Plastics tycoon hailed for work to prevent suicide

A businessman who began supporting a suicide prevention charity after appearing on television has been named philanthropist of the year.

Secret Millionaire star John Concannon has worked tirelessly for two years to open a Pieta House for people in crisis in the West of Ireland. The charity is aiming to have a service within 100km of every person in Ireland.

The Community Foundation for Ireland hailed Mr Concannon for finding a premises in his hometown of Tuam, Co Galway, and raising the €250,000 needed to run it for a year.