Keith Barry defends 'quit smoking seminar' in Kildare after people say they're still on the cigs

Two women contacted RTE to say that they haven't been able to quit smoking after paying almost €400 each to attend a Keith Barry seminar in Carton House.

Mary (70) said she attended the event on December 3 in the hope that she would quit her 40-a-day habit.

She added that some attendees even smoking outside the venue at the end of the event.

Another attendee, called Joan, told Liveline that she hasn't stopped smoking, despite also spending €395, and came away feeling 'not good to say the very least'.

He told Joe Duffy: "I can't guarantee that one person over another will walk out of that room and stop smoking, and the reason for that is everyone is different."

He said that while he empathised with the caller Joan, the event was a 'great success' based on the feedback he and his team received."

Mr Barry said the event included follow-up help such as sessions with a clinical psychologist and four downloadable audios sessions reinforcing his technique.

One caller named Enda who attended the seminar told listeners he found it a great success, saying he hadn't smoked since.

Enda said: "I went as a bit of a sceptic, wouldn't have much faith in hypnosis but because it was Keith Barry, I'll give it a go.

"It worked, I haven't smoked since. Aside from the not smoking, I'm incredibly positive after the experience as well so I've no complaints from the day."

Asked by Joe Duffy if he guaranteed or promised anything, Mr Barry replied: 'No, absolutely not. With regards to any of these seminars, anyone who guarantees that somebody is going to stop smoking is actually just being deceptive."

He added: "What I can do is use all of my energy, all of the techniques and tools that I've learned to give people the tools that they need to get over smoking."

He said he developed his system over the past 15 years and it involves not just hypnosis but other psychological tools and techniques. Mr Barry said he would do everything to assist the disgruntled women through follow-up systems.

"I will do everything that I can to assist and help those ladies,'"he pledged.