A MAN HAS been brought to hospital after attempting to hang himself outside Leinster House.

The incident took place shortly before 4pm today.

Independent TD Finian McGrath was at the scene and helped bring the man to safety with gardaí and members of the public.

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McGrath told TheJournal.ie he was speaking to journalists near the plinth outside Leinster House when they noticed a man in distress.

“We thought he would tie a banner and run away, that often happens,” McGrath said.

They soon realised this wasn’t the case and immediately ran to help.

McGrath said the gardaí and ushers in the entrance booth at Leinster House couldn’t initially see what was going on, but came to help as soon as they were alerted.

The TD said it took several people to bring the man to safety, who was in a very distressed state.

He wasn’t violent or anything like that, he was just in pain.

McGrath said he thought the man was aged in his mid to late 30s.

He said he was “not the better for it”, but was “relieved we got there in time”.

“Twenty more seconds and he was dead … the bottom line is he’s okay.”

Helplines:

• Samaritans 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
• Console 1800 247 247 – (suicide prevention, self-harm, bereavement)
• Aware 1890 303 302 (depression, anxiety)
• Pieta House 01 601 0000 or email mary@pieta.ie – (suicide, self-harm)
• Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634 (for ages 13 to 19)
• Childline 1800 66 66 66 (for under 18s)