Suicide charities have reported soaring contacts and donations in the wake of the deaths of junior minister Shane McEntee and the Gallagher sisters in Donegal.
One charity revealed to the
Irish Independent its donations had jumped by 50pc in the wake of the Meath TD’s death. Another said pleas for help to it had increased by 30pc in the wake of the McEntee tragedy and the publicity surrounding the suicides of Donegal sisters, Erin (13) and Shannon (15) Gallagher (pictured).
Pieta House, which is rapidly expanding its counselling and support services, revealed its level of contacts had risen by 30pc-plus in the wake of the tragedies. “Our level of contacts has increased substantially on the same time last year,” Pieta official Marguerite Kiely said.
Another charity, Let’s Get Together (LGT), confirmed that its donations increased by 50pc in the wake of the McEntee tragedy.
“We are entirely dependent on donations and they literally took off for the last two weeks in December. I believe it is directly linked to the tragedies in Meath and Donegal,” LGT founder, Pat Buckley, said.
LGT spends almost €80,000 a year on support and suicide prevention services.
The
Samaritans said it was dealing with a record number of contacts with “a real hardening of despair among many of those who contact us; people are struggling to cope in the face of uncertainty around employment, personal debt and other financial concerns.”
Over 15pc of calls received by The Samaritans are related to Ireland’s economic crisis.
St Vincent de Paul (SVP) confirmed that its pleas for help reached record levels in December – with the charity also admitting that its level of referrals to specialised support groups also increased.
Statistics indicated that three people are now taking their lives each day in Ireland.
One suicide helpline, ILife, revealed that it was struggling to cope with 99 contacts a day amounting to over 33,000 pleas for help each year.
And anecdotal evidence has indicated that Ireland will suffer close to 1,000 suicides in 2012.
Ireland officially recorded some 527 suicides in 2009, meaning that suicides levels have almost doubled during the recession.
Research shows that cannabis can be an effective pain killer
A study by Oxford University into the role of cannabis has found that its use can increase a patient’s ability to cope with pain, although it does not reduce the intensity of the pain itself.
New research by Oxford University into the role of cannabis as a means of pain relief suggests that the effects produced by the drug vary greatly between individuals. However, by using tablets of THC, the psychoactive component of the drug, researchers concluded that cannabis increases a patient’s ability to cope with pain as opposed to actually reducing the intensity of it.
The research was carried out on a group of twelve healthy, male volunteers who were either given a sample of THC or a placebo tablet. The sensation of pain was then simulated by spreading either a dummy cream or a cream mixed with chilli onto the skin of the legs of the participants which caused an irritating, burning sensation. A series of four MRI scans were then conducted and the effects of the drug on varies parts of the brain were recorded. The group’s research was published in the journal Pain.
Lead researcher, Dr Michael Lee, of Oxford University’s Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (FMRIB) commented, “Cannabis does not seem to act like a conventional pain medicine. Some people respond really well, others not at all, or even poorly.”
He continued, “Brain imaging shows little reduction in the brain regions that code for the sensation of pain, which is what we tend to see with drugs like opiates. Instead cannabis appears to mainly affect the emotional reaction to pain in a highly variable way.”
Dr Lee and the research team see the results as being “of interest scientifically” but admit that more research carried out on patients for a longer period of time is needed. He added, ”Our small-scale study, in a controlled setting, involved twelve healthy men and only one of many compounds that can be derived from cannabis. That’s quite different from doing a study with patients.”
The results may one day have positive ramifications for patients suffering from chronic pain, especially in cases where there is no clear cause for it. At least for now, the study indicates that the ability of cannabis to act as a pain relief does vary between individuals.
Ryanair not bending rules for VIPs visits to Dublin & Ireland’s EU presidency
Ryanair won’t be making any special allowances to European delegates travelling to Dublin during our term of EU presidency.
Government officials travelling to Ireland during the EU presidency will have to squeeze their luggage into a 10kg restriction or pay the price, the airline has warned.
The Government has signed up with the airline to provide the transport for all officials.
EU politicians and diplomats who need to fly between Dublin and Brussels during Ireland’s six-month period will be subjected to the same strict baggage rules as ordinary customers.
“Each passenger can benefit from Ryanair’s very generous 10kg carry-on bag, and purchase either a 15 or 20kg check-in bag if they need one,” a spokesman said.
However, unlike regular passengers, EU officials will be entitled to free flight changes and access to a ‘presidency’ helpline manned 15 hours a day. In addition, there will be dedicated assistance desks at both Dublin and Brussels Charleroi airports.
Saving
“Ryanair recently met with Ireland’s national procurement office to manage the Govt’s travel during the presidency and they have accepted Ryanair’s offer, which will deliver the first “low-fare” EU presidency, if Ryanair’s low fares on these flights are used by these officials,” a representative confirmed.
The airline has calculated that if just 5,000 trips are taken by Irish and EU officials over this six-month period, the Government will save over €1.5m during the presidency –and said this could be even greater if more civil servants, officials and ministers flew Ryanair.
“It is vital that governments stop wasting money and the Irish Government has taken the first step in addressing this waste,” said Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara.
Dessie Ellis admits he has regrets over IRA past as FG demand probe
Sinn Fein TD Dessie Ellis has admitted he was forced into situations he “regrets” during his involvement with the IRA.
But the embattled politician has insisted that he will not resign over claims that he was involved in 50 murders.
Official state documents released by the British government state that there is forensic evidence linking Ellis to killings on both sides of the border.
The news prompted Fine Gael chairman Charlie Flanagan to call for Ellis to be brought in front of an independent Truth Commission to be grilled over past activities.
upsetting
But the Sinn Fein politician last night said that the claims were “created by the Brits” and rejected any suggestion that he should resign his seat.
“This is old wood being rehashed. I reject any calls that may come for my resignation. This was stuff used against me when I was in America facing extradition. It’s proven upsetting for my family, to be honest,” he said.
Asked to comment on the “50 murders” he is alleged to have been involved in, Deputy Ellis replied: “I don’t know where they are getting these figures from so I’m not going to comment on that, I haven’t even read the papers to be honest.”
But speaking to the Herald, the Dublin North West TD cryptically admitted that he was forced into situations he “regrets” during his involvement with the IRA.
“I’ve been a republican all my life and I don’t try and hide that. People across all movements, republican and loyalist, have been forced into situations that they regret and I’m no different,” he told the Herald.
He then launched a ferocious attack on Fine Gael chairman Charlie Flanagan.
“The likes of [Charlie] Flanagan and others can latch on to this all they like. But they should be careful about what they say about people.
“I’ve been in politics long enough to know that there are a lot of people out there who don’t want people like me, or Sinn Fein, doing well. They’ll use it against me in the Dail but I’ll be ready for that.”
Deputy Flanagan told the Herald that he would not be “intimidated” by Deputy Ellis or “anybody in Sinn Fein”, adding that the claims must be brought to light in front of an independent commission.
“We cannot simply forget the past and sweep the issues which strike at the very heart of the democratic process under the carpet to suit Sinn Fein.
“Deputy Adams has suggested the establishment of an Independent Truth Commission as a means of resolving our past conflict.
“If this is to be the case, let Dessie Ellis be the first person to be brought before it, so that questions can be answered in respect of the 50 people murdered, to which the British government suggests he is in some way linked.”
value
The document mentioning Deputy Ellis is among papers from the 1980s which were released this week under the ’30-year rule’.
It was sent from the British embassy in Washington to officials in London.
In a statement to the Herald, a Sinn Fein spokesman described the claims as “unsubstantiated allegations”.
“Irish Republicans do not attach any value to claims made in secret documents emanating from the British secret services, who were responsible for countless murders in Ireland during the course of the conflict.”
