Vintners’ chief demands debate on rural isolation

A NATIONAL debate on rural isolation is needed following recent comments by the Kerry coroner, the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) has said.

The group, which represents 4,500 pubs outside Dublin, many of which are in rural areas, said comments made by Kerry coroner Terence Casey on rural isolation and suicide and its link to stricter drink driving laws — published in the Irish Examiner yesterday — followed similar statements by several coroners, including Donegal coroners Dr Denis McCauley and Dr John Madden, and others in the Midlands and Border regions.

Mr Casey has highlighted the link between stricter drink driving legislation leading to rural isolation and then suicide in his area, which saw 11 deaths of this nature last year.