Government TD Kevin 'Boxer' Moran spoke frankly about surviving a suicide attempt on last night's Late Late Show.

The Independent Alliance TD for Longford Westmeath told host Ryan Tubridy that he went through a dark time in his twenties after he lost his younger brother in a motorbike accident. He had started his own taxi business when he began to struggle.

"I was dealing with a lot of problems," he said. "I was just married, I had a mortgage, we had a couple of crashes one after the other – I have to say I was in two of them myself - and problems started to really erupt inside me and these panic attacks started to develop."

He said he was on the way home from a clay pigeon shoot one afternoon when he took a detour.

"I headed for home as I normally would, go left to go to my own house, but this particular day I went right." "The pressure was so severe inside me that I had a loaded gun and I was there and I said all sorts of thoughts going through your head, but then it was a blackout. "When I hear so many people that are affected through suicide… it was facing me on that particular day and I did pull the trigger. "But whatever, my brother above, whoever, I pushed away the gun."

The bullet shot through the roof of the van he was in but he survived. Shortly after the suicide attempt, he confided in his wife and sought help from their GP. He also said that there is a lot more support for people suffering with mental health difficulties available now.

"We look at suicide and we have this habit of, when it happens we look back and say ‘did I see a sign?’ We’re like a detective. "I say to people, reach out to your best friend. If you see something, talk to them. Don’t be afraid. There’s help out there, there’s helpout there for everything nowadays that wasn’t there at that time."

Commenters on Twitter were quick to praise the TD for his sincerity.

Fair play to @kevinboxermoran . A very open and honest interview #latelate

— Bob Hughes (@bobhughesnews) May 19, 2017

#LateLate Fair play to you "boxer' Moran great to speak up and get it out there, I presume it will help many suffering depression or other!

— linfar (@linfar4563) May 19, 2017

Much credit to 'Boxer' Moran. A much more impressive individual than I had taken him for.... #LateLateShow #latelate

— David Lane (@mrdavidflane) May 19, 2017

Fair comment &all credit to him for being so open in such a public forum . Praise too for his vsupportive family #LateLate @kevinboxermoran https://t.co/kq7KUfeBMi

— Gerry Foley (@GerryFoleyTV) May 19, 2017

Good man Boxer! Wasn't expecting this that's for sure. Amazing to come such a long way ? #LateLate #LateLateShow #LongfordWestmeath

— Rachel Masterson (@rachwritesstuff) May 19, 2017

You can watch the interview here.