 MacArthur, a well-known eccentric in the city's social circles, took refuge (as a guest) at the home of Patrick Connolly, then the Irish Attorney General, where he was ultimately arrested.A serious effort was made to prevent the relationship between Connolly and MacArthur becoming public.Taoiseach Charles Haughey described the incidents and MacArthur's taking shelter at Connolly's as "a bizarre happening, an unprecedented situation, a grotesque situation, an almost unbelievable mischance".