SUPERVET Noel Fitzpatrick has bravely told how he was sexually abused as a child.
The TV star said he still remembers every detail of the horrors he suffered at the hands of a male farmer from the age of five.
Speaking to The Times, Fitzpatrick described how he was often left with the farmhand on the family homestead when his parents went out.
The man, who was a labourer and occasional babysitter, forced himself on him until the age of 10, which eventually led Fitzpatrick to contemplate suicide.
“I have sat on bridges, railway tracks and by rivers and seen the enticing possibilities of ending my pain right there – anything to take away the self-hatred and shame,” he said.
Fitzpatrick said he can still smell his abuser’s breath, feel his cold, tobacco-stained hands, and picture what he was made to do in fields, on tractors and in a derelict cottage in Ballyfin, Ireland.
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It has taken 40 years for him to muster the courage to discuss his past, only now finding himself able to do so following the death of his mum.
Rita gave him permission to speak out before she passed away in February this year.
Fitzpatrick previously felt he had to stay silent – especially after a priest told him to “never speak of it again” – but he now believes he has “nothing to lose”.
“I was an innocent corrupted,” he added.
“I feel like I’ve been running from it all my life.”
Fitzpatrick, who shot to fame on the Channel 4 series Supervet, is soon to publish a memoir titled Beyond Supervet in which he details his upbringing and his love of animals.
The book, published by Trapeze, is due out on October 27.
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
