Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’ Brien discusses the pain and regret of being big brother to a heroin addict

Twelve months on from an angry Dáil confrontation over his younger brother’s heroin addiction and homelessness, Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’ Brien tells Political Reporter Fiachra Ó Cionnaith how addicts around the country — and their families — need ongoing support to cope with their illness

“It’s a tiny island, but it’s worlds apart. You have two brothers who grew up in a good home. One turns out, fortunately, to be an elected rep in Leinster House, a TD. The other one turns out to be a struggling heroin addict who’s homeless.

“That doesn’t make me any better than him or him worse than me. It just means our lives took different paths. It’s not like I’m the good son and he’s the bad son. We’re brothers, and that’s it.”