Irish trio planning suicide trip to Switzerland

THREE Irish people are planning to travel to Switzerland where an organisation called Dignitas will help them to commit suicide, according to the head of the group.

They have sought information on how to end their lives from the controversial group which has assisted 128 people to commit suicide since it was established in 1998 by Swiss lawyer Ludwig Minelli.

Next week gardaí will travel to the US to seek the extradition of an American right-to-die activist who helped a Dublin woman kill herself last January.

In 2001, Dignitas assisted 50 people, including 39 foreign nationals who travelled to Switzerland to take their own life, in what critics have labelled “death tourism”.

Most people commit suicide by taking a 15mg of barbiturate prescribed by a Swiss doctor following a medical

consultation, as well as an initial assessment by Dignitas.

Euthanasia is legalised in the Netherlands and Belgium, although under strict conditions which are not available to non-nationals. The Channel Island of Guernsey has moved recently to enact legislation to permit doctor-assisted suicide.

Dignitas does not limit its services to people suffering from terminal, physical illnesses. In one case, it helped a 34-year-old multiple sclerosis patient to take his own life.

“Mental conditions also create very heavy pain,” said Mr Minelli, who has received the queries from Irish people.

However, he said nobody involved in Dignitas had ever faced prosecution in relation to the assistance provided to people who commit suicide.

“The person who wants to die always has control over the last act. A third person is never involved in their death,” said Mr Minelli. “However, most members of Dignitas die naturally but it eases their condition if they know they have a green light to take their own life if they want.”

The London-based right-to-die group Voluntary Euthanasia Society (VES), has criticised Dignitas and warned British citizens they could face 14-year jail sentences if they pass on details about the Swiss group to others.

“Not only is such assistance unlawful, some people may be assisted to die who are depressed rather than terminally ill,” said VES chief executive Deborah Annetts.

Meanwhile, a grand jury hearing in West Virginia next Wednesday will hear a preliminary application by gardaí for the extradition of US preacher, Rev George Exoo, over his role in the death of Dublin woman Rita Gilhooly, ,49, whose body was found in her home in Donnybrook last January.

Rev Exoo admitted receiving $2,500 after he travelled to Dublin to be present with Ms Gilhooly at her death.

The latest controversy over euthanasia comes just days after a report by the National Parasuicide Registry which claims an average of 10,000 people try to commit suicide in Ireland each year.

Catholic bishops, who launched a pastoral letter entitled Living with Dying, this week described euthanasia as morally unacceptable.

“The Catholic church absolutely rejects euthanasia as a response to chronic or serious illness,” they said.