TD is 'fighting fit' after heart scare
A FINE Gael TD has declared he is "fighting fit" after being hospitalised for a health scare.
Cavan-Monaghan TD Seymour Crawford (65) became concerned over the speed of his heart rate in the Dail two weeks ago and attended St James's Hospital in Dublin.
And he revealed that he had taken medical advice from his party's health spokesman, Dr James Reilly, who is a practising GP, before deciding to go for treatment.
"I spoke to Dr James Reilly and he advised me that my symptoms meant my heart was going on the slow side and I needed to get it rectified. He rang up the accident and emergency cardiac unit in St James's and I was taken there," he said.
Mr Crawford had a pacemaker fitted to balance the rhythm of his heart during a short stay at St James's Hospital and is back at work in the Dail.
"I'm in absolutely perfect condition. I won't be causing any by-elections or any of those sort of things, which are becoming extremely common," he said.
Mr Crawford has served as a TD for Cavan-Monaghan since 1992. He is the latest politician to be faced with a health problem in the current Dail term.
Arts, Sports and Tourism Minister Martin Cullen is resigning due to a crippling back complaint, while Finance Minister Brian Lenihan is battling cancer.
Mr Crawford said there were far more challenges facing TDs than ever before. "The level of intensity is much, much greater in this Dail than it has been for some time," he said.
- Michael Brennan and Patrick Tierney
Irish Independent
