Irish Sports
Welcome to Live View – Take the tour to learn more
Start Tour
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
21 Dec 12
12:49
Joined:
Date Joined:
05 Jan 10
FINE GAEL TD and junior minister Shane McEntee has died.
The Meath East TD had turned 56 on Wednesday.
A brief statement from the Government press office said Deputy McEntee had died suddenly.
McEntee was the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture with responsibility for Food, Horticulture and Food Safety.
The Nobber man had been first elected to the Dáil in a by-election for Meath in 2005, following the resignation of John Bruton, and had been re-elected to the newly-created Meath East constituency in 2007 and again in 2011.
He had previously worked as a farmer and in agricultural sales, and as a publican.
He was heavily involved in Gaelic Games and had previously coached Meath’s minor football team. His brother Gerry, a noted surgeon, had played senior inter-county football for the Royals.
He is survived by his wife Kathleen and three children.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
The Meath East TD had turned 56 on Wednesday.
A brief statement from the Government press office said Deputy McEntee had died suddenly.
McEntee was the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture with responsibility for Food, Horticulture and Food Safety.
The Nobber man had been first elected to the Dáil in a by-election for Meath in 2005, following the resignation of John Bruton, and had been re-elected to the newly-created Meath East constituency in 2007 and again in 2011.
He had previously worked as a farmer and in agricultural sales, and as a publican.
He was heavily involved in Gaelic Games and had previously coached Meath’s minor football team. His brother Gerry, a noted surgeon, had played senior inter-county football for the Royals.
He is survived by his wife Kathleen and three children.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
Show More
That is a shock, whatever your politics seemed a genuinely nice fella and would never have believed he was that age. Still way too young to go and terrible timing for his family RIP
Gerry O'Connell@gerryoconnell
Sad to see that the cesspool of vipers that is @PoliticsIE is as classless as ever. Shane McEntee thread is a disgrace.
Sad to see that the cesspool of vipers that is @PoliticsIE is as classless as ever. Shane McEntee thread is a disgrace.
A latecomer to national politics , he seemed like a decent type who kept his end up and contributed much to the Meath community. RIP.
A shock and like Gentlemanjohn I thought he was a much younger man.A favourite jockey of mine was the great John Burke and he hailed like poor Shane McEntee from Nobber I know the good people of that area will give him a good send off,may he rest in peace.
Maybe now the government might take mental health issues seriously.
Always find it hard to come to terms with news like this . Particularly when someone seems to be doing a decent job . R.I P.
was happy enough to vote for the bail out to the bondholder without a word yet seemed happy to cut the respite grant for the carers even making a snide gaffe about the few bob going to them...lets hope sf get the seat.
wildmanfromborneo.....yes he did (fact, unfortunately) 
‘True gentleman’ Minister McEntee in suicide tragedy
By LARISSA NOLAN http://www.thesun.co.uk
SHOCKED friends and family told of their despair last night at the tragic death of government minister Shane McEntee.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he was “devastated” by the tragic news.
And President Michael D Higgins declared: “He made an enormous contribution to public life.”
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin also expressed his sadness.
Mr Martin said: “He was a true gentleman who commanded the genuine affection and respect of people on all sides of the House.
The popular Fine Gael politician — a Minister of State for Agriculture and Food — was found dead yesterday morning in the grounds of his home at Castletown, near Navan, Co Meath.
His wife Kathleen was being comforted by friends and family after the shock discovery.
The Meath East TD — who celebrated his 56th birthday on Wednesday — also leaves behind children Vincent, Helen and Sally.
A family friend told the Irish Sun: “The McEntees are devastated by this. Shane took all the recent pressure to heart. People need to realise politicians are human as well as the rest of us.
“He took all the public criticism very hard, he took it personally.”
The sudden shocking death came as colleagues revealed Mr McEntee had been “under a lot of pressure”.
Sources said he had taken to heart heavy criticism he had received on radio and in social media — sparked by his comments over controversial Budget cuts in the respite care grant.
In a newspaper interview, Mr McEntee had said “you could stay in a top hotel for €700 a week” and that “people just have to get on with it”.
After the interview, the TD was blasted on various radio programmes.
One fellow FG TD said: “There was an impression that Shane McEntee was under a lot of pressure recently.
“It was the usual types of pressures a lot of politicians are under — but he was really feeling it.
“He received a right hammering lately on the radio — it was really unfair. Then there was the heavy criticism about his respite care comments.”
The colleague added that “parts of social media” give a voice to “nutcases who are full of anger and spit out vitriol”.
The TD added: “There is no filter — they give a platform to these people when often it’s just bile.
“I’m not sure this was the only reason in this case, but it seems like a certain amount of social media bullying and media bullying was a factor. He had no financial or personal problems.”
Gardai were called to the house at about 11am. A source said it was being dealt with as a “personal tragedy” and a report would be sent to the coroner’s court.
The source added: “They just need to establish that it is as it appears and that there is nothing else for them to investigate. In this case, it is straightforward.”
Officers said it was the first time gardai can recall a senior politician taking his own life. Mr McEntee’s death hit Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny particularly hard. In a statement the Taoiseach said: “I am devastated at the sudden passing of Minister of State Shane McEntee.”
The pair were close pals and Mr McEntee, a Fine Gael member from age 15, was a devoted supporter of his party leader.
Mr Kenny added: “He brought great energy, diligence and enthusiasm to his role. On a personal level, Shane McEntee was a loyal friend and colleague.” A former farmer and agricultural sales rep, Mr McEntee had been elected to the Dail three times since 2005.
President Higgins praised his hard work and dedication to the farming industry. Mr Higgins said: “Shane McEntee made an enormous contribution to community and public life throughout his career in farming and agriculture, as a TD representing the people of Meath and to the world of sport through his involvement with the GAA.
“He will be missed by his family and friends, colleagues in political life and by the wider community.”
Irish Farmers’ Association president John Bryan said the community was rocked by the news.
He said: “Shane McEntee was a decent, hard-working public representative. He worked tirelessly on behalf of his constituents and the farming community to find solutions.”
Mr Bryan said both Shane and his father Tony before him were hugely committed to the IFA and its work in improving conditions for farm families. The IFA extended its sympathies to the politician’s wife Kathleen and children, mother Madge and brothers and sister.
Mr McEntee, originally from Nobber, was involved in numerous voluntary organisations and had a particular love for the GAA.
He trained a number of football teams, including the Meath Minors, achieving success at county level six times. His brother Gerry was a double All-Ireland winner with Meath in the late Eighties.
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said he was deeply shocked and saddened by the news.
Tanaiste and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore also offered condolences to Mr McEntee’s loved ones and the Fine Gael party.
Mr Gilmore said: “His good nature and warm personality will be sadly missed by his parliamentary colleagues from across the political divide.”
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams also paid tribute along with a number of independent TDs
By LARISSA NOLAN http://www.thesun.co.uk
SHOCKED friends and family told of their despair last night at the tragic death of government minister Shane McEntee.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he was “devastated” by the tragic news.
And President Michael D Higgins declared: “He made an enormous contribution to public life.”
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin also expressed his sadness.
Mr Martin said: “He was a true gentleman who commanded the genuine affection and respect of people on all sides of the House.
The popular Fine Gael politician — a Minister of State for Agriculture and Food — was found dead yesterday morning in the grounds of his home at Castletown, near Navan, Co Meath.
His wife Kathleen was being comforted by friends and family after the shock discovery.
The Meath East TD — who celebrated his 56th birthday on Wednesday — also leaves behind children Vincent, Helen and Sally.
A family friend told the Irish Sun: “The McEntees are devastated by this. Shane took all the recent pressure to heart. People need to realise politicians are human as well as the rest of us.
“He took all the public criticism very hard, he took it personally.”
The sudden shocking death came as colleagues revealed Mr McEntee had been “under a lot of pressure”.
Sources said he had taken to heart heavy criticism he had received on radio and in social media — sparked by his comments over controversial Budget cuts in the respite care grant.
In a newspaper interview, Mr McEntee had said “you could stay in a top hotel for €700 a week” and that “people just have to get on with it”.
After the interview, the TD was blasted on various radio programmes.
One fellow FG TD said: “There was an impression that Shane McEntee was under a lot of pressure recently.
“It was the usual types of pressures a lot of politicians are under — but he was really feeling it.
“He received a right hammering lately on the radio — it was really unfair. Then there was the heavy criticism about his respite care comments.”
The colleague added that “parts of social media” give a voice to “nutcases who are full of anger and spit out vitriol”.
The TD added: “There is no filter — they give a platform to these people when often it’s just bile.
“I’m not sure this was the only reason in this case, but it seems like a certain amount of social media bullying and media bullying was a factor. He had no financial or personal problems.”
Gardai were called to the house at about 11am. A source said it was being dealt with as a “personal tragedy” and a report would be sent to the coroner’s court.
The source added: “They just need to establish that it is as it appears and that there is nothing else for them to investigate. In this case, it is straightforward.”
Officers said it was the first time gardai can recall a senior politician taking his own life. Mr McEntee’s death hit Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny particularly hard. In a statement the Taoiseach said: “I am devastated at the sudden passing of Minister of State Shane McEntee.”
The pair were close pals and Mr McEntee, a Fine Gael member from age 15, was a devoted supporter of his party leader.
Mr Kenny added: “He brought great energy, diligence and enthusiasm to his role. On a personal level, Shane McEntee was a loyal friend and colleague.” A former farmer and agricultural sales rep, Mr McEntee had been elected to the Dail three times since 2005.
President Higgins praised his hard work and dedication to the farming industry. Mr Higgins said: “Shane McEntee made an enormous contribution to community and public life throughout his career in farming and agriculture, as a TD representing the people of Meath and to the world of sport through his involvement with the GAA.
“He will be missed by his family and friends, colleagues in political life and by the wider community.”
Irish Farmers’ Association president John Bryan said the community was rocked by the news.
He said: “Shane McEntee was a decent, hard-working public representative. He worked tirelessly on behalf of his constituents and the farming community to find solutions.”
Mr Bryan said both Shane and his father Tony before him were hugely committed to the IFA and its work in improving conditions for farm families. The IFA extended its sympathies to the politician’s wife Kathleen and children, mother Madge and brothers and sister.
Mr McEntee, originally from Nobber, was involved in numerous voluntary organisations and had a particular love for the GAA.
He trained a number of football teams, including the Meath Minors, achieving success at county level six times. His brother Gerry was a double All-Ireland winner with Meath in the late Eighties.
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said he was deeply shocked and saddened by the news.
Tanaiste and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore also offered condolences to Mr McEntee’s loved ones and the Fine Gael party.
Mr Gilmore said: “His good nature and warm personality will be sadly missed by his parliamentary colleagues from across the political divide.”
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams also paid tribute along with a number of independent TDs
In a newspaper interview, Mr McEntee had said “you could stay in a top hotel for €700 a week” and that “people just have to get on with it”.
Not wanting to speak ill off the dead but is that really what the government think the respite money is for? Holidays?? And what do they think happens to that person who is been cared for for those 2 weeks the carer takes off to a hotel for?. In order to go to this £700 a week hotel someone has to come in an care for the patient and a lot of people wont really do it for free if they know the carer is swanning off to a €700 a week hotel.
Not wanting to speak ill off the dead but is that really what the government think the respite money is for? Holidays?? And what do they think happens to that person who is been cared for for those 2 weeks the carer takes off to a hotel for?. In order to go to this £700 a week hotel someone has to come in an care for the patient and a lot of people wont really do it for free if they know the carer is swanning off to a €700 a week hotel.
He spoke the truth and rather than cut the respite care they should have scrapped it.
Millionaires get this,a member of the last government on a fat pension get this and a heck of a lot of frauds get it as well.
Millionaires get this,a member of the last government on a fat pension get this and a heck of a lot of frauds get it as well.
It escapes me why this can't be means tested -there can't be an enormous amount of households getting it- far fewer than the child benefit payment surely.
In any event with the power of technology ,surely numbers can't be an issue and it should be quite feasible to set up appropriate data bases.
We're top heavy with civil servants -what the hell are they all doing ?
In any event with the power of technology ,surely numbers can't be an issue and it should be quite feasible to set up appropriate data bases.
We're top heavy with civil servants -what the hell are they all doing ?
He spoke the truth and rather than cut the respite care they should have scrapped it.
Millionaires get this,a member of the last government on a fat pension get this and a heck of a lot of frauds get it as well.
Don't allow stereotypes to get in your way anyway. Everyone has a right to disagree with politicians especially garbage like the below if true. I have read plenty on politics.ie and have seen little or nothing to justify Gerry O'Connells comments above.
Today’s Sunday Times reports that the Fine Gael Minister commented on the controversial cut – saying that “you could stay in a top hotel for €700 a week” and that “people just have to get on with it”.
Millionaires get this,a member of the last government on a fat pension get this and a heck of a lot of frauds get it as well.
Don't allow stereotypes to get in your way anyway. Everyone has a right to disagree with politicians especially garbage like the below if true. I have read plenty on politics.ie and have seen little or nothing to justify Gerry O'Connells comments above.
Today’s Sunday Times reports that the Fine Gael Minister commented on the controversial cut – saying that “you could stay in a top hotel for €700 a week” and that “people just have to get on with it”.
Just one more thing on this. Anyone read Gerry O'Connells twitter feed criticising David Cochrane and Politics.ie.
You think the ignorant f**ker would choose his day a bit better rather than using the day the man was buried to peddle his personal vendettas. Im no big fan of P.ie or Cochrane, but O'Connell and his ilk are just as bad if not worse.
You think the ignorant f**ker would choose his day a bit better rather than using the day the man was buried to peddle his personal vendettas. Im no big fan of P.ie or Cochrane, but O'Connell and his ilk are just as bad if not worse.
The problem DJQ is that many people don't just 'disagree' with politicians as you mildly put it but actively hurl personal abuse at them while hiding behind a cloak of anonymity....not only on various forums and social media but on national radio.
I have heard ridiculous OTT comments being relayed on Newstalk which has turned into a debased tabloidesque station. The presenter of the Lunchtime programme -Jonathan Healy is particularly given to a kind of rabble rousing where he puts a deliberately bad spin on virtually all government policy or pronouncements and then having negatively tainted the atmosphere he says to listeners -let us know what you think of this. His behaviour is thoroughly unprofessional and bears little resemblance to any kind of balanced reporting.
I have heard ridiculous OTT comments being relayed on Newstalk which has turned into a debased tabloidesque station. The presenter of the Lunchtime programme -Jonathan Healy is particularly given to a kind of rabble rousing where he puts a deliberately bad spin on virtually all government policy or pronouncements and then having negatively tainted the atmosphere he says to listeners -let us know what you think of this. His behaviour is thoroughly unprofessional and bears little resemblance to any kind of balanced reporting.
"There are rarely simple or single reasons as to why someone decided to end their own life; the causes of suicide are multi-dimensional and complex and are shaped by many different aspects of a persons life." - from Conslie.ie website .
The 2 posts above are spot on.
I completely agree Vubiant. Maybe sadly its the nature of "Journalism" in Ireland which is of an abysmal standard.
There is a definite line that is crossed from criticism (Even email or social media criticism) and Death threats etc as outlined by Gerry O'Connell. I fully expect Gerry will have reported these to the Gardai and that an investigation will be forthcoming as would be expected if a death threat was made against any citizen of this state.
As also mentioned above, There may have been other issues at play here that are not in the media spotlight.
I completely agree Vubiant. Maybe sadly its the nature of "Journalism" in Ireland which is of an abysmal standard.
There is a definite line that is crossed from criticism (Even email or social media criticism) and Death threats etc as outlined by Gerry O'Connell. I fully expect Gerry will have reported these to the Gardai and that an investigation will be forthcoming as would be expected if a death threat was made against any citizen of this state.
As also mentioned above, There may have been other issues at play here that are not in the media spotlight.
Joe tend to agree with you on the deplorable standard of irish journalism, this may be the land of saints & scholars but there is no tradition of great journalism here that i was ever aware of anyway. The irish times is the only newspaper with the potential to be great but has become so smug and soporific i fear it is practically beyond salvation.
But i'm not sure this tragedy has much to do with the irish media if thats what you were inferring. We might never know the true causes of shane mcentee's death but why people cant even contemplate the possibility that poisonous social commentary was at least a significant contributory factor is beyond me. Maybe he was too sensitive, perhaps he had no business being in politics if he was so thin skinned, fair enough, but this is no defence for the vile abuse that came his way and for which, in my view, certain individuals should be answerable while cowardly hiding behind the convenient cloak of anonymity and free speech.
I'd love to see some research done on these online fora, places like politics.ie. Whats the demographic like, the age of posters, are they overwhelmingly male as i suspect they might be? What is it about somebody that they find it somehow empowering to log anonymously onto a website and direct vicious and witless abuse against an individual they don't even know?
But i'm not sure this tragedy has much to do with the irish media if thats what you were inferring. We might never know the true causes of shane mcentee's death but why people cant even contemplate the possibility that poisonous social commentary was at least a significant contributory factor is beyond me. Maybe he was too sensitive, perhaps he had no business being in politics if he was so thin skinned, fair enough, but this is no defence for the vile abuse that came his way and for which, in my view, certain individuals should be answerable while cowardly hiding behind the convenient cloak of anonymity and free speech.
I'd love to see some research done on these online fora, places like politics.ie. Whats the demographic like, the age of posters, are they overwhelmingly male as i suspect they might be? What is it about somebody that they find it somehow empowering to log anonymously onto a website and direct vicious and witless abuse against an individual they don't even know?
Post Your Reply
Please login to post a reply.
Wonder
Instance ID: 13539