In an incredible look behind the curtain of politics in Ireland, Colm Keaveny - TD for Galway East and Fianna Fail spokesperson on mental health - today told Sean Moncrieff about the pressures, and punishment, he faced for rebelling during his time as a TD in the Labour party.

During a live broadcast from Galway, Sean asked Colm: “How dark is politics?”

Keaveney answered with a description of a nasty, rough arena.

“It can be pretty nasty, it can be pretty rough when you pull the curtain back,” Keaveney told Sean.

Keaveney discussed one falling out with former Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore, when he told the Labour party he would vote against a cut to the respite care grant, which was part of the 2013 Budget.

He told Sean that, when he went against the party, he was told: “you’re going to get your neck measured, you’re going to walk the plank” and within hours of the internal party disagreement the effect was already being felt by his family.

“By the time I got home my children were being photographed in the school playground,” he said.

“The full rigour of the pro-government media will come down and wallop you.”

Keaveney told Sean that, “Bullying is endemic in many employments and politics is no different. It’s a rough trade.”

“You have an authoritarian system whipping to do things that they don’t want to do.”

“There’s no space for dissent, critical analysis ... at the human impact, the consequence of decisions.”

Listen below to the incredible discussion on the darker side of the political game