repeat student. Although O'Hanlon tries to reconcile with her, when the other teachers find about the affair, it is too much for O'Hanlon and he once again is overcome by depression. However, this time he loses his job and ends up needing to seek psychiatric help. Journalism O'Hanlon, having suffered a mental breakdown, spends months in a psychiatric ward. While there, he encounters Annette Daly, an old lover of his who is a local solicitor. He slowly recovers from his illness and is discharged along with Annette from hospital in 2005. Although both of them are psychologically fragile, they begin a relationship which is contrary to medical advice. Annette offers the now unemployed O'Hanlon work as a secretary at her legal practise. However, his lack of legal expertise proves to be a source of annoyance for the other solicitors working with Annette. Under their pressure, O'Hanlon has to leave his job there. However, he quickly finds a position as an investigative journalist. In 2007 when Barry publishes an article on a rape in a local newspaper, Dominic Kavanagh informs him that his daughter is the girl who has been raped. At this time, Detective Byrne begins giving Barry information. He applies for the position of editor and is given the job. O'Hanlon interviews Dermot Fahey about the recent attacks. When the identity of the rapist is revealed to be Tibbs, Detective Byrne tells Barry about this. He questions Kavanagh about assaulting Tibbs, who shrugs it off. Byrne explains that Tibbs was linked with the previous assaults, but he is certain that a vigilante is still on the loose. Barry is planning on investigating this matter further, but Ken Fahey convinces him not to. In 2008, Barry becomes employed at The Northside Post, a local newspaper owned by Seamus McAleer. Little does he know that he is being used to sabotage the project going on in the school of which he used to be principal. He also proposes to Annette and she accepts. At Christmas, he breaks off the engagement when he finds out she had a fling with Seamus. Driving out of church while arguing with a drunken Annette, Barry in a fit of rage, takes his eye off the road and accidentally knocks down couple Ray O'Connell and Gina Cassidy (Niamh's mother) who were just arriving in the church to get married, killing Gina. In 2009, Barry is devastated