Well the knives were out for the captain in question when I got to work on Monday, having missed all the excitement(?). General feedback was that he took off with no BA reported and 40 metres cleared width. Adding petrol to the flames was the rumour that he was a contract pilot. That's as far as my second hand knowledge goes.
Out of interest, and I suppose I'm asking this having considered Rainboe's input, if the Commander in question showed initiative and professionalism in his decision making, what is to be said of the many captains who elected to stay put? Too conservative? Pessimistic?