ABANDONED BY THE STATE..

Businessman felt very lonely and isolated.He turned to booze & suffered heart failure.

- EMMA MCMENAMY

RICHARD O'Halloran has told how he felt "totally" abandoned by the Government during his detention in China.

The 46-year-old - who reunited with his wife and kids after three years in January - revealed he was in a dark place and turned to alcohol as a “coping mechanism”.

In his first interview since his return, the businessman said his weight plummeted from 95kg to 75kg as he struggled to eat and sleep due to the anxiety and loneliness.

The aviation leasing executive, from Foxrock in Co Dublin, had been detained in China since travelling to Shanghai in February 2019.

He was trying to resolve an ongoing commercial and legal issue involving China International Aviation Leasing Service, the Chinese owner of the aircraft leasing company where he works.

Richard said he felt let down at times by Irish authorities for not getting involved with his case sooner.

And his devoted wife Tara told how on one occasion his health was so bad he had to be taken to hospital where he was resuscitated after his heart stopped beating.

OUTLOOK

But he said the experience has given him a new outlook on life - including falling in love with Tara "all over again”.

Speaking to Brendan O'Connor on RTE Radio One, he said he hit rock bottom and used drinking to cope with the dire situation.

Richard added: "I turned in on myself, I felt very alone and very isolated. That was an extraordinary low point which I would just hope nobody has to go through, ever.

"Obviously I have talked to Tara and the kids but I turned completely in on myself.

“I felt completely isolated, I felt alone, I didn't think the Irish Government were doing anything to help at the time even though they said they were.