Fergus Finlay: Tánaiste's attack on Paddy Cosgrave and 'The Ditch' was unwarranted

Tánaiste's tirade was over the top — but we must also turn our attention to the torrent of toxicity we endure online nowadays

A 2015 photo of Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin and Niall Collins TD. Last week, Mr Martin launched an unwarranted attack in the Dáil against The Ditch in defence of Mr Collins. File picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Did you watch Joe Biden at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner the other night? Great, wasn’t he? He poked fun at himself, especially at his age. And he poked fun at the media organisations that have attacked him mercilessly. I particularly like the line about all the Fox personalities turning up at the dinner because they can no longer afford to turn down a free meal.

But it was all done with a disarming grin. It was also a useful reminder, perhaps not for the first time, that Joe Biden quite likes to be underestimated.