'There is no censorship in this book': Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick on childhood abuse and bullying

In his new book, Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick shares his experience of sexual abuse. He tells Edel Coffey about facing the shadow that haunted him until now

Noel Fitzpatrick has decided to tell his truth in the hope of helping other people who might also be struggling. Picture: Marsha Arnold

Noel Fitzpatrick is best known by his nickname, the Supervet. He holds a Guinness World Record for his pioneering animal surgery. He is a beloved TV celebrity. When people look at Fitzpatrick, they see someone extraordinary. Even on a phone call he oozes charisma and yet, in his new book Beyond Supervet, he writes about having hated himself, having felt worthless, a fraud, and having had no self-esteem. 

This is his most personal book yet, detailing the sexual abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of a farm worker employed on his family farm, and the horrific bullying he suffered at secondary school, as well as how these things affected his adult life so much that he even thought about suicide.