METRO Wednesday, December 16, 2009 D 60% worry about debt and money problemsBy Brian hutton MORE than half the Irish population is worried about debt and money problems on an ongoing basis, a sur- vey has revealed. Almost a third of those polled de- scribed 2009 as either a bad year or their worst ever, with fears over job security top of the list of anxieties. Pollsters YouGov asked more than 1,000 adults in Ireland to list their top five worries during the year. The survey found nearly 60 per cent of the population is worried about debt, money and their bank balance. In the UK, a similar survey found that 48 per cent of the population were worried about debt and money. Thirty-five per cent of Irish people say they are anxious about job secu- rity. The survey was carried out for the Samaritans to mark the launch of its people feeling stressed, anxious or unhappy. Suzanne Costello, Samaritans di- rector in Ireland, said the charity re- ceived more than 375,000 calls last year. Many of them were about the worries highlighted in the survey, with approximately one in ten calls linked to financial stress. If people dont talk about their problems, they can build up over time and spiral into more serious emotion- al distress, she warned. Sharing your troubles can be a huge relief and is often the first step to find- ing a way of coping with the chal- lenges that life throws at us. According to the survey findings, 45 per cent of the population thought the last year was both good and bad, hav- ing had ups and downs. Only 16 per cent described it as a good year. Amongst young people, loneliness was a big issue: 17 per cent of those aged 18 to 24 said it was their top concern, compared with only eight per cent of older people those aged 55 and over. The surveys other findings include 38 per cent of people anxious over re- lationships with family and friends and 32 per cent saying they were con- cerned about health issues. People have been more worried about the state of Irish politics (28 per cent) than world affairs (17 per cent) or local affairs (eight per cent). Exam stress and pressure to achieve affected 52 per cent of young people compared with only 30 per cent of young people in the UK. More women (23 per cent) were anxious about their appearance or ageing than men (13 per cent), while more than twice as many women (22 per cent) worried about their ability to cope emotionally with life than men (11 per cent). METRODigest MORE than a quarter of people using Dublin Simon Community services have both a physical and a mental health condition, a survey for the charity has found. The poll found more than 60 per cent of people using the services have a diagnosed physical health condition, a further 40 per cent suffer from a diagnosed mental health condition, while 26 per cent suffer from both. Chief executive of Dublin Simon Community Sam McGuinness said the survey proved homelessness is not just about a lack of a roof, it is much more complex. The survey also found 79 per cent of the service users were male, 89 per cent were Irish and most were aged 26 to 35. Many homeless have health issues A YOUNG woman has revealed that she cant recall her male co-worker raping her after a night out. The woman said repeatedly that she had no memory of the alleged rape and agreed she made her case to garda in ignorance of the accused mans version of events, which she had only been given to read in recent weeks. The 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to a charge of rape and a charge of sexually assaulting the woman in Dublin on January 27, 2007. The court heard how the man told Garda the woman had been put to sleep in his bed after a night out, that he got into bed beside her and that they kissed passionately. The trial at the Central Criminal Court continues. Woman cant remember alleged rape BUNGLING British supermarket bosses mistakenly paid a worker more than 1million in wages. Co-op employee Stephen Foster discovered the blunder when his pay slip showed he had been paid 1.4million and when he checked his account at a cash machine, his balance had rocketed to more than 800,000. But honest Mr Foster, who works at the companys Gateshead operations, contacted his bosses to alert them to the mistake. A MAJOR overhaul of pay and conditions in the electrical industry looks likely following an independent review of the background to last summers one-week-long electrical contractors strike. Under the current system, a pay increase of five per cent was negotiated under a legally-binding agreement. But two new groups of contractors who are not part of the system had challenged the legality of the pay increase because they had not been permitted to take part in the agreement. The review by employment rights experts Finbar Flood and Peter Cassells recommends that the system be totally reformed through the introduction of new rules. Electricians pay set to be overhauled PRESIDENT Mary McAleese last night paid tribute to the courage and faith of elderly priest Father Michael Sinnott after his month in captivity at the hands of Philippine rebels. Fr Sinnott (pictured) attended an honorary reception at ras an Uachtarin with relatives and fellow Columban missionaries. The Wexford-born cleric, who turns 80 tomorrow, got a special treat when he was presented with a surprise birthday cake. Mrs McAleese added Fr Sinnotts positivity in such dire circumstances was inspirational. Tribute for kidnap priest TOUGH TALK: Irish rugby legend Keith Wood helps launch Fitfone, a mobile phone application that helps users track their exercise moves and fitness levels as well as monitoring progress. See fitfone.ie Picture: Jason Clarke METROE-MAIL US AT: mail@metroireland.ie What do you think of whats going on in the news? or do you have a witty view on the bizarre little things in life? We want to hear from you for irelands liveliest letters page TELL A fAther has been jailed for ten years after he was convicted by a jury of continually raping and sexually assaulting his daughter from the time she was seven years old. the 49-year-old Laois man had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to 32 counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault of his daughter at locations in Carlow, Kildare and Laois between 1991 and 2000. the now 25-year- old victim read from a victim impact statement that all she ever wanted was a genuine apology from her father and acceptance for what he had done. I did not want to go to court and talk about these things in public but the court process has helped me, she said. from the age of seven, my innocence was taken from me. I was sexualised at a very young age. Judge Paul Carney said the man had deprived himself of the most fruitful form of mitigation as he still maintains his innocence and as such has not demonstrated remorse. Father raped daughter from age of seven Bills: Money worries top concerns new helpline radio advert. The advert will run on the airwaves over the next three weeks, at a tradi- tionally difficult time of the year for Five held over foiled hit fIVe men were being questioned by organised- crime detectives last night after garda foiled a suspected gangland hit. A loaded Glock pistol and 20 rounds of ammunition were recovered after the armed emergency response Unit swooped on two cars in Lucan, west Dublin, and Celbridge, Co Kildare. Senior garda believe the gang, aged between 18 and 46, were on their way to the home of a rival gangster and it is understood a number of known figures from Dublins criminal underworld were among those detained. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html