Banks urged to train staff dealing with struggling mortgage-holders

The president of the Irish Association of Suicidology has called on banks to train staff how to deal with struggling mortgage-holders and warned that more people are taking their lives because of debt.

Fine Gael TD Dan Neville spoke of borrowers being “hounded” by banks, saying the rate of suicide had risen during the recession. The Limerick West TD’s comments came as the Dáil debated a Fianna Fáil motion calling for more rights for borrowers and the establishment of an independent mortgage resolution office.

“There are many vulnerable people being dealt with by bank officials. We should not generalise as there are good people in banks, but we have already heard about people being hounded and who have had unsolicited visits to their house by mortgage lenders.