New claims that cyber bullying contributed to suicide of Irish government minister Shane McEntee

I am more than willing to give Shane McEntee the mental illness out for his suicide. However, I will not stand by and coddle politicians. They need to be under more light NOT less. Who can say what caused him to commit suicide? Maybe he was stealing from the poor? Maybe he felt guilty for handing over Ireland's future to the Bankers. Harry Truman had a phrase for weak-kneed politicians: "If the stove is too hot, get out of the kitchen." I'm sure that is paraphrased. I learned it from a local pol in 1966 at our state Democratic Convention. She was the matriarch of the Democratic Party.

Shane McEntee was a rich farmer .he cared not for the poor of ireland.He cared for his own kind.What about all the people Shane sent to their graves with his support of bad policies.The sooner more tds go the same way the better

Shane McEntee voted to cut poor peoples benifits and services.What did he expect.I saw people chearing his death,just as people cheared when British soilders got killed at the start of the troubles.

Enjoy the festive season Eamonn and hoping to cross swords with you in the new year

May he rest in peace but he was a bit nasty to carers of the elderly, disabled and sick, who care 24/7. No one was following him around protesting, he could have deleted e-mails etc. I think it was something more than that. Now we have a government using him as some sort of martyr against the people.

with the best will in the world,if you are a poitico,you have to be able to take critisism,people say he was that rare one,a decent man.its a pity the rest of them are not as sensitive.unlikely the critisism is the sole contributing factor.

Seán - the Irish Independent did not mention suicide when the news was just breaking. The next day, every bit of the media in Ireland said it was suicide. Yes, it used to be a taboo subject, but not any more. A Very Happy Christmas and a Great New Year to you and Yours. Éamonn.

i blame the tax payer for not paying the household tax and watching to much SKY TV.

Handsome88 sounds like you discovered that you were gay ?

how many people can afford 700 euro for a top hotel in Ireland,you can a fortnight on the Continent for less But if you are in the Irish government its a cakewalk to pay 700 euro anywhere

Looks like suicide is quite an option these days and can be contagous among the immature,but is it really just a lack of coping skills among certain groups that are prone to self harm or they have some other personel problems that dont manifest so easily ,ether way it causes devastation to familys and those closest to them and should never be concidered an option if only for that reason.

Sad to say, but this gentleman sounds very immature for a father and politician. The old adage should have applied: Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.

No Guts.Taking your life is cowardly. More politicians should do the same.

Schlomo has a point the (once great) independent never mentioned suicide even when it was common knowledge. I can trace this attitude back many years ,that when a person of Importance was involved in an incident the truth is somehow assuage so as not to embarrass his family. The same rules do not apply to lesser mortals as the press will crucify or name them. Politicians have always lived with hostility and vilification for their deeds and actions. If Mr. McEntee was of a frail mind politics was not hios game. It might be a case of nepotism backfiring. My condolences to his family.

So now if a large number of people confront a TD on a matter of national importance it is a "frenzied" attack! Get real! Irish politicians have had no opposition for so long! Irish people are waking up! Every Irish person is entitled to comment, if these so called comments are nasty, derisory or defamatory reprint them so we can all see them, but do not make statements without substance. maybe if this TD acted with his constituents wishes foremost in his mind and not the party whip or personal concerns, things might have been different, in saying this, no matter is so prescient that the only avenue available is suicide! Shane McEntee RIP