Actor Hickey, 73, upbeat as he works on stage despite battling Parkinson’s

ACTOR Tom Hickey has spoken of his brave battle with Parkinson’s.

The 73-year-old actor, best known for playing Benjy in The Riordans, has refused to let it stop him acting.

Mr Hickey told the RTE show Feats Of Modest Valour how he still gets joy from live performances.

He said: “It feels wonderful when I get three quarters of the way through a play and it’s going well and you know they [the audience] are sympathetic and laughing.”

However, Irish researchers have revealed they are developing an implant which they hope will be able to slow down or even stop the degenerative disease.

The Galway team, led by Dr Eilis Dowd, believe they can inject dopamine – the chemical Parkinson’s

TENACIOUS Tom Hickey destroys in the brain – direct into the affected area. Dr Dowd said: “We hope this implant, for the first time, will tackle Parkinson’s at its source and slow or even stop progression. “Ultimately it could give people back their quality of life.” Feats Of Modest Valour airs on RTE One tonight at 10.35pm.