Statements over suicides irresponsible

THE US politicians and military personnel who described the suicides of three Guantánamo Bay detainees as “smart”, “an act of asymmetrical warfare”, and “a good PR move to draw attention”, among other bizarrely complementary references, are serving no cause whatsoever.

How can people in positions of power and influence make such irresponsible statements?

Apart from the ethical issues surrounding the continued detention without trial of people not convicted of any crime, the suicides of the three men, whatever the motives behind them, should be seen as a multiple tragedy.

At a time when many countries are in the grip of virtual suicide epidemics, the last thing governments and world leaders ought to be doing is making the premature ending of one’s life look courageous, and an effective way of getting people’s attention.

No week passes here in Ireland without at least one suicide. While we must not condemn or judge a person whose life ends in this way, we should certainly do what we can to avert any further such tragedy. Suicide is a tragedy — one that affects more than oneself, a heart-rending, irreversible and horrifying tragedy that inflicts a crushing torment on those left behind.

It has rightly been described as “a permanent solution to a temporary problem” — no matter how desperate a situation may seem, help is always available, a phone call away, anonymous and confidential.

John Fitzgerald

Lower Coyne St

Callan

Co Kilkenny