Barry Walsh quits Fine Gael role after ‘trial by media’

The Fine Gael TD abused online by colleague Barry Walsh has welcomed his resignation from the party’s national executive council after a damning 48-hour public backlash.

Dublin Bay South TD Kate O’Connell told the Irish Examiner last night she is “glad he respected the Taoiseach and the party” by stepping down — despite Mr Walsh claiming he is the victim of “trial by media”.

In a letter to Fine Gael general secretary Tom Curran at 3.15pm yesterday, hours after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar publicly said Mr Walsh should resign, Mr Walsh said he was resigning from the national executive council “immediately”.