Third suicide at school

The priest who spoke at the funeral Mass of a young girl who took her own life has warned of the danger of glamorising suicide as it emerged that her death brings to three the number of student suicides at her school since the summer holidays.

Addressing mourners at the funeral Mass of 15-year-old Chloe Kinsella in St Munchin’s Church, Limerick, Fr Pat Seaver said: “All of us were anxious not to glamorise Chloe’s funeral service. Her death is tragic and it follows in the wake of two similar deaths of students of St Nessan’s during the summer holidays. We do not want any more tragedies. Life is for living, especially for young people, especially for 15-year-olds.”

Fr Seaver, whose sermon was written in consultation with Chloe’s parents, Kevin and Shirley, and Eugene O’Brien, the headmaster at St Nessan’s Community College, Limerick, said they wanted to highlight the fact that Chloe’s death was not an individual case, but had “come after two more”, highlighting the danger of copycat actions.