The cries of 'cancel culture', 'snowflake' and 'a good man' have been pretty prevalent across social media, opinion pieces and WhatsApp groups in recent days."The mob get their man," one former Fine Gael councillor said on Twitter. Maybe it is strange to see an Irish politician be held account for their actions, but that's not mob justice. That's people in high positions feeling the consequences of their actions. Long may it continue.
It seems to have brought an end to a near-40 year career in Irish politics. There were many long-form lookbacks on his time as Kilkenny Councillor right up to one of the most powerful political positions on the continent. In amongst these was a repeated sentiment of 'where does this all end?'. This was no lengthy tribunal with nothing to show at the end but a long bill and everyone walking away scot-free. This was no garden press conference turned Specsavers ad. This was no Guinness-influenced interview on morning radio after a night spent in an infamous tent.