Kerry coroner pays tribute to Donal Walsh after fall in number of confirmed suicides

The Coroner for Co Kerry is praising the late teenager Donal Walsh who lost his fight with cancer last month.

Terence Casey - coroner in Kerry East and South - said that there have been no confirmed suicides in the area since February 10, when usually there would have been one or two per month.

Mr Casey believes it may have something to do with Donal's high-profile campaign urging suicidal teens to seek help.

Donal's father Finbarr said the family are immensely proud.

"Well that's three to six lives saved," he said.

"I know he says that he can't directly attribute it to Donal but he certainly said that Donal has had some effect.

"We're filled with pride because of it, he had a message to get across he was in a unique position to get that message across and people listen because he was in that unique position."