Samaritans criticise McDaid over suicide comments

The Samaritans support group has criticised Fianna Fail’s Jim McDaid after he told a gathering of young people that suicide is selfish and that suicidal people should think of others rather than themselves.

Mr McDaid apologised for the comments today, but Paul O’Hare, a spokesman for the Samaritans, said he is worried that the comments could stop some people from seeking support.

"We need to make sure that people feel encouraged to seek help and I’m not sure that what the minister has said, even though we do accept that he has withdrawn the comment and has apologised for it, that it will actually encourage people to seek help if they feel like that."