'We're not asking for special treatment': Limerick suicide prevention group appeals for permanent base

Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention could lose its current premises at the Cleeves factor by January due to the ongoing redevelopment of the site

Volunteers with Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention during a recent patrol.

A suicide prevention group in Limerick which has made 1,500 interventions in the last eight years is now at risk of losing its base.

Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention (LTSP) has been asking for a permanent base over those eight years where its volunteers can gather before and after patrolling alongside the River Shannon.

The group could lose its current premises at the Cleeves factor by January due to the ongoing redevelopment of the site.

Vice-chair of LTSP David O’Mahony says he feels local authorities are not listening to the volunteers.

“We’re so grateful for Limerick Twenty Thirty for giving us that space. But unfortunately, due to the ongoing Cleeves site quarter development, we have to vacate there by January 2027," he says

Now, the charity has launched the ‘Give Hope A Home’ appeal to raise awareness of its situation. For the past 10 months, Mr O’Mahony says the group has been in contact with local authorities and a number of political figures but “still haven’t gotten anywhere productive”.

“It just felt like the council or local government wasn't listening to us. Unfortunately, the lack of response from local government forced us to create this appeal, more so to make the public aware of our situation, and they have massively gotten behind us,” he says.

While they might be looking for a base, Mr O'Mahony says they are not looking for luxury, just for a space near the river where they can store publicly funded equipment and where volunteers can debrief.

For instance, the other night, our volunteers helped rescue a woman out of the water, and they had to debrief and talk about their feelings and talk about the scene on the side of the road in the lashing rain.

If they don’t find a new space by January, Mr O’Mahony says the group may have to do fewer patrols. In the last eight years, LTSP has carried out 1,500 interventions, with more than 100 volunteers passing through its doors.

“What I'm nervous about is more so with the way our charity has evolved, more people are coming down to the river to look for us, seek us out.

“We averaged around 200 interventions a year, and that’s 200 people that possibly might not have the same level of support that they had the previous year,” he says.

LTSP has sent an open letter, seen by the Irish Examiner, to Limerick City and County Council, requesting a meeting.

“What the local council, the mayor are not understanding is by us being there, that's taking pressure off the ambulance service, off An Garda Síochána, off University Hospital Limerick.

“We're not asking them to give us special treatment. We just want a conversation to sort this out,” Mr O’Mahony says.

In response to a query from the Irish Examiner, a joint answer was given by Limerick City and County Council and Limerick Twenty Thirty.

A spokesperson said LTSP has occupied space at Limerick Twenty Thirty’s Cleeves Riverside Quarter site on a rent-free basis since 2022, with additional support provided by LTT, a wholly owned special purpose vehicle of the council.

“Limerick Twenty Thirty has continued to accommodate LTSP throughout the ongoing Flaxmill works and regularly reviews occupancy arrangements in line with the development programme. LTT will continue to engage with Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention as the programme progresses,” they said.