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Peter Coonan found Love/Hate rape 'hard to watch, but the scene made sense'

He also had no idea Nidge had been shot, until he watched the episode on Sunday night.

ACTOR PETER COONAN has spoken of his shock at finding out the details of his character’s rape in Love/Hate.

In the RTÉ series’ season finale on Sunday night, Fran was held down and raped with a pool cue in the showers of Mountjoy Prison.

“After the script was handed out [...] I came into work one day, and people were kinda looking at me,” he told Newstalk Breakfast.

“And then I read it, and I had to kinda sit back for a minute and really think about it.”

After speaking with writer Stuart Carolan, he felt more comfortable with it.

“It made sense in regards to the arc of the character, you know, for this alpha male to be brought down to this level,” Coonan said, “and was it the right choice?”

It was hard to watch as well for me.

Coonan said the “tough” scene itself took as long as eight hours to film.

He added that he often gets Fran’s phrases, such as “coola-boola”, shouted at him in public but that he “hasn’t walked the streets” since Sunday’s episode.

Newstalk 106-108 fm / YouTube

Cooonan also said that he didn’t know of Nidge’s fate, and that after he found out that Siobhán had been killed, he didn’t want to accept it and so asked no more questions until watching the episode “just like everyone else” on Sunday night.

And what about another series?

“We are normally the last people to find out”.

If you have been affected by rape or sexual assault, these services offer support:

  • The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre: national 24-hour helpline on 1800 77 88 88
  • The Samaritans on 116 123
  • Amen, for male victims of domestic abuse, on 046 902 3718
  • Women’s Aid national helpline on 1800 341 900

Read: Why was everyone making rape jokes after the Love/Hate finale? >

More: What can we learn about anger management from Nidge and Fran? No, seriously… >

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28 Comments
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    Mute Lily
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    Dec 26th 2017, 10:15 AM

    Lidl donuts for 59 cent are the best!

    137
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    Mute Insect Overlord
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    Dec 26th 2017, 5:28 PM

    @Lily: Do they sell donuts?

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    Mute Sean
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    Dec 26th 2017, 7:56 PM

    @Insect Overlord: yes they sell Lidl donuts for 59 cents. Hard to see how you missed that in the previous comment. 59 cents. Lidl donuts. Just think 59 and Lidl and donuts. Write it on your hand now so you don’t forget.

    31
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    Mute TheJournalAsGaeilge
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    Dec 26th 2017, 10:32 AM

    Tá go leor daoine dúr anseo anois nach bhfuil?! Críost… I scuaine do taoschnónna…
    There’s many stupid folks out there isn’t there?! Christ… queuing for doughnuts…

    103
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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Dec 26th 2017, 11:25 AM

    @TheJournalAsGaeilge:
    Ah I see you have realised that without translation into a recognised language your comments where ignored.
    Glad to see you have come to your senses.

    64
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    Mute John Doe
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    Dec 26th 2017, 1:16 PM

    @P.J. Nolan: Did you not recognise the first language. Duine dúr indeed

    26
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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Dec 26th 2017, 1:40 PM

    @John Doe:
    Google translator is handy!! (even though I spent 10 years in a class with an Irish teacher)

    8
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    Mute TheJournalAsGaeilge
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    Dec 26th 2017, 1:52 PM

    @P.J. Nolan: Tá ceart agat, ní raibh siad ach as Gaeilge roimh sin. Ach bhí na freagartha agus drochíde a fuair mé scannalach ar fad. Is tír na gallaibh í fós, tá fhios agat féin…
    You’re right. The comments used to be only in Irish, but the reactions and abuse I received for it was disgraceful. It’s a West Brit land still, you know yourself…

    14
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    Mute TheJournalAsGaeilge
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    Dec 26th 2017, 1:58 PM

    @P.J. Nolan: achrannach? Is cuma linn. Ná chur locht ar an teanga. Chur é ar an córas, agus ansin déan rud éigin.
    Chip on your shoulder? We don’t care. Don’t blame the language, blame the system, and then do something about it.

    16
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    Mute Mr. H
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    Dec 26th 2017, 3:39 PM

    @TheJournalAsGaeilge: with it’s pure capitalist ethos and compensation culture, our wee little Island has gone to the dogs. It’s such a shame as I’m probably of the last generation that experienced real Ireland, when folks actually cared more for each other than shoving donuts in their faces.

    9
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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Dec 26th 2017, 4:35 PM

    @TheJournalAsGaeilge:
    while abuse is uncalled for this a bad place for someone thin skinned, but why don’t you throw out a few “West brit” insults while your at it, it’s bound to improve your argument.
    The only part of the system that I have a problem with is the ridiculous amount of money spent on a dead language.
    There is a very long list of better uses for it.

    4
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    Mute TheJournalAsGaeilge
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    Dec 26th 2017, 5:11 PM

    @Mr. H: sin é. Is trua mór é…
    That’s it. What a shame….

    5
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    Mute TheJournalAsGaeilge
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    Dec 26th 2017, 5:26 PM

    @P.J. Nolan: Tá tú an duine soghonta, ceapaim. Ní raibh mé ach ag insint an fhírinne. Is gall thú. Is fuath leat Éire agus ár gcultúr féin. Mar sin féin, bhí an cáineadh i m’aghaidh gan ábhar! Is cuma le gnáth daoine má tá mo ráiteas as Gaeilge mar tá sé as Béarla chomh maith. Ach is gall thú agus mar sin, ní bhíonn tú ach ag tabhairt amach i gcónaí!
    I think you’re the thin skinned one. I was only telling the truth. You are a West Brit. You hate Ireland and our culture. However the criticism against me was unjustified. Normal folks don’t care if my comments are in Irish because they are in English as well. But you’re a West Brit because you’re still always giving out! SAD!

    8
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    Mute Keith Richardson
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    Dec 26th 2017, 10:35 AM

    Yet we have 50 or so too many Starbucks in Dublin.

    89
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    Mute EillieEs
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    Dec 26th 2017, 2:47 PM

    @Keith Richardson: every Starbucks is one too many. Awful coffee.

    39
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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Dec 26th 2017, 5:08 PM

    @EillieEs:
    someone must like it!

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    Mute John O'Shea
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    Dec 27th 2017, 9:25 AM

    @P.J. Nolan: almost everybody bar the coffee snobs.

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    Mute Andy K
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    Dec 26th 2017, 10:33 AM

    Remember the “we buy your gold” shops that appeared overnight and disappeared just as quick? Same thing here.

    76
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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Dec 26th 2017, 11:30 AM

    @Andy K:
    A lot of those morphed into trading in electronic games and phones or pawn shops.

    20
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    Mute EillieEs
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    Dec 26th 2017, 2:47 PM

    @Andy K: or the estate agents that mushroomed before the collapse. Unbelievable to see so many new ones opening again

    11
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    Mute Liam O'Reilly
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    Dec 26th 2017, 10:20 AM

    Please invest in a keyboard with a functioning spacebar.

    90
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    Mute windbag
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    Dec 26th 2017, 10:47 AM

    5 doughnuts for a €1 in tesco….. as nice as any doughnut …..

    61
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    Mute Misanthrope
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    Dec 26th 2017, 11:10 AM

    @windbag: beat me to it.

    13
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    Mute Jonathan Power
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    Dec 26th 2017, 11:58 AM

    @windbag: Dunnes do a bag of jam ones ‘yesterday’s bake’ that didn’t sell the previous day for only 50 cent for 6 and there darn marvelous ❤️

    23
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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Dec 26th 2017, 10:42 AM

    Doughnuts combine saturated fat, often hydrogenated, with large amounts of sugar. Fat and sugar combined is hugely unhealthy and also addictive.

    55
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    Mute Misanthrope
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    Dec 26th 2017, 11:10 AM

    @Fiona deFreyne: yum yum

    35
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    Mute Toki Wartooth
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    Dec 26th 2017, 11:21 AM

    @Fiona deFreyne: that’s why people love them. Live a little, eat a donought :) lettuce is not that fun

    54
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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    Dec 26th 2017, 10:16 AM

    #notions

    36
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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Dec 26th 2017, 10:20 AM

    There should be a government health warning with every doughnut consumed….

    41
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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Dec 26th 2017, 11:34 AM

    I have planning permission in to the council for a fidget spinner kiosk, should have it up and running by the summer!!!!

    30
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    Mute Anthony John Cotter
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    Dec 26th 2017, 10:39 AM

    Offbeat are off the scale in terms of yuminess.

    24
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    Mute Minom Pnnomm
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    Dec 26th 2017, 11:22 AM

    to go along with the craft beer brewing, irish whiskey and gin bubbles!

    21
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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Dec 26th 2017, 1:46 PM

    @Minom Pnnomm:
    I don’t doubt your right, a few good ones will survive, probably the ones that develop decent export markets.

    2
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    Mute ed w
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    Dec 26th 2017, 10:27 AM

    Surely the cup cake stores morphed into doughnut stores.

    18
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    Mute Amanda Stuart
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    Dec 26th 2017, 11:00 AM

    I make my own. They’re yummy and all my friends love them.

    17
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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Dec 26th 2017, 10:52 AM

    Dublin doughnut co weren’t great and were smaller and more expensive than their competitors. If you want to survive you need to be able to compete with the best

    17
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    Mute Mark Smith
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    Dec 26th 2017, 11:08 AM

    Totally disagree, DDCo doughnuts were far superior in quality and taste. Bigger is not better. Perfect ratio of filling to pastry. Not sickly sweet like some of the others.

    Hillary made hands down the best, by quite the distance

    It’s a shame she left the market, but she did the right thing, so many poor doughnuts out there now, most will be out of business in a few years.

    23
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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Dec 26th 2017, 11:15 AM

    @Mark Smith: have to agree to disagree. Quality and taste of Offbeat and Rolling Donut are much better. The couple of times I had Dublin Donut co they didn’t have much flavour and weren’t really worth the money

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    Mute Jan Mcevoy
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    Dec 26th 2017, 11:58 AM

    @Sam Harms: I think that the above controversy will never be settled! When I lived in the States, it was the great Krispy Kremes vs Dunkin’ Donuts divide – people on both sides SWEARING that their own choice was infinitely better. Mind you, neither were charging €3 per doughnut….

    12
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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Dec 26th 2017, 5:53 PM

    @Jan Mcevoy: Offbeat is only €2! Which is part of why they are far superior

    2
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    Mute Larry Whack
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    Dec 26th 2017, 10:22 AM

    Popped up even.

    15
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    Mute Ciaran Henry
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    Dec 26th 2017, 11:08 AM

    anyone know a place that makes blue berry-filled donuts (instead of typical raspberry or strawberry jam)?

    Had them once at a function and they were magic. Haven’t been able to get them since:(

    10
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    Mute Helen Kelly
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    Dec 26th 2017, 8:21 PM

    @Ciaran Henry: Angier Danger for the Blueberry.

    In a moment of madness pickup some Offbeat ones up in Jarvis the other day. The red velvet ones were terrible, truly mass produced taste of them now. I’m sure they were better before they expanded massively.

    1
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    Mute Paul Coughlan
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    Dec 26th 2017, 12:00 PM

    Years ago the clothing industry fell apart due to foreign investment by the industry. Now small cafes delicatessens and manufacturers of specialist food products are in difficulty.

    10
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    Mute Eddie O'Neill
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    Dec 26th 2017, 1:56 PM

    Places charging E3 for a doughnut should be charged with extortion, it’s pure greed and should not be supported.

    12
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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Dec 26th 2017, 10:20 AM

    There should be a government health warning with every doughnut consumed….

    10
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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Dec 26th 2017, 11:27 AM

    @Chris Kirk:
    There should be a government health warning on all the government health warnings written…..

    12
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    Mute Run Dub Crewz
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    Dec 26th 2017, 3:13 PM

    Obese millennial manna from gentrification heaven. What do you expect for the relaxed fit generation in Dublin. A Soul Cycle franchise in Portobello? No shortage of Operation Transformation seasons ahead…

    9
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    Mute Marc Power
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    Dec 26th 2017, 1:58 PM

    humans : nothing more than sheep with clothes and a bit of technology

    8
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    Mute Frank McCarthy
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    Dec 26th 2017, 2:43 PM

    Dunkin Doughnuts Boston Cream was my favorite.

    5
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    Mute Geraldine Cummins
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    Dec 28th 2017, 2:19 AM

    @Frank McCarthy: yes!

    1
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    Mute Nick Caffrey
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    Dec 26th 2017, 6:33 PM

    #Michael Lanigan: “while ingredients such as butter are substituted for margarine….” NO. you mean “while ingredients such as margarine are substituted for butter”. LEARN ENGLISH FFS!

    6
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    Mute Marc Power
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    Dec 26th 2017, 3:04 PM

    No they’re no… they’re tasteless mass produced gunk

    7
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    Mute francis dowling
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    Dec 26th 2017, 1:16 PM

    There’s alot of doughnuts out there in human form

    6
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    Mute Charliegrl80
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    Dec 26th 2017, 1:06 PM

    Krispy Kreme yummy – when I lived in the USA I used to call it Donut Heaven!

    5
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    Mute Brian Lenehan
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    Dec 27th 2017, 3:26 AM

    The next craze: Porridge, Soup and Stew kiosks. You need six Bain-Maries, 10 gastronorms, a till, a fridge and dry storage for your 16oz pots, spoons & napkins. The food can be made offsite in a central kitchen.

    Six different porridge choices (jumbo, pinhead, made on milk/water, summer-berry flavoured, etc), 10 topping options for breakfast (seeds, compotes/fruits/cream); six different soup flavours and 10 topping options/breads for lunch and six different stews (chowders, chilli-con-carne, etc) for dinner all the way to after the pubs shut.

    I don’t know how, despite all the warnings about sugar and it’s link to obesity, donut-shops are even a thing. Surely there’s a bigger market for convenient access to healthy food?

    3
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    Mute Brian Lenehan
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    Dec 27th 2017, 3:41 AM

    This idea has been at the back of my mind for the last 7 years, I just wouldn’t have the wherewithal to set up a food business myself. I reckon it would be popular enough for one business to do well from it with a few well-placed kiosks/shops, particularly with health & fitness peeps. The trick is to provide as much variety from as little stock. Nobody wants to be buying the same porridge or soup every day, but with six main choices and 10 topping options you could have a different breakfast or lunch every day for two months without getting bored.

    Just keep me in mind when you’re making your millions from it. Let’s say 1% commission on sales?

    Please, somebody, run with this idea, it’s probably worth a go.

    2
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    Mute Nick Caffrey
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    Dec 26th 2017, 6:34 PM

    Why do we have to follow stupid, unhealthy and crass American fads?

    7
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