Filicides blamed on breakups, cash woes

Money problems and family breakups are the main reasons why desperate parents who “see no other option” decide to take their own lives and the lives of their children, according to Dr Sandra Flynn, a researcher at the Centre for Mental Health and Safety at the University of Manchester.

Research conducted by Dr Flynn shows there have been at least 27 cases of filicide in this country from 2000 to 2013 — meaning approximately two parents a year decide to kill their children and sometimes themselves.

“Those who commit filicide-suicide, they often feel there’s no future for them. Maybe they are facing financial ruin or their partner is divorcing them and they feel they can’t just start again at their age,” said Dr Flynn.