Brendan O'Connor: Does it count as empathy if you learn it the hard way?

A new book edited by Cillian Murphy features essays and thoughts about empathy from 72 contributors. One of them is broadcaster Brendan O'Connor

'I feel ashamed to say this now, but when my daughter Mary was born with Down syndrome, I knew my life was ruined'. Picture: Bríd O'Donovan

I'm not sure. Does it count as empathy if you learn it the hard way?

Is there anything noble in gaining an understanding of other people’s lives only because your own life becomes another person’s life?