As is conventional on these occasions, even the neutrals on the panel made their congratulations to Willie, who was ecstatic, albeit in a restrained way.

What was remarkable was the coldness of the formal congratulations from his party colleagues, who must have known that the real story was the throwing away of a seat (as described here).

So, less than three months later Willie is being "hung out to dry" in a way seldom witnessed in Irish politics. Has it ever happened so obviously to a cabinet minister ?