Former Irish President Mary McAleese heaped massive praise on Joe Brolly, calling him the 'most outstanding' student she ever taught.
After practicing as a barrister, McAleese was appointed a professor in Criminal Law, Criminology and Penology where she came across Brolly.
The former RTE pundit, GAA star and practicing barrister is one of the most well known personalities of Ireland and McAleese had nothing but praise for her former student.
Appearing on the new season of the Late Late Show, she said: "I taught Joe for three years. I taught Joe in Trinity and then I escaped him and went to Queens and then the next thing he turned up in Queens.
"I don't know many students I've had over the years but he was, by far, the most outstanding. He was just so funny. I saw the TV show he did lately and if I had only known how much hurt he had in him.
"I was brokenhearted to hear what a tough childhood he had because none of that was evident and maybe we didn't know how to look for it then. I'd like to have been more of a mentor to him maybe."
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