It's been a common refrain in recent years - if you go out in Belfast, you better have a plan to get home. Taxis can be hard to get due to a continuing driver shortage. Buses stop at an early hour.

The bitter memory of a homophobic stand-up routine continued to curdle in my mouth as I looked out into the street beside me. A few cars idled at the light, but the night was otherwise silent. Trolley ...