Mad_jock - thanks v. much for the local info.
instead of pissing off 15 pax they would delay the rest of the days pax
Ironically - we left at least an hour late anyway by the time the offloading and associated paperwork had been sorted out. Later in the flight they reeled off umpteen announcements for passengers going to all sorts of ultimate destinations who weren't going to make their connections. So there was a knock-on effect for far more than the unlucky first 15 (who, I think, were all only going to AMS - perhaps another reason for their selection?).
It was a youngish lad who came on with the list - seemed like the sort who wouldn't be in a position to show much initiative. He had a policeman at the top of the steps to back him up against the vociferous Dutch frequent flyers on the offload list who were very pissed off up front even before I had made my way up there to raise my concern.