Heartfelt thanks for the ultimate Christmas gift

Shane O’Connell received the gift of a new heart for Christmas and is looking forward to a healthier and happier new year.

The father-of-three was back at home in Castleisland, Co Kerry, for the festive season, but picked up a chest infection for which he was readmitted to the Mater Hospital, Dublin, on Monday.

Shane, 33, who successfully underwent heart transplant surgery in November, is prone to infection at this point but it’s not seen as a major setback in his recovery.