Complex reasons for making such a choice

It is a harsh reality that over time, once the names of tragic twins Thomas and Paddy O’Driscoll disappear from the headlines, they will forever remain in statistics as some of the country’s youngest victims of murder-suicide.

Experts in the area of suicide point out that, incidences of people killing another before taking their own lives are relatively rare — there were 19 from 2001 to 2013, which claimed the lives of 27 innocent victims. They admit, though, that the figures could be higher as there has been other cases where the perpetrator has tried to kill themselves after the murder but has been unsuccessful.

Suicide organisations have pointed out that the reasons why someone chooses to murder another before taking their own life are extremely complex.