Why did Diarmuid Flood take the lives of his children and wife before killing himself? We'll never know but I'm sure it wasn't a premeditated act, just like I am sure that the Wexford native loved his seven year old Mark and five year old Julie with all his heart.

I'm sure there was nothing gave this dad as much joy as heading off to a hurling match with his son and no doubt his heart was bursting with pride whenever he watched his little girl perform her Irish dancing. What really frightens me is that Diarmuid was probably your average 40 year old man in many respects. I don't know anything about the state of his mind, but I do know that many people are suffering from stress and depression, alcohol and chemical dependency in a world that is becoming increasingly demanding. I believe there is a very thin line between sanity and insanity and that the sanest among us can engage in, or be driven to acts of lunacy at certain times in our lives.

We're not taught to deal with despair, depression and disappointment; all of these conditions are brushed under the carpet in Ireland, hushed up and not talked about. Years ago people were prescribed pills and while many still are, others refuse to go down the chemical road and try to plough through their misery while to the outside world - all seems well. It's a bit better for women because at least they can talk to each other, women can work through their darkest problems and even manage to see the funny side at times. A problem shared is a problem halved, as the old saying goes! The converse to that might be a problem hidden is a problem left to fester and grow out of all proportion. Problems are seen as signs of weakness in men and domestic difficulties are no go areas for men-to-men talk. And that is a shame.

We all have down times in our lives and most of us will have experienced depression - for some it will have been situational depression that can have been worked through, with or without help. Sadly not everyone is so lucky, there are many ticking time bombs among us and very often they're the very people that neighbours and friends will describe as "the perfect family". Well I have news for you; the perfect family resides in fairy tales!

While I'm lucky enough to live in a village that's still a village (Douglas) we spoke on the air during the week of the dismantling of country village life in Ireland. The typical quiet man / Ryan's daughter lifestyle the yanks yearn for when they visit here is a million miles from accurate.