downwards

One detective told the BBC the couple had "spiralled downwards" into a belief system that drove them "into the ground".

New electric car registrations bucked a general downwards trend for other vehicles.

However, the proportion of goals scored from set-pieces continues to trend downwards.

Throughout the hearing on Thursday, McCartney sat in the dock looking downwards at his feet, with his hands covering his ears.

He added: "I thought the minister listened to the concerns around the table. He seemed very willing to change the downwards spiral of lack of investment in the arts."