@ray…excellent comment, this country is now populated by complaining morons I’m afraid…too many are now reactive, complaining and cribbing after the horse has bolted, instead of being proactive….armchair politicians or maybe keyboard politicians…or hurlers on the ditch, I can’t decide! RIP Mr. Mc Entee

Well done Ray, fantastic tribute to Shane McEntee. Shane was always welcome in my house. He brought an enthusiasm and determined attitude with him at all times. He wasn’t just a politician, he was a people person. He cared so much and deeply about those he has helped in the last few years working tirelessly to advance the cause. I can truly say in my lifetime I have rarely met a man so dignified and gracious. He was a true gent. I will miss his smile, handshake and genuine nature. He will be sorely missed. RIP Shane.

Comments were closed yesterday out of sensitivity to his family because the death had just been recently discovered and just been confirmed, thanks, Susan.

There was a lot of speculation about the cause of his death. Discussion about it has been censored everywhere. Not sure why.

Anyway, may he rest in peace. From what I’ve read he was a good man.

By all accounts he burst his chops for the Pyrite people and anyone who ever asked him for help and was noted for his humble nature.

Across all parties he was noted as a decent and caring man. God be good to him.

Terrible decision on behalf of the sites who blocked the comments. It further perpetuates the taboo which only does harm in bringing the subject to light. You can’t tackle a problem by sweeping it under the carpet.

Sean, it was not sweeping the issue of suicide under the carpet – it was to prevent people from posting speculation about motives or specific details of Mr McEntee’s death so shortly after his body was found.
This was both out of respect but also because it’s according to guidelines around best practice of reporting and publicising of specific details.
If this comments thread were to start featuring people speculating in any way, I would have no compunction in closing it again.
Regards, Susan

Agree with you SB. While I’m fully cognisant of, and sympathise with the sensitivities and hurt involved, I’ve had personal experience in this area of loss and I don’t feel we as a people should treat it like a taboo or a shameful issue. We need to accept and tackle it head on. It can happen to any person of any age, background, or circumstance. Acceptance will bring increased knowledge, sensitivity, and support. RIP.

Absolutely right Susan. Anyone who would post speculative comments on motives or details should have their comment removed for being an insensitive moron. I’m sure that’s not the point SB or myself meant. Thanks for clarifying.

That’s fair enough, SL. I just want to make it clear that TheJournal.ie doesn’t shy away from reporting on suicide or on the root causes and wanted to clarify why I didn’t believe closing comments yesterday to be a “terrible decision”. (Although I wouldn’t believe that, seeing as I’m the one made the decision…)
Anyway, I’m sorry to hear that you too have been touched by loss like this. It’s devastating.

lads theres a difference between releasing full details before all the family can be talked to and censoring for the sake of suicide. the journal is fantastic in promoting suicide awareness, and the always print all the help line numbers.

Sean Beag
This has nothing to do with censorship but everything to do with RESPECT. This is not a site for gossip but rather a place to acknowledge the unexpected passing of a fine man, a husband and a father.

Susan you don’t even see you are doing it. In one sentence you say you are not pushing suicide under the carpet and then go on to say it was out of respect. How is it disrespectful to simply report it as a suicide? It is not something a family should have to feel shame over.

And why was this not the case with the reporting on Erin Gallagher last week? Is it because Erin’s suicide could be blamed on bullying but there is nothing so simple to blame Mr McEntees death on? It would require discussing some difficult issues.

Of course you can threaten to close a thread or delete comments all you like but you will simply be perpetuating a taboo that is killing people daily.

Sean do you not think its up to Shane’s family to decide to publish a cause of death or not?? I don’t believe the journal or anyone else is shying away from this subject. At the end of the day this man may have been in the publix eye but he was also a husband, father, brother,son and uncle to many grieving people. the decision lies with them to release details and maybe they are just not ready or able to. RIP to the McEntee family at this sad time.

“you will simply be perpetuating a taboo that is killing people daily”
That’s lovely, Seán, thanks. If you don’t care to read what I’m trying to say to you, then the least you can do is refrain from saying such horrible accusatory things. I might remind you that I, too, am a person, and being accused of deliberately contributing to something which kills people is not the way I want to continue this thread.
Please be civil.

Susan, look at all the commenters above you talking about respect, like there is some difference between reporting a man has died by suicide and a man who has died in a car crash. I understand completely if the details of a death are witheld but why not report it as a suicide? Do you not see how that attaches a stigma to the issue? This is particularly important when the victim is a high profile figure who had no apparent issues and was held in such high regard. It’s easy to report a suicide when you have something to blame like bullies or the economy or grief but it’s much more difficult when the cause is so vague and elusive because people feel like they are blaming the victim or the family and friends. This is the mentality we need to leave behind.

I’m not attacking you personally nor am I implying you are purposely contributing to anything. I’m merely stating the wider effect I believe your decision as the moderator would have. I’ll withdraw from this thread now but I hope you’ll take my comments on board for the future.

Give it a rest Sean. It was insensitive to discuss the death of Shane yesterday, end of story. Boards.ie is a great place to talk about suicide and anything you might like. This is a news site, will report on the news and so on. Yesterday wasn’t the right time to discuss something even theJournal were unsure about (and has it even been confirmed yet?). So, as I said earlier, can we just move on from the conspiracy / complaining and get on with leaving condolences?

What are you on about?

I don’t think he knows himself.

That is an utterly ridiculous statement. See my response to Sean Beag two comments above.
Susan Daly, Editor.

Maybe a little compassion for this man’s family is in order.

Leave tackling government policy to another thread.

RIP to Mr McEntee.