Suicide awareness group claims No to Nice poster evokes suicide

ANTI-EU Nice Treaty campaigners last night were taken to task for a poster described as dangerous and offensive because it evoked suicide.

The poster by the "No To Nice" grouping, headed by anti-abortion campaigner Justin Barrett, carries the picture of a young man with a gun to his head.

It also carries the words: 'Same Bad Treaty' and 'Don't Be Bullied'.

Suicide awareness groups and support campaigners last night castigated the poster promoters for being insensitive and cavalier in their approach to one of the most sensitive issues in contemporary Ireland.

Dan Neville, president of the Irish Association of Suicidology and a lifelong campaigner promoting awareness of the problem, called on the group to withdraw the poster.

"There is considerable international research on the topic to show that there is a risk of copycat suicide.

"When I saw this poster, with the young person holding the gun to his head, I immediately saw that risk.

"I also feel it is deeply insensitive to the families of people who have committed suicide," Mr Neville said.

Mr Neville, also Fine Gael TD for Limerick West, rejected allegations that he was using the poster to denigrate the No campaign and promote the Yes side.

He said he had always resisted politicising the question of suicide and had refrained from any comment during the general election campaign in May when former Sports Minister, Jim McDaid, caused a furore with comments on the issue.

"I uphold the right of the No To Nice group to promote their message. I believe they may have not have set out to cause offence with this poster. But I am equally emphatic that they should now withdraw it," Mr Neville said.

But the No To Nice leader, Justin Barrett, said the entire matter was a row contrived by Yes campaigners seeking to discredit his group and others opposed to the re-run referendum scheduled for October 19.

"The whole thing is absurd and the poster cannot be seen to depict suicide because the gun could not be held in the hand of the young man who is depicted. It merely uses a political metaphor which Dan Neville himself probably often used," Mr Barrett said.

The No To Nice leader said they would continue to use the poster as a graphic way of drawing attention to the issues involved. "I think this is a rather low blow by the Yes campaigners.

"We will continue to highlight their accusations and threats," he said.

But other opponents of the Nice Treaty appeared less comfortable with the poster.

A spokesman for the Green Party, also advocating a No, said they would pursue their own campaign. "Our message will contain no scare-mongering about either side," he said.