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KERRY TD Michael Healy-Rae has been praised by viewers for his “kindness” and “decency” after he told a heart-breaking story about a constituent who died by suicide following financial difficulties.

Deputy Healy-Rae was a guest on The Tommy Tiernan Show on Wednesday in which the comedian interviews surprise guests.

And viewers took to social media to highlight how impressed they were about the Independent TD’s forthright views on mental health.

The Kilgarvan politician related a story about a man who was experiencing financial difficulties and who went on to take his own life. "It was probably one of the biggest mistakes I ever made, and the mistake I made at the time I wouldn't make again because I'd be smart enough now to hear what I was being told," he said.

He said an elderly constituent had opened a bogus non-residential account on the advice of a financial institution which eventually came to the attention of Revenue. Deputy Healy-Rae managed to negotiate a reduction in the amount the man had to pay back, but said the man still "had to pay out virtually every penny that he had".

"He was an elderly man, worked hard all his life and he came on the phone and he said, 'Michael you helped me every way in the world but can we do any more about this money?'

"I said, 'Oh God, no' and this is where I blame myself and no one else, I said to him, in other words I told him we were at the end of the line, I said, 'No, it'll have to be paid' and I said, 'You'll have to pay it.'

"Right away he said, 'No, no, no I won't pay it. No, I won't.' And I was driving along and you see I helped him but it didn't register. I didn't get it.”

Mr Healy-Rae found out the man had taken his own life following their phone call.

"You could imagine how I felt," he told Tiernan, adding that he then joined the committee of a psychiatric service.

He said many people living in rural areas might not have people to talk to, despite the best efforts of their family, if they have family.
 

 
Above: Tommy Tiernan and Deputy Michael Healy-Rae on The Tommy Tiernan Show.