Strong widow on a mission to tackle epidemic of suicide

It is virtually impossible for those of us whose lives have followed a relatively smooth path to imagine the despair suffered by a woman who lost her entire family in a car crash caused by a suicidal taxi-driver in England.

Nor is it easy to perceive the strength and resolve of the young widow, Elber Twomey, who embarked on a one-woman campaign to highlight the need for greater suicide risk awareness in Ireland. The praise heaped on Mrs Twomey yesterday by Cork City coroner Myra Cullinane at the inquest into the death of her husband Con, a national teacher who died almost 10 months after suffering injuries in that awful event in Cornwall, was richly deserved.

Though she also lost her 16-month-old son and her unborn baby girl in that horrendous incident on July 6, 2012, Mrs Twomey would be the first to play down her own importance in terms of the ongoing suicide awareness campaign. An insightful and dignified woman, she is loath to accept tributes in recognition of her selfless work. Her deep sensitivity was seen when she reached out the hand of friendship to the widow of the taxi-driver who deliberately rammed the family car.