Tánaiste 'bewildered' by Julian Smith sacking which Bertie Ahern brands 'vindictive'

Julian Smith became the first casualty of Boris Johnson’s British Government reshuffle after being unceremoniously dumped from the Northern Ireland Office.

Update: Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said that the sacking of Julian Smith, the UK's secretary of State for Northern Ireland, was "vindictive", while the Tánaiste Simon Coveney said the decision will "bewilder" many.

Mr Ahern told RTÉ Radio 1's on Today with Sean O'Rourke this morning: "To remove him is just sour grapes because of the the job he did for Theresa May.