Cyber suicide: time for global response

THE story of the two young men who died recently in a cyber suicide pact in a picturesque lake in Co Tyrone made very sad reading.

They died, as so many do in such circumstances, in isolation and loneliness.

That these depressed young men found each other on a website devoted to suicide is appalling. These sites should be shut down and internet service providers should come together to ensure this happens — which should not be too difficult in this technological age.

However, the service providers should not be held solely responsible. Regulations must be introduced internationally.

There would be no point in introducing regulations locally because most of the material that causes offence comes from services outside the country.

There should be an international conference on this issue, and it is to be hoped our new Government, the Assembly in the North and local authorities would be to the fore in seeking it.

Cllr Noel Collins

‘St Jude’s’

Midleton

Co Cork