Hero Padraig standing tall above bullies

TEENAGER Padraig Byrne is one brave lad – he overcame years of bullying to get his life back on track.

Now 18, he shocked the nation last year when he went on Joe Duffy’s Liveline to reveal the shocking extent of his torment.

Throughout school he had been terrorised by cruel bullies. Even his parents Sarah and Anthony were unaware of just how truly awful his suffering was.

His daily ordeal began with slagging, eventually progressing to physical violence. His clothes were thrown in showers at PE forcing him to walk home soaking wet.

But he was always too petrified to speak out in case worse would happen.

Even in primary school he thought of ending his young life. In secondary school worse was to come. He got such a beating one day that two mothers had to intervene and pull a bully away from beating him.

And just after his 18th birthday, he tried to kill himself. Thankfully he survived.

He then took the brave step to contact Liveline and tell the country his story.

And the result was overwhelming. Callers jammed the phone lines to give their support while others detailed their own horror stories.

Padraig managed to get control of his life and is now on his way to becoming a firefighter - a job he has wanted since the age of three.

His brave interview gave others hope to tackle the devils making their lives a daily hell

Padraig had opened a door for so many people to at last speak out, while giving himself a new-found strength to stand up to the thugs.