Can we have some more detail?
Yes. Apparently there were some ground ops staff on board during the night. And the air bridge was redeployed to allow smokers into the departure gate (at Terminal 3).
The person who told me this, who was on board that night, has now received a letter of apology from the carrier concerned with an offer of compensation. Not exactly the actions of a blameless company. She has also made a report to the CAA and BAA Heathrow, who both confirmed that hers wasn't the only complaint that had been made.
I assume that Old Man Rotor has a connection with the carrier concerned as he appears to be keen to supress discussion of this topic.
SoS