Healy-Rae would be wise to keep his trap shut on autism

SOMETIMES, you just have to take a step back and admire the breadth of the knowledge and expertise of Danny Healy-Rae - all the way from plant hire and climate science to clinical neurology.

- JOE O'SHEA

Mere mortals might shy away from standing up in our national parliament to voice their opinions on how autism might be caused by a “lack of vitamins”.

Most people might think: “I'm in no way qualified to offer any sort of opinion on the cause of a serious and widespread condition affecting thousands of families in Ireland - never mind telling the Dail it could be down to parents not eating enough fruit and veg.”

Less brave souls would avoid standing up in public and throwing out what scientists call: “Some auld bollix masquerading as facts posted in Facebook comments” - especially when it could cause hurt to families facing up to the actual reality of autism and not the crazy theories imported from Trump’s America.