt.
Mr Maguire conceded he would be in line to receive a commission from Ms Waterhouse’s property broker William Luong if the sale of the land went through.
The inquiry has previously heard Mr Maguire stood to gain more than $500,000 if the deal had eventuated.
He also admitted that his focus on securing a deal for Ms Waterhouse in western Sydney had nothing to do with his role as a “public official” or his position as the MP for Wagga Wagga.
Kieran Gair 11.45am: Maguire ‘door-opener’ for Chinese businessmen
Mr Maguire has admitted he acted as a “door opener” for a network of Chinese business associates while he was the chair of the NSW Parliament Asia Pacific Friendship Group.
He is asked whether he used his parliamentary business card during private trips to Samoa in 2017.
“I don’t recall I did,” Mr Maguire says.
He agrees, however, that he promoted the interests of the Shenzen Asia Pacific Commercial Development Association while serving as a public official.
The ICAC is also revisiting the role of racing heir Louise Waterhouse and why Mr Maguire wanted to brief her about the Shenzen group.
When Mr Maguire returned from a trip to the South Pacific, he emailed Ms Waterhouse to suggest the pair meet to discuss “the other matter we discussed.”
Counsel assisting Scott Robertson circles back to Ms Waterhouse’s wish to develop land at Badgerys Creek near Sydney’s planned second airport.
“Do you agree that you provided assistance to Ms Louise Waterhouse in relation to the proposed sale or development of land ... in Badgerys Creek?
“Yes, I agree,” Mr Maguire replies.
Mr Maguire says he met Ms Waterhouse through the “Tongan consulate,” where Ms Waterhouse is Honorary Consul-General.
Staff Reporters 11.30am: Respite for Maguire
The hearing breaks for a 15-minute adjournment.
Kieran Gair 11.20am: ‘CC Premier, I’ll give it to her’
The ICAC is hearing another phone call between Mr Maguire and his “great mate” Joe Alha.
Mr Maguire told Mr Alha to write a letter to then planning minister Anthony Roberts and to “CC the Premier.”
“Joseph, write the letters tomorrow, pour your heart out. You cc the boss and you send it to Roberts,” Mr Maguire tells Mr Alha over the phone.
Mr Alha asks how he would get Ms Berejiklian’s email address and Mr Maguire said he would “fix it” and “give it to her, all right.”
Mr Alha says he needs “someone to help write the letter” but Mr Maguire tells the property developer that he’s “not stupid” and “can get a letter written.”
Mr Maguire says he can’t recall if he ever delivered the letter to Ms Berejiklian but admits he worked hard to secure meetings for Mr Alha “out of friendship” and because they were “great mates.”
The inquiry heard earlier that Mr Maguire orchestrated a “drop in” meeting between Mr Alha and Ms Berejiklian after the pair had been drinking in his office.
Kieran Gair 11.10am: Maguire sought to connect developers with Constance
It appears the premier was not the only high-profile politician to whom Mr Maguire sought to connect property developers.
Counsel assisting Scott Robertson plays another taped phone call, this time from November 22, 2017, where Mr Maguire tells Joseph Alha he can set up a meeting with Transport Minister Andrew Constance.
“Who was in charge of the train station?” Mr Alha is heard asking Mr Maguire. Mr Maguire replies it’s “[Andrew] Constance.”
Mr Alha asks if he can have a “meeting with him” and Mr Maguire replies, “yeah, I’m sure, no problem.”
“I just want some clarity if they are going to move the train station and if they’re f..king looking at I want some straight answers,” Mr Alha says.
The inquiry is told that the meeting never eventuated.
Kieran Gair 11.00am: Berejiklian meeting ‘to seek short cuts’ for developers
Counsel assisting Scott Robertson has circled back to the drop-in meeting that Mr Maguire orchestrated between developer Joe Alha and Gladys Berejiklian.
Mr Robertson asks Mr Maguire if he can remember “what happens” during the course of that “drop-in.”
“My recollection is we were there for probably less than two minutes. Nice words were spoken, you know,” he replies.
Mr Maguire maintains it was nothing more than “general niceties”, but later concedes he was motivated to seek “short cuts” for property developers.
Counsel assisting asks if Mr Maguire hoped “profits would flow” if he secured meetings between politicians and property developers and he admits it was a “factor” that weighed on his mind.
He says he’s “assisted a number of developers.”
Mr Maguire also admitted that he hosted a re-election fundraiser at Parliament House in 2017 that was attended by Ms Berejiklian and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet.
The guest list also included wealthy landowner Louise Raedler Waterhouse and her property broker William Luong.
Mr Maguire tells the inquiry he would have “perhaps” have charged about $1,000 for a ticket.
Anne Barrowclough 10.55am: Profit motive behind ‘friendship’ with developers
Daryl Maguire has admitted he had profit motives behind his dealings with property developers, although he said his association with Jo Alha was “out of friendship.”
Asked if he was also motivated by the hope that “profits would flow to you”, Mr Maguire said “not entirely” but later agreed he did have a profit motive.
Kieran Gair 10.30am: ‘Can we go and see Gladys?’
Mr Maguire has admitted he brokered a “drop-in” meeting between Premier Gladys Berejiklian and property developer Joseph Alha.
On the 18th day of hearings at the ICAC Mr Maguire said he told Mr Ahla that they could “pop in and say hello to Glad” while the pair were sharing a “glass of red” with his former chief of staff Robert Vellar in the former MP’s parliamentary office.
Mr Maguire said the property developer was “insistent” about “saying hello to Gladys.”
“Joe wanted to meet the Premier. He said, ‘Can we go and see Gladys? Can we go and see Gladys?’”, Mr Maguire told the inquiry.
“And yes, we’d had a couple of drinks. And we were on the 12th floor, I think, if I recall rightly. And the Premier’s floor is the 8th. I said, ‘Well, we’ll go and see and we’ll do drop-in’.
“We did drop in,” Mr Maguire said.
The commissioner Ruth McColl SC asked if Mr Maguire chose that time and location for their meeting because he believed the Premier could be working in her office.
“One of the reasons you arranged the meeting on the particular day and at the particular time and the particular place was the possibility that you would be able to introduce him to, or allow him to see the Premier by way of a drop-in, is that right?” asked Commissioner McColl.
“Yes,” he replied.
The former MP said the pair then visited the Premier’s office for “about two minutes”.
He could not remember if Mr Alha had his development model when the pair “dropped-in” on Gladys.
He can, however, remember that Mr Alha was not carrying his glass of red wine.
“I wouldn’t let anyone walk around parliament with a glass of red. I would frown on that,” he said.
Kieran Gair 10.12am: Robertson: Questioning will cover Berejiklian relationship
Wearing a dark navy suit and maroon tie, Mr Maguire has taken the stand at the ICAC in Sydney.
It is Mr Maguire’s second day of questioning before the inquiry.
Counsel assisting the inquiry, Scott Robertson, says it’s “unlikely” Mr Maguire will finish giving evidence on Thursday.
Mr Robertson says today’s line of questioning will cover the former MP’s secret five-year relationship with Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Niki Savva 10.00am: Breaking up with Gladys would be tragic
After Gladys Berejiklian’s closest friends had picked themselves up off the floor, wiped away the dribble or the tears, re-hinged their jaws and swapped bad-taste jokes to relieve the tension as they literally spun out, they began trying to process what they had just heard about her secret love.
It wasn’t just the what, it was the who. It was incomprehensible, it was shocking, it was inexplicable, injudicious, even reckless.
It was so unlike the straitlaced, workaholic woman they knew and so admired.
Ultimately, after weighing up everything they had heard on Monday and Tuesday, using their legal brain as well as their political brain, they had concluded it should not spell the end for her.
It was not a conclusion they had come to lightly. That could change, and not from the testimony of a spurned lover, but only if substantive contradictory information emerges or if the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption makes damaging findings against her.
READ Niki’s article in full here
Kieran Gair 9.25: What we know so far
Daryl Maguire has arrived at ICAC for a second day of questions on his alleged business dealings.
The anti-corruption body is nearing the end of its four-week public probe into Mr Maguire, and whether he misused his public office in the pursuit of his own financial interests by attempting to broker property deals.
In a stunning day of evidence on Wednesday, Mr Maguire admitted to acting as a de facto company director during his time as the elected MP for Wagga Wagga, using tactics to keep his directorship of the business concealed, and using parliamentary resources, including his staff, to set up meetings for the company, known as G8wayinternational.
He quietly turned his parliamentary office into the company’s part-time headquarters and accepted “thousands of dollars” in “success fees” by lying to immigration officials as part of the potentially illegal “cash for visas” scheme.
Of course, these allegations have been made more explosive by the bombshell revelation that Mr Maguire was in a secret relationship with Premier Gladys Berejiklian for a five-year period, during which it appears he misused his office to obtain personal benefits.
Publicly the Premier continues to be supported by her frontbench ministers, who defended her at length during a no-confidence motion moved by the NSW opposition in both houses of parliament on Wednesday. Both motions were defeated.
Privately, however, there are enduring doubts about her future, and concern about the government’s re-election prospects. Mr Maguire’s evidence, which will continue on Thursday, is likely to influence whether a leadership change will occur.
The Premier’s future could be resting in the hands of Mr Maguire, who is expected to be asked about phone taps today, including a call in which he told Ms Berejiklian on September 7, 2017, that his business associate “William” had told him “we’ve done our deal”, in apparent reference to a deal relating to land at Badgerys Creek near Sydney’s planned second airport.
“I don’t need to know about that bit,” Ms Berejiklian said. “No you don’t,” Mr Maguire replied.
Max Maddison 7.45am: Focus set to be on Berejiklian relationship
Daryl Maguire’s first day in the stand at the Independent Commission Against Corruption ended with the disgraced former Liberal MP admitting to a host of the allegations levelled against him.
While revealing some intriguing subplots, the biggest story of the corruption inquiry – details of Mr Maguire’s relationship with Premier Gladys Berejiklian, including what she knew about his alleged business dealings – will likely be addressed at some point today
READ how yesterday’s ICAC hearing unfolded
Yoni Bashan 7.30am: Premier’s lover admits to ‘cash for visas’ business
Gladys Berejiklian’s former boyfriend ran a “cash for visas” business out of his parliamentary office while boasting access to the highest levels of government, a venture that saw him receive tens of thousands of dollars in “success fees” by lying to immigration officials.
In a stunning day of evidence that will place further pressure on Ms Berejiklian’s future as NSW Premier, former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire admitted to a string of allegations concerning potential illegal conduct and the misuse of public office to obtain personal benefits.
As Mr Maguire conceded to a multitude of professional failings in the ICAC witness box, Ms Berejiklian aggressively defended her conduct at a heated press conference during which she emphatically sought to distance herself from her former boyfriend.
“My tolerance for answering questions which, frankly, are offensive, is waning,” she said. “He fooled a lot of people because, clearly, he was conducting activities he shouldn’t have and many people were not aware of.”
Max Maddison 7.15am: Maguire puts focus on staffer
The former chief of staff to then planning minister Anthony Roberts has become entangled in the Daryl Maguire corruption inquiry, accused of having facilitated an “off the record” meeting with a property developer — despite previously saying he was “ambushed”.
On the 17th day of hearings at the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the former Wagga Wagga MP contradicted earlier evidence given by Rob Vellar, saying he told him to “come for a glass of red” — code for an “informal meeting” in his office with property developer Joseph Alha.
During his evidence, Mr Maguire said it was “clear in his mind” that he told Mr Vellar about the purpose and attendees of the meeting before he messaged him on November 15, 2017.
“I’m clear that there are a number of discussions to arrange the meeting. I’m not clear how that was communicated to Joe, but I am clear that I spoke personally to Mr Vellar on three or four occasions and that was the arrangement that was made,” Mr Maguire told counsel assisting the inquiry, Scott Robertson.
“Mr Vellar has said in the witness box … that he was ambushed by the meeting,” Mr Robertson said.
“That is not true,” Mr Maguire responded.
Asked why he’d text Mr Vellar saying “come for a red” when he in fact meant a meeting with Mr Alha, Mr Maguire told the commission it was “code” for an informal meeting.
Yoni Bashan 7.00am: Berejiklian’s slow, painful end inevitable
It is starting to look likely that Gladys Berejiklian’s leadership is shrinking to a bitter conclusion.
While some of her colleagues remain publicly supportive, enough of them are uncomfortable with the revelations that have emerged from the corruption hearings in Sydney. They also remain unpersuaded by the touchingly naive argument that she, and others, were duped by her carnival-barker of an ex-boyfriend, Daryl Maguire.
Each day the discussions are perceptibly shifting toward the logistics of a leadership handover, and what it will take to elevate these murmurings from a stage whisper to a practical and seamless transition.
Desperate to keep it all bloodless, the predominant view among Liberal MPs is that whatever happens needs to look somewhat civilised, a bit British, even. Nothing too loud nor sudden — no frenzied number-counting nor opportunities for a spectacle, no party whips in a parliamentary hallway announcing the results in front of a live bank of cameras.
It means that for the change to occur, Berejiklian will have to selflessly step aside of her own volition. And therein lies the problem: she has thoroughly and inexplicably walked herself into a psychological cul-de-sac where she genuinely and furiously believes no transgressions have been committed on her part, except those affecting her personal life.
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