Online abuse directed towards Clare secretary Pat Fitzgerald has been slammed as "cowardly" by Munster GAA secretary Kieran Leddy.
Davy Fitzgerald recently went public about the abuse aimed at his father and at himself, with the Wexford hurling boss denouncing online trolls.
"I just don't think you're entitled to cut the back off someone, especially being anonymous online," Davy said.
"That really bugs me that you think you can just sit behind a keyboard and absolutely just cut people to shreds when you don't really know them or what their whole story is."
In his yearly report that he will deliver to Munster GAA's annual convention in a week's time, Leddy said: “I was saddened to read about the level of abuse on social media platforms directed at one of the province’s longest serving GAA administrators, Pat Fitzgerald of Contae An Chláir, and his family.
“The Fitzgerald family have given years of service to the Association at club and county level.
"I know Pat for many years as a very hard-working and dedicated GAA administrator, who goes well beyond the call of duty. The abuse is a cowardly act by the perpetrators.
“There is no doubt that, while social media has its positive points, the unfettered ability of people, often acting behind pseudonyms, to direct sustained and vile abuse at individuals and organisations, is undoubtedly a major downside.
"The negative effects of this are well documented.”
Meanwhile Leddy revealed that the Munster Council suffered a €834,732 loss in 2020, mostly down to the "collapse" in gate receipts - down from €5.354 million in 2019 to €453,265 last year - caused by the Covid shutdown and subsequent playing of fixtures behind closed doors.
There was also a big reduction in Central Council funding - from €2.06m to €698,678 last year - and in commercial income - €712,143 down to €27,455.
However approximately €3m was saved between lower matchday costs and on-field rents, plus reduced Games development and team costs.
