NEWSTALK PRESENTER GEORGE Hook is no stranger to criticism.

Whether for his current affairs show, his newspaper writing or for deconstructing the Irish rugby team over the years, Hook has been a magnet for abuse.

Yesterday, he posted this video of a letter that was sent to him by post.

It reads:

George, nobody likes you, not even yourself.

You’re a failure as a person: bad businessman, brutal husband and even worse father. You conned your friends in business and in life. On TV and radio, just a whinger who likes to be awkward.

Reality is, you’re just a waste of a pregnancy. An aborted foetus would have had a better impact on the world than you. You could have helped if you’d walked off the pier when you had the chance.

Your wife, children and people you know would have been hugely better off.

You can still do it.

Hook says the letter doesn’t hurt him, but knows that people receive similar abuse every day. His message for them is clear.

“This doesn’t hurt me. But I wonder about the people perhaps less certain of themselves than me who might receive something like this.

“Don’t give in. We cannot allow the awful people who now inhabit the darkest crevices of human life to triumph.

“Stand up, be counted and say “I am human and I will not give in”".

Read: “The media saved my life” – George Hook

Read: Wave goodbye to Hook and McGurk with this class Six Nations closing montage

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More