MS Society speaks out on assisted suicide

THE Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society of Ireland has said it is seriously concerned about how newly diagnosed MS sufferers will react after a fellow sufferer chose to die by assisted suicide in Switzerland.

Martin Barry, 33, from Model Farm Road in Cork city, was a multiple sclerosis sufferer in the advanced stages of the illness. Gardaí confirmed they were informed of his death two weeks ago by Interpol who asked them to contact his family.

The UCC postgraduate student had travelled with a friend to Zurich at the end of last month where he ended his life with the help of the ‘right to die’ organisation, Dignitas, which he joined over a year ago.