The Irish magician Keith Barry has defended his decision to perform a televised stunt in which he appears to risk hanging himself in front of a live studio audience.
The trick, versions of which have been shown by RTÉ television on two occasions, is due to be performed in a Christmas special on Britain's ITV network in December. The stunt attracted 13 complaints from the public, said a spokeswoman for RTÉ yesterday.
As part of the trick, Mr Barry will ask an audience member to decide which of six nooses, only one of which has a break in the middle, he should put his head through. Then a trap-door beneath all six is opened (the five other nooses hold life-sized dummies).
Yesterday, Fianna Fáil TD Charlie O'Connor strongly criticised the stunt, claiming it was an "insult to everyone who has lost someone to suicide", and represented an "extremely bad example to young viewers who may try to replicate the trick".
"It is the most insensitive, attention-seeking stunt I have witnessed in a long time. Suicide is a major issue in Ireland and the UK, affecting thousands of people every year," he said.
"For this horrific and tragic act to be shown on national television and considered as entertaining viewing is an outrage."
However, Mr Barry said he was "surprised" at Mr O'Connor's comments, particularly as he had performed the trick on Irish, American and international television screens.
While he was sensitive to the feelings of families of suicide victims, he claimed viewers understand it is a theatrical illusion.
Magic as an art form includes participants sawing women in half, amputating themselves and swallowing razor blades, he said.
"If we stop doing all that type of stuff because someone might copycat it, we'd be out of business," he told The Irish Times.